ask-north-korea

[ask-north-korea]

why must you harass him. he is retired.

#hetalia #aph #hws #aph north korea #hws north korea #im sang kyu #boop #the boopening

[ask-north-korea]

안녕히 계세요.

Once more, for nostalgia's sake.

#he's living his best life somewhere #hetalia #aph #hws #aph korea #hws korea #aph north korea #hws north korea #im sang kyu #ask north korea

[ask-north-korea]

Farewell

OOC;;

I mean this should have been obvious for a while, but let's make it official:

This blog is closed.

I had a great run in the hetalia fandom: over 10 years, give or take. Not all at once, but more or less consistently, until recent years. Running this blog and RPing Sang Kyu (across multiple platforms) has been a big part of that. He's one of my longest running OCs and is still really important to me, but...

Over time, various things have driven me away from this fandom. Maybe it's just growing up--I'm approaching 30 at this point. I also lived in Korea--one of my life goals--got to experience that for two years. Since returning to the US, my interests and goals have turned to other things. I got married, bought a house, got a new job...and over time I found this fandom sucking up energy I didn't have. I don't keep up with current events as I once did; I simply don't have it in me to continue updating this blog anymore.

I am not Korean, if that wasn't clear, so this blog was always run from the experience of a Westerner, doing their best to do the research and portray things in a respectful (although admittedly not always 100% accurate) manner while keeping in the relatively lighthearted spirit of the source material. I hope some Korean fans will pick up the reins and fill in the gaps where I couldn't. Even having lived in Korea for a time, I can't pretend I know everything or have the experiences of people who grew up in the culture.

That being said, please DO feel free to use Sang Kyu for fanfics, fanart! Whatever! (But please don't RP him or claim him as yours...) All I ask is that you credit him to me, @circlique (or @ask-north-korea), and use him in respectful, non-hateful ways. I would love to see any fanart or fanfic that you tag me in. If you have questions about him, I would ask that you direct them to @circlique, since I plan on completely turning off the ask box to this blog after this post.

For the people who supported me over the years, or participated in my refugee fundraisers, thank you. I will always remember my time playing Sang Kyu fondly, and I hope he can continue to be an ambassador and educate even as I am not actively taking that role anymore.

#hetalia #aph #hws #aph korea #hws korea #aph north korea #hws south korea #im sang kyu

[ask-north-korea]

Hello everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been more active on here. Still, I thank you for supporting me along the way! 

For the sixth year in the row, I will be running a fundraising campaign for Liberty in North Korea, an organization that works to help people fleeing the North Korean regime safely make it to freedom. So, I’ve set up a Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) fundraising page, the link to which can be found at the bottom of this post and in my blog description.

I’ve always wanted to use this blog for education and to do some tangible good in the world. The last two years, we've raised over $1000, which was absolutely lightyears beyond what I thought this fandom could do! I’m setting the goal this year at $1000, by January 1st. Let’s try and keep the momentum going!

I know people can be strapped for cash this time of year, so don’t feel bad if you can’t donate! You can still reblog this post to help more people see it!

If you would like to learn more about what challenges North Korean refugees face and what sort of work LiNK does for them, you can read more about that here (be warned, possible triggering content ahead).

Let’s band together and change someone’s life for the better!

Click here to donate.

#boost

[ask-north-korea]

Hey all, it's been about a week and I just wanted to give an update and some thanks! We're about 10 days in and already at $621! Big thanks to everyone who has donated so far, and a SUPER big shoutout to the people who donated $100+! Also of note, one donor's work was going to match their donation (although it won't show in the fundraiser because company matches typically get processed differently), so we're actually at almost $900 right now!

Thank you and please continue to boost this if you can!

Hello everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been more active on here. Still, I thank you for supporting me along the way! 

For the sixth year in the row, I will be running a fundraising campaign for Liberty in North Korea, an organization that works to help people fleeing the North Korean regime safely make it to freedom. So, I’ve set up a Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) fundraising page, the link to which can be found at the bottom of this post and in my blog description.

I’ve always wanted to use this blog for education and to do some tangible good in the world. The last two years, we've raised over $1000, which was absolutely lightyears beyond what I thought this fandom could do! I’m setting the goal this year at $1000, by January 1st. Let’s try and keep the momentum going!

I know people can be strapped for cash this time of year, so don’t feel bad if you can’t donate! You can still reblog this post to help more people see it!

If you would like to learn more about what challenges North Korean refugees face and what sort of work LiNK does for them, you can read more about that here (be warned, possible triggering content ahead).

Let’s band together and change someone’s life for the better!

Click here to donate.

#refugee fundraiser

[ask-north-korea]

Hello everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been more active on here. Still, I thank you for supporting me along the way! 

For the sixth year in the row, I will be running a fundraising campaign for Liberty in North Korea, an organization that works to help people fleeing the North Korean regime safely make it to freedom. So, I’ve set up a Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) fundraising page, the link to which can be found at the bottom of this post and in my blog description.

I’ve always wanted to use this blog for education and to do some tangible good in the world. The last two years, we've raised over $1000, which was absolutely lightyears beyond what I thought this fandom could do! I’m setting the goal this year at $1000, by January 1st. Let’s try and keep the momentum going!

I know people can be strapped for cash this time of year, so don’t feel bad if you can’t donate! You can still reblog this post to help more people see it!

If you would like to learn more about what challenges North Korean refugees face and what sort of work LiNK does for them, you can read more about that here (be warned, possible triggering content ahead).

Let’s band together and change someone’s life for the better!

Click here to donate.

#hetalia #aph #hws #aph north korea #hws north korea #aph korea #hws korea #aph south korea #hws south korea #refugees #refugee fundraiser

[ask-north-korea]

Hi all, I know I haven't been on this blog much lately due to stepping away from Hetalia, but I still wanted to do my annual fundraiser for LiNK. I will try and get a post out with some art this weekend but for now, you can read about LiNK and their mission below (possible triggering content at the link).

"We rescue North Korean refugees without cost or condition. The free passage model ensures that refugees are treated with dignity and respect throughout the dangerous journey, and allows them to begin their new lives in freedom without the burden of repaying thousands of dollars to brokers for helping them escape."

I also went ahead and created the fundraiser page. The fundraiser link is live and you can donate here.

#hetalia #aph #hws #aph north korea #hws north korea #hws korea #aph korea #aph south korea #hws south korea

[ask-north-korea]

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1040480.html

OOC;; Sorry for not answering asks, but here’s an interesting and sobering article I came across. Unfortunately I feel this is an issue that is likely to get worse with time as the cultural rift expands and the generation who remembers a unified Korea continues to shrink.

#refugees #ooc discussion

[ask-north-korea]

(OOC) I've actually read Every Falling Star, so a warning ahead of time, it's an emotionally difficult read. A really good book that shows a lot about life both in and out of the capital, but a hard read nonetheless

OOC;; Thanks for the warning! I’ll make sure I’m in a good state of mind before I try to read it.

#ooc

[ask-north-korea]

OOC;;

Hi all. Sorry I haven’t drawn a response in a while. I’ve gotten a few asks about the Russia-Ukraine war and just want to remind everyone that I do not comment on tragedies and human rights abuses in-character. If you want me to talk about it out-of-character (OOC) please specify that when you ask. Thank you.

#hetalia #aph #hws

[ask-north-korea]

(OOC) Same anon here who asked for sources. Yes! That is all very helpful, thank you. I actually stumbled onto NK News on accident a few days ago.. I have a reading suggestion of “Every Falling Star” by Sungju Lee. It’s a true story of survival and escape of North Korea starting from the economic crisis. Hope you’re having a good day mun!

OOC;; You're welcome and thank you! I'll add that to my list of stuff to read.

#reading rec #reading list

[ask-north-korea]

(OOC) I feel like people should remember that you can both acknowledge how dangerous western imperialism is and hold the dprk accountable for their human rights abuses

👆

#OOC

[ask-north-korea]

How does make you feel when other countries spread rumours and lies about you?

"Amazing how they are able to paint me as a monster, but fail to see the one right in front of them."

OOC;; This is one of those times where I feel I must remind people that this blog is told from NK’s point of view, and while HE may see himself as a victim, that does not excuse his or his government’s behavior. This is not a defense of the DPRK. Bad things still happen in the DPRK and we can’t let the fact that this is a personification cloud that.

Still, I do believe it is important to take news about North Korea with a grain of salt. We have to remember that there are few reliable sources on a country than has so little information flowing out of it. News outlets are often guilty of sensationalized reporting, because the sad reality is that headlines that spawn feelings of outrage and incredulity get more clicks than boring truths. “North Koreans must get state approved haircuts or get thrown in prison” is a more tantalizing headline than “State sponsored North Korean salons don’t give wacky haircuts because they don’t want to lose their licenses.” It benefits western media to report on North Korea as a backwards place with a cartoon villain for a leader more than it does to report on North Koreans waiting for months/years to be granted asylum.

But it goes the other way too. I’ve come across a handful of people on here who openly support the DPRK because they believe capitalism has failed them and that exaggerated defector stories are all a part of the western imperialist propaganda machine. While some accounts may be exaggerated, there is far too much consistency among them to write off DPRK brutality as “western propaganda.” I think the people who believe this ought to count themselves lucky that they live somewhere free enough that they are able to engage in such discourse.

This is all a bit besides the point. There is generally a bit of truth even to the sensationalized, but it takes some critical thinking to sort through it, just like any other media, and it’s important to keep that in mind when reading news about North Korea. Still, NK as a character is often an unreliable narrator, and his views don’t necessarily reflect my own.

#hetalia #aph #hws #aph america #hws america #hws north korea #aph korea #hws korea #ic questions #aph north korea

[ask-north-korea]

Are your eyes amber colored? They are so beautiful 😊😊😊

"But I think they're just brown, honestly."

OOC;; I draw both Koreas' eyes with the same brown, but the highlights and shine colors I use for them are different, mostly because I just like to keep a red/blue dichotomy going on between them.

Here it is up close, with bonus Allies!

#hetalia #aph #hws #aph korea #hws korea #aph north korea #hws north korea #ic questions

[ask-north-korea]

(OOC) I am considering doing my own research on the Koreas, but I’m not sure where to start. Wikipedia eludes me since it has a bad reputation. What are some resources you suggest? Including books, blogs, videos, etc. Thank you!

OOC;;

Sorry for the slow response! I use a wide mix of things. Wikipedia isn't a bad place to start as far as finding significant events and cultural points and things, then just research those further with other sources.

I have a North Korea reading list here if you want some initial recommendations. Another book I've been meaning to add to it that I just haven't gotten around to yet is The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam. That one's pretty good for the political and cultural climate that led up to the Korean War.

Another resource I haven't put on the reading list is NK News. They have a podcast (I got it off Audible, but it might just be on their website too) that I've listened to on a few occasions that had some interesting guest speakers. The episodes run 1.5 - 2 hrs long so I haven't listened to too many yet. I also like their "Ask a North Korean" column and reference it every so often. The thing that makes me kind of iffy about NKNews though is the paywall, so...choose your 3 articles wisely lol. I don't pay for it, because it seems to reset every couple months or so and that's about how often I make posts requiring significant research.

Hope that helps!

#ooc

[ask-north-korea]

Notes: The Korean War ended in 1953, after three years of fighting, with the country still divided in roughly the same place as it was when the war began. After some initial reluctance and subsequent convincing by the Chinese and Soviets, the North Koreans came to the table to be signatories of the Armistice Agreement, along with China and the United States (technically representing United Nations Command). However, South Korea’s leader, Syngman Rhee, was staunchly opposed to signing the Armistice, as he refused to accept having failed to unite the country by force. As a result, South Korea never formally signed the Armistice.

OOC;; This is for @thenightlymartini as thanks for their donation to the fundraising campaign! They wanted something angsty with the Korea bros based on the song Love is Gone, which just kind of made me think of the end of the Korean War. Thank you again for your continued support!

#hetalia #aph #hws #aph korea #hws korea #aph south korea #hws south korea #aph north korea #hws north korea #ic questions #aph china #aph america #hws china #hws america

[ask-north-korea]

Merry Christmas everyone! Just a reminder that this fundraiser is still going until the end of the month!

Hello everyone! Another year, another excuse to draw Sang Kyu in a sweater. It’s been a tough year for us all, and I wish I had been a bit more active on here. Still, I thank you for supporting me along the way! 

For the fifth year in the row, I will be running a fundraising campaign for Liberty in North Korea, an organization that works to help people fleeing the North Korean regime safely make it to freedom. So, I’ve set up a Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) fundraising page, the link to which can be found at the bottom of this post and in my blog description.

I’ve always wanted to use this blog for education and to do some tangible good in the world. I want to prove that Hetalians aren’t just here for stereotypes and parody–our involvement in this fandom has changed many of us for the better, enlightening us to people and cultures we may have never otherwise known or cared about. Last year with all the hype around the new season, we raised over $1000, which was absolutely lightyears beyond what I thought this fandom could do! I’m setting the goal this year at $1000, by January 1st. Let’s try and keep the momentum going!

I know people can be strapped for cash this time of year, so don’t feel bad if you can’t donate! You can still reblog this post to help more people see it! I will also reblog this post with some more information about LiNK if you would like to learn more about what challenges North Korean refugees face and what sort of work LiNK does for them!

Let’s band together and change someone’s life for the better!

>>>If you would like to donate or check the fundraiser’s progress, click here!<<<