Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Charles, Diana visit Korea, stir reconciliation talk Date: Mon, 2 Nov 92 15:45:13 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \HD Charles, Diana visit Korea, stir reconciliation talk \BY Michael Breen \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES \DT SEOUL SEOUL - Prince Charles and Princess Diana today begin their first overseas visit together since this summer's revelations of an unhappy marriage, prompting hope of a royal reconciliation. The four-day visit to Korea, intended to boost British industry, will be closely watched instead for signs of renewed affection between the Prince and Princess of Wales. In Korea, it is considered the best time of the year for love to blossom. The nation in autumn is a blaze of color with its forest-padded mountains a stunning mix of reds, browns, yellows and greens. The royal couple will stay in the presidential suite on the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel overlooking Itaewon, a neon mass of discos and bars popular with U.S. soldiers and foreign tourists. On the eve of the visit, Korean TV ran documentaries about the royal family to clear up a common belief among Koreans that Diana is seeking a divorce. "I was surprised to hear they are coming together," said Chang Young-hee, a professor of English literature at Sogang University. "Most Koreans are wondering how much alimony she will get from Prince Charles." The visit comes at a time when Koreans are increasingly interested in Britain, a relationship long overshadowed by the dominant alliance between Seoul and Washington. British troops fought and died for South Korea during the Korean War. But until recently Koreans knew little about Britain other than the one-liner they learned in elementary school, that Britain is a "nation of gentlemen." A recent poll found for the first time that Britain was the Koreans' favorite country, pushing out the United States and Switzerland, a perennial winner admired for its neutrality. David Wright, the British ambassador in Seoul, said that British industry should capitalize on the "good will." But there are fears that the British press, an aspect of gentlemanly Britain unknown to the Korean public, will undo much of that good will during the next four days. For example, the British press has in the past made much of the Korean penchant for eating dog. London tabloids once warned that the queen should lock up her famous royal Corgis when the Korean president visited Buckingham Palace. Fortunately, the Corgi case was not reported back in Seoul by Korean correspondents. Koreans, who have a historical experience of being bullied by foreign powers, are highly sensitive to apparent slights. For instance, during the Seoul Olympics, claims that NBC-TV was running critical reports on Korea in addition to its coverage of the games sparked an ugly wave of anti-Americanism. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM