Case Study – South Korea

“The 53% of South Koreans who were found to be antisemitic was also more than double the global average of 26 percent of the population.
It was also substantially higher than the 37 percent of all Muslims living in Asia who were found to hold anti-Semitic viewpoints.”^[1][1] https://thediplomat.com/2014/05/why-is-south-korea-so-anti-semitic/

ADL Global 100 Survey Questions – South Korea

Percentages of South Koreans responding “probably true” to at least six of the following antisemitic stereotypes:

South-Korean-Responses-to-ADL-Global-100-Survey-Questions-2 Download

“Rabbi Osher Litzman, who has lived in South Korea for six years, told Korea Real Time that the statements assumed to be negative in the West may not apply universally. Mr. Litzman said that in his experience, the Jewish stereotypes related to wielding influence in politics, business or media are viewed as positives in South Korea, with some expressing a will to emulate. The Talmud, he noted, was one of the bestselling books in the country, and is available in convenience stores and train station kiosks. “Koreans love the Jews. I’ve only seen admiration, appreciation and love.” he said…. While caution is needed in interpreting the results of the survey responses from South Koreans, it does appear to show relative ignorance among South Koreans with regards to Judaism and the history of anti-Semitism.”^[2][2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-KRTB-5781

“Their fascination is primarily one with “Jewish success, power, and wealth”: “The paradox of a country where book-vending machines sell Korean versions of the Talmud and documentaries on Judaism are broadcast on television, at the same time that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has found South Korea to be one of the most anti-Semitic countries in the world although there are not more than 100 Jewish residents, …. While this interest delights the current Chabad rabbi in Seoul, Schilling is less enthusiastic. According to him, this has little to do with a love for Judaism, but rather with an interest in tools for improving Koreans’ own achievements. They hope to find the secret technique that has supposedly allowed Jews to prosper. Their fascination is primarily one with “Jewish success, power, and wealth,” thus spreading stereotypes. Consequently, it should not be a surprise that a 2014 ADL survey shows that more than half of South Koreans think that Jews have too much power and influence.”^[3][3] https://www.religionwatch.com/imagined-judaism-popular-in-south-korea-a-country-without-jews/

“… Rhie Won-bok maintained, however, that his depiction of Jewish control of American media and politics was based on fact and “commonly believed.” “The Jews are the invisible force that controls the U.S.,” Rhie, a professor of visual arts at Duksung Women’s University in Seoul, told AP. “I wrote the chapter to let people know that you can’t understand the U.S. without knowing the Jewish community.” … Rhie said the September 11 attacks occurred because of Arab terrorists’ hatred for the U.S. he blamed on Jews who “move the U.S. in the way they want using money and the media as their weapon.” The book also says Korean-Americans are diligent and successful in the U.S. “but in the end, always run into the wall called the Jews.”

“The three Korean publications ran stories^[4][4] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-16/samsung-and-shylock-korean-takeover-fight-gets-uglier attacking Jews seeking to thwart Samsung—one called Jews “ruthless and merciless”—the chief executive officers of the Lees’ de facto holding company…. Sisa Journal, a well-known weekly newsmagazine, published a story headlined “Samsung’s Caught in the Jewish Financial Powerhouses’ Radar,”^[5][5] http://www.sisajournal.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=64830%20 purporting to detail how Elliott and other financiers of Jewish descent, such as George Soros and Carl Icahn, have formed a cabal to attack vulnerable countries and companies around the world, with help from Morgan Stanley Capital International. … The familiar slander of Jews as financial schemers has been in full bloom.^[6][6] https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-bigot-defense-1436569461?cb=logged0.6957331800367683 The Sisa Journal article quoted a former South Korean diplomat in the U.S., an author of a book describing Jewish world domination, who said Jews usually control Wall Street’s hedge funds. A U.S.-educated lawyer told the magazine’s readers: “That the financial powers of Wall Street are dominated by Jews is a well-known fact.”