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South Korea Dumps Jill Kelley, Gives Prestigious Award to Psy

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Tue Nov 27, 2012 at 08:32:00 AM EST
Tags: South Korea, Jill Kelley, Psy (all tags)
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These days, Tampa housewife Jill Kelley can't win, and South Korean rapper Psy can't lose.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it is rescinding her "title" of Honorary consul because she used it for personal gain.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun told South Korean reporters during a visit to Washington that Kelley inappropriately used her title for personal gain.

"It's not suitable to the status of honorary consul that (she) sought to be involved in commercial projects and peddle influence," Kim said, according to Yonhap news agency.

Psy, meanwhile, can do no wrong. (background here.) The South Korean Culture Ministry announced a few weeks ago it would be awarding Psy with the prestigious Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, awarded for “outstanding meritorious services” to the arts. [More...]

Psy has been chosen to be decorated for not only being a long-term artist, but also for advertising Gangnam widely and increasing the world’s interest in Korea,” a culture ministry official told AFP.

If Jill moved to Korea, she'd undoubtedly knock on doors in Gangnam trying to buy a house -- just like she did in Tampa.

Determined to make her footprint, Jill Kelley knocked on doors up and down Bayshore Boulevard, asking homeowners if their house was for sale. She wanted the prestigious address, and she got it. In June 2004, the couple paid $1.5 million for a 4,800-square-foot brick mansion with stately white pillars and a view of Hillsborough Bay, just six miles from MacDill Air Force Base.

Gangnam is home to all the "moving on up" crowd. The culture there is one of materialism. That's why Psy parodies it in the Gangnam video. It's filled with people who bluff, and pretend to be rich and trendy.

Gangnam Style today has 821 million views. How long till he breaks the billion mark?

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    South Korea Dumps Jill Kelley, Gives Prestigious Award to Psy | 21 comments (21 topical)

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    We still need to know what flights (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 27, 2012 at 09:01:28 AM EST
    Jill Kelley took out of MacDill for free, and still need to know if her sister took advantage of free flights to DC too.  General Allen has been sent back to Kabul and his old job.  No new job for him because some things are questionable.

    The Pentagon is hoping we will forget about this and stop asking questions.

    General Petraeus gave Jill Kelley the most prestigious award a civilian can be given for aiding the military. It's so embarrassing.  People are slaving away night and day to perfect prosthetics, visiting soldiers everyday in hospitals and aiding their families however they can while others are building houses for wounded soldiers.  But David Petraeus chose to bestow high honors upon catering and cigars.

    NYT op-ed columnist, (none / 0) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 27, 2012 at 01:12:28 PM EST
    Joe Nocera, apparently feels that Petraeus has completed his time in "purgatory"  for in his "Obama's New Cabinet" Nov 27, he floats the trial balloon of David Petraeus as Secretary of Defense.

    His reasoning being that someone is needed who can cut the Defense budget without hurting its mission--and who can reform the most entrenched bureaucracy in Washington.  The Military brass, he fears, will run circles around any defense secretary who doesn't know their tricks, and Petraeus knows about tricks.

    Mr. Nocera's judgment seems to be about as good as his nominee's.   There is no mention of who will  write the next biography: " All In, continued:  the Pentagon Years."  

    Parent

    You have to be a civilian for seven years (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Militarytracy