코리아헤럴드

The recent China food scare caused by the toxic chemical melamine has been sweeping the nation like a whirlwind, devastating the Korean food industry. Melamine is used extensively by some Chinese dairy companies and can be found everywhere in our daily diets, such as in evaporated milk, snacks, custards, biscuits, cookies and even coffee cream. No one seems safe or immune from this poisonous substance. Ever since the melamine scare hit, Koreans have responded to the situation with mixed emotions of shock, dismay and fury.

Strangely, however, there have been no candlelight demonstrations - not a single one - condemning China for exporting such products that are hazardous to our health. Just a few months ago, the Korean people were roaring "Protect our children from American mad cow beef!" It is odd that Koreans are not now organizing demonstrations to protect our children from the deadly melamine toxin.

To take precaution, shouldn`t our schools, which once banned American beef resolutely from school cafeterias, initiate a nationwide campaign to ban any suspicious food imported from China? Where are the countless candlelight demonstrators who once swarmed around City Hall Plaza?

The reason appears to be obvious. When American beef was the issue, radical political groups had set up the candlelight demonstrations and used the "useful idiots" to subvert the right-wing government and instigate anti-American sentiment in South Korea. This time they will not interfere with the Chinese scandal since there would be no political gain for them to criticize China. It is important to note, however, that the melamine scare is a clear danger that threatens the health of our children, whereas the mad cow scare had been groundless with no scientific evidence.

It was Lenin who first used the term "useful idiots" in reference to the Communist sympathizers of the West. Useful idiots in capitalist countries had believed that they were doing the right thing for the right cause. However, in actuality, they were nothing but despicable puppets that would be disposed of as soon as their political usefulness diminished.

To the eyes of the leftist activists in our country, those who were mobilized for the anti-mad cow beef demonstrations also acted as useful idiots. The irony is that to North Korean politicians, those leftist activists in South Korea are also useful idiots who could be purged immediately when and if North Korean troops invade South Korea.

It is ironic because those who are called useful idiots would never actually realize that they are being used. That is why Detective John McClane in "Live Free or Die Hard" clicks his tongue, muttering, "Useful idiots!"

Likewise, many Koreans mistake their joining in candlelight demonstrations as an act of justice, not realizing that they are being deliberately manipulated by malicious groups for political purposes.

These days, many of our restaurants carry menus that read, "We do not use American beef" or "We use Australian beef only." Never have I seen a sign at any Korean store that says, "We do not sell Chinese snacks."

A few months ago, Chinese demonstrators became violent and beat up Korean protesters and police officers in broad daylight in the heart of Seoul. At the sight of this, we stood there and watched helplessly. What would have happened if it had been American demonstrators and not Chinese? Most likely, the Korean people would have been furious and held huge violent candlelight demonstrations condemning the United States.

This is not fair at all. And yet, the moment you point this fact out, you are likely to be labeled as a disgraceful pro-American traitor.

Newspaper reports say that the Korean Embassy in Beijing had already warned our government last year of the potential dangers of melamine from China. As usual, the Korean government did not respond quickly. Since the Korean government is incredibly slow to take action during times of crisis, it has always been the Korean people who are left to bear the weight of the consequences.

Unlike Korea, other countries are quick to find solutions when problems arise. When about 200 cats and 100 dogs died from Chinese wheat gluten that contained melamine, the United States took swift action and was able to save millions of pets` lives.

Only underdeveloped countries tamper with food. Adding toxic chemicals into food is a criminal act - an indirect mass murder. And only underdeveloped countries lie. We cannot trust our food companies that proclaim that they have never used toxic dairy products imported from China. Many of them have lied to us in times of crisis. This is the time for protesting against such shameful, immoral acts that threaten our lives. But where have all the candlelight demonstrators gone? Where are they now?

Kim Seong-kon is a professor of English at Seoul National University and president of the American Studies Association of Korea. - Ed.