Huang Wenxiong’s analysis of the Korean Peninsula provides a precise historical explanation for its enduring patterns of behavior.
Hamel’s account offers a decisive answer to modern questions and is essential reading for understanding East Asia.

In the chapter where he writes about the Korean Peninsula, there was a perfect answer to the hypothesis proposed by the friend mentioned above.
2016-10-24
Because I had lived my life as a businessman and was therefore unknown in intellectual circles, I appeared in the world of the internet out of necessity, for the sake of Japan and the world, and as you know, I suffered greatly after encountering criminals among resident Koreans, particularly numerous in Osaka.
As already stated, a friend who is an exceptionally capable businessman and also a religious figure declared regarding the man who not only defrauded our company of a vast sum exceeding 100 million yen but has also continued relentless attacks against me and my writings in the internet sphere—(the only period during which these attacks ceased was when, prior to appearing at our company, he had been arrested for defrauding another bank of an even larger sum and was imprisoned)—that “I suspect this man may be an agent of North Korea; that would make sense.”
Differences Among Japan, China, and Korea That Have Astonished Foreigners for 2,000 Years, Why the World Ultimately Grows Weary of China and Korea and Comes to Admire Japan, by Huang Wenxiong, is a book through which I have informed the world that Mr. Huang is one of the foremost scholars on China and Japan.
However, this book also proves that he is one of the world’s foremost scholars on the Korean Peninsula.
In the chapter where he writes about the Korean Peninsula, there was a perfect answer to the hypothesis proposed by the friend mentioned above.
All emphasis in the text other than the headings is mine.

p.89, The Miserable State of the Korean Peninsula as Conveyed by Missionaries

In 1666, Hendrick Hamel and eight others successfully escaped and were handed over from the Goto Islands to the Dutch trading post at Dejima by the Nagasaki magistrate. The remaining seven were also handed over two years later through negotiations by the shogunate.
According to Hamel’s report, An Account of the Shipwreck of a Dutch Vessel on the Coast of Korea, the king of Korea was an absolute monarch, yet decided his successor only with the consent of the Manchu ruler.
Tatar envoys and the Uriankhai, a minority people living near the Manchurian border, came three times a year to collect tribute.
Korean high officials feared the Tatars and paid bribes and hush money. When Manchu envoys arrived, the Korean king personally led his officials to the Welcoming Gate to show respect, and the crown prince was required to entertain them with banquets and performances.
Looking at Korean history, this was the period when King Injo died in 1649 and his son Hyojong succeeded him. Hyojong had previously spent eight years as a hostage detained in Shenyang, China, during his time as crown prince.
In 1616, the Manchu leader Nurhaci of the Aisin Gioro clan founded the Later Jin dynasty, proclaiming the “Seven Grievances” against the Ming.
At that time, Korea, as a tributary state of the Ming, repeatedly attacked the Later Jin, invading Jurchen territories under the protection of Ming authority and expanding its territory compared to the Goryeo dynasty.
In response, Hong Taiji, the second ruler of the Later Jin, established the Qing Empire in alliance with the Mongols and launched a counterattack against Korea, an event known in Korean history as the “Horan.”
As a result of the Jeongmyo Horan of 1627 and the Byeongja Horan of 1636, Korea shifted from being a tributary of the Ming to a tributary of the Qing. The crown prince, princes, high officials, and their families—around one hundred people—were taken hostage and forcibly deported north by the Eight Banners army. The common people taken along are said to have numbered about 500,000, roughly half the population at the time, with some records indicating even more. Hong Taiji also compelled Korea to construct monuments and facilities such as the Stele of Eulogizing Virtue, the Welcoming Gate, and the Mohwagwan, and designated Korea as the “lowest of the low” among tributary states.
“Korean soldiers” were cowardly, fled immediately when matters became critical, frequently massacred civilians, and were of little military value.

[Omitted]

“They have a strong tendency to steal, lie, and deceive. One should not place much trust in them. Inflicting harm on others is regarded by them as an achievement rather than a disgrace.”

[Omitted]

I am convinced that Hamel’s analysis provides the best possible answer to the question posed by the aforementioned friend, who is both an outstanding businessman and a religious figure.
This book by Mr. Huang is essential reading for all Japanese citizens.
It is also essential reading for people around the world who are utterly ignorant of Asia, particularly United Nations officials who in reality receive high salaries funded by Japanese taxpayers, as well as exceedingly poor scholars in the United States such as Alexis Dudden and John Dower.
To be continued.