Why Is President Park Wearing A Veil During Her Iran Visit?
Image via KBS World Radio.
What strikes out at me in regards to President Park’s visit to Iran is that she is wearing a veil. What made this jump out at me was that I remembered that she did not wear a veil when she visited Saudi Arabia last year:
President Park Geun-hye (left) meets with Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia, during a bilateral summit. They discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations across a range of sectors. [Korea.net]
She is not only wearing a veil, but one that is covering not only her hair, but her entire neck. According to this Korea Times article President Park was trying to show respect for Iranian customs and culture. How about the Iranian government show respect to her and understand she is a head of state of one of the world’s great country’s and should not be subjugated to Iranian customs. If Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ever visits South Korea does anyone think we will see them dressed up in a hanbok in respect to Korean culture?
President Park is simply showing respect… putting on a positive image of South Korea to the Iranian people for the long-term benefit of Korea.
Headscarf theater, if you will.
There is a thick and blurry line between respect and toadyism. President Park is on the respectful side.
…and for good reason.
Iran is not exactly what it is represented to be in the Western media. They are a wealthy and important market for Korean products with a sophisticated population having rather refined tastes (ar least in Tahran
They should be welcomed into the global economy… with the deterrent to nuclear weapons being effective cleverly-targeted cruise missile strikes rather than worthless sanctions that harden their resolve.
GI Korea asks:
Hmm… I can’t speak for President Hassan Rouhani, but President George W. Bush rocked some strange outfits in the name of Diplomacy. Clinton started the ball rolling with bomber jackets for everybody, George W. embraced it with zest and gusto, while Obama dialed it back a bit…
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/photo-essays/2014-11-10/no-president-rocks-apec-fashion-like-george-w-bush
The man loved him some big polka-dots! (Pic 11/14)
And W. DID indeed roll up in a hanbok. Are the bows scented? I’ve never noticed. (pic 7/14)
President Park realizes the reality that NK is in bed with the Iranians on a lot of things and is trying to court favor. Plus I am sure that the protocol offices of both Saudi and the ROK agreed beforehand that President Park need not cover her head in Saudi.
This isn’t a veil. Don’t worry. She’s probably not a secret Muslim. I mean, probably. Has anyone seen her birth certificate?
Don’t you see the contradiction? In her earlier visit she chose not to wear a veil. In this visit she chooses to do it. If she is free to make her own choices she is not being subjugated.
See this page on Dress Code in Iran. There was a time not that long ago, even in the post-hanbok era up to the ’80’s, there was still a conservative dress code for Koreans in Korea too.
I think CH nailed it…
@JoeC, according to the Korea Times article the Iranian government hardliners were not going to look favorably on her unless she wore the headscarf. So yes she had a choice, but not really if she wanted to push her agenda with the Iranians. So does anyone think Rouhani will wear a hanbok when he visits Korea as a sign of respect to Koreans?
Well, I gave you my opinion. He will, if he wants his Diplomat Game to be up there with W’s, otherwise may so, maybe no.
Oh, where is the Login Screen? I liked my little mountain biking monster…
@MTB Rider, I have been tweaking the theme a bit recently. I forgot to put in a log in box. I just put one on the side bar below the recent comments. After you log in go to the dashboard. At the dashboard look at the left sidebar and click users and then select “your profile”. On this screen is where you can upload an avatar on to my server or put in your Gravatar.
Found it!
“If Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ever visits South Korea does anyone think we will see them dressed up in a hanbok in respect to Korean culture?”
Koreans these days don’t even typically wear Hanbok. It’s an apples to oranges comparison.
I think she is merely practicing diplomacy–pushing her agenda in a non-aggressive way by showing respect for their local customs. A lot of the art of diplomacy is non-verbal.
I thought Chickenhead said the Iranian girls looked like strippers.
Is this some daywear versus nightware “thing”? Or indoor wear versus outerwear?
Or am I just being gullible?
Probably the last.
Liz, I shyt you not.
Ultra-heavy makeup, over-the-top fashion, skimpy headscarves (he said unironically), big sunglasses, etc.
This picture is a perfect example of what many girls strive for. They all have hundreds of selfies like this. (Well… not ALL… but an amazingly large number in a country which Americans think is some sort of backwards third world hell hole.) Questions about such things got the response,”Ha ha. This isn’t Saudi.”
http://67.media.tumblr.com/03344dca37c7c7c70087d774d33a8aa7/tumblr_nifp3u4fFu1rmdpl4o1_500.jpg
You do realize that as a result of her being there ,
45~ 50 billion dollars worth of contracts were signed .
A head scarf ! , I just think Koreans know when it’s time to get paid !