Re: Generic Term

[Ed Evanhoe <evanhoe@arbuckleonline.com>]

Jack,

 >>At 12:30 AM 5/2/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>Korean War List:
>            My understanding is that "guk" is a generic Korean term for 
> man. Korean man=Hanguk; American man=Meiguk or Miguk.
>Literally, Man of the Han and/or Man of the Rice country{America]. 
>Naturally, American GIs adopted what the English-speaking Koreans were 
>saying & it became "gook", which rubs our friend John2 wrong. Sorry bout 
>that, John2. Best regards, J. Baker<<

Not quite accurate:  "Guk", or "Kuk" is "country."  But"Gook" was in the GI 
vocabulary during World War Two and earlier.  First recorded use of "Gook" 
I've seen was in a novel about the Huk Rebellion in the Philippines written 
in the early 1900's. (I don't remember the novel's name or author.)

Ed


Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523-0916
Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com