Staying Calm in South Korea

It's finally starting to warm up (at least in Busan).  The cherry blossoms were in full bloom last week and are now losing their flowers and buds of bright green are showing.  Construction projects and roadwork is taking over.  School is in full swing.  Midterms are 2 1/2 weeks away.  It's beautiful in South Korea!  No one is even talking about North Korea and its threats.

I've read several blogs and iReports on CNN about what it's like to live in South Korea at this time.  I am going to paraphrase my favorite ones.

South Korea has been in this conflict with North Korea for 60 years.  North Korea is always threatening South Korea.  This is nothing new!  The U.S. media has had a slow month, or something, and has taken the most recent threats and have just run with them.

So family and friends, please do not worry about us.  Just 30 minutes ago, I got an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.  This is what the e-mail said - exactly:

The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The Embassy has not changed its security posture and we have not recommended that U.S. citizens who reside in, or plan to visit, the Republic of Korea take special security precautions at this time. The U.S. Embassy takes as its highest priority the welfare of American citizens in Korea. Should the security situation change, the Embassy will issue updated information.

To assuage your fears even more, Zach and I have a contingency plan for if something were to happen.  We don't have anything packed, but all of our paperwork, legal documents, etc. are in one central place and we can grab it quickly if needed.  We are also enrolled in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which will send us information if something were to happen.

Do yourselves and us a favor: take what you hear in the media with a grain of salt.  They are giving you the WORST POSSIBLE scenarios.  Everyone here is aware of what is going on; no one is denying it.  It just isn't something new and probably nothing to worry about.  If things were to go south (metaphorically speaking), our government will evacuate us immediately.

Unless and until something happens, we are not going to live in fear.  We are going to continue to live day to day, attend baseball games, celebrate birthdays, go to the gym, and eat our kimchi, and drink our soju.  :)