Baeguk

[beifengxiaoxiao]

Death of Imperial Yak Mourned on Social Media

5575.7.17. - Gongmangdo - In the wee hours of the early morning, news broke from the Kofitalk account of His Grace Baek Dohoon, confirming the death of the KGB's endearing Imperial Yak, Dhondup. The response from citizens was swift and mournful, with many reminiscing about how they had seen the beloved bovine personally. Dhondup, born in 5547, was given to the Imperial couple as a wedding gift and became central to the Crown Prince's childhood growing up. Dhondup was prominent not only within the walls of Jesu Palace, but was a frequent visitor to Gongmangdo's Petting Zoo, where he connected with young Baegukese children from all over. He lived to the age of 28, a good number for a Yak in captivity.

Others, however, did spoof the deceased animal with internet memes, some referencing Dhondup's origins as a state gift from the Xsampan Democratic Republic. One commenter, for instance, wrote the following in the Luthorian language:

blud asked what happened on 5354 may 17 in zhi'bde rgyal'sgo square 

It has become a fashionable meme on the Baegukese internet to refer to the Zhi'bde Rgyal'sgo Square Incident when discussion is about Xsampa. It references a massacre during a student demonstration in Metz-Leonid's Zhi'bde Rgyal'sgo Square in 5354, when students calling for political liberalization and unification with the then-extant South Xsampa were arrested or massacred en masse by the Communist Government. The episode is harshly censored in Xsampa even today, so memes mentioning it mock the political repression that exists in communist Xsampa.  

Nonetheless, the lovable Yak who frequently made his rounds at the Gongmangdo Petting Zoo will be missed by the people, crown and nation.

In Other News
Myeoggi Man Stopped for Riding Tiger on Road

Mr. Heukchi Bitgaram (42) was stopped and arrested today by Mirikapa County police for attempting to ride a Dovanian Tiger alongside the highway as if it were a car. The Dovanian Tiger, known nationwide as the Horangi and locally as the Beom, is the co-national animal of the Kingdom of Great Baeguk alongside the Reindeer, appearing on Baeguk's Coat of Arms. The Tiger has immense cultural significance, as in traditional mythology it is believed that the Kyo people are descended from the woman known as Donyeo, who was originally a Tiger. Despite its' long and storied history living alongside all Baegukese people, the Dovanian Tiger - once widespread and even running wild in Gongmangdo - was driven to critical endangerment in the 21st and 22nd centuries under Egelian Colonial Rule, with Egelian noble families and rich tourists often going on extremely destructive hunting trips for their hides. Though post-independence conservation efforts did for a time revitalize their range in the nation, the rigorous industrialization and deforesting that accompanied Baeguk's 54th century economic revival has once more seen the Dovanian Tiger classified as endangered. Currently they are only known to inhabit the remote crevices of the Jangcheong Mountain Range in small numbers.

As a result of the need to conserve and protect the few that remain, the capture and holding of Dovanian Tigers is strictly forbidden by law and can be punishable by a fine up to ㉤30,000 Circuses and/or jailtime up to a year. Mr. Heukchi was later released from the station as a free man, but his Tiger was confiscated and the police declared their intent to resettle it on protected reserve territory. Mr. Heukchi told The Gongmangdo Times that he plans to dispute the seizure of his pet at court. Public outcry on the internet has called for the return of the Tiger, but so far the Mirikapa County PD have given no indication over any changes to their plan to work with Myeoggi Province authorities to return the beast to the wild.