Ask a Korean! Wiki: Mixed Koreans?

Dear Korean,

As an 18 year old male of mixed Korean/British race, what is modern Korea's outlook to an "unpure" Korean?

Jonathan L.

Dear Jonathan,

The only answer that the Korean could give is: it wildly depends on the individual. In the 1950s and the following years, there definitely was a strong discrimination against mixed raced Koreans, because they were generally assumed to be the products of an American G.I. and an unchaste Korean mother. (Which, actually, was in general not too far off from the truth.) The decisive turning point happened in 2006, when Hines Ward, a biracial Korean American won the Super Bowl MVP trophy. As Koreans rushed to celebrate Ward, they also engaged in a national soul-searching about the treatment of biracial Koreans. Fast forward to 2011, and there is now a girl group with three out of five members being biracial poised to debut. The number of biracial Korean children is exploding, increasing by 92.8 percent in the last three years. Officially Korean government is encouraging multiculturalism, but individual attitudes are all over the place. If you are of mixed heritage, some Koreans might shun you. But some Koreans might find you interesting and easier to approach than 100 percent foreigners.

The Korean will give a caveat, however: race does not have THAT big of a place in Korean people's mind. A lot of foreigners (loosely defined, since people in Jonathan's situation are both Korean and foreigner) particularly Westerners, tend to overrate Korean racism. Pay close attention to the word choice here -- the opposite of "overrate" is "properly rate". As the Korean stated over and over again on this blog, racism in Koreans is real, and it is a serious issue. But at the same time, it is not as if it is the primary, or even secondary or tertiary concern in the minds of Koreans. Foreigners tend to overrate Korea's racism because they worry about it as if their race will be the sole determinant of how Koreans perceive them. They seriously send questions fearing for their safety in Korea, as if Koreans were the white slave owners of the antebellum South. Relax. There are many things that Koreans value over race. For example, regardless of race, Koreans will respect you if you went to an Ivy League school. Regardless of race, Koreans will respect you if you come from a good family, with parents engaged in respected professions. Again, racism in Korea is real, but its application is subtle -- it is not like anyone is facing a Jim Crow rule in Korea. How a non-Korean is treated in Korea depends a lot more factors than race alone.

Having said all that, the Korean will present this Wiki question for all the hapa Koreans. Do you live in Korea, or have you visited Korea recently? How was your impression of your life/stay in Korea? What kind of experiences did you have? The Korean would like to encourage a good, meaty discussion -- the Korean would love to supplement this post with well-written observations.

-EDIT 8/20/2011- To the idiots who keep claiming that the Korean is somehow trying to defend Korea's racism:

In addition to inviting a dialogue, characterizing racism in Korea as "real" and "serious," and linking to posts in which the reality and gravity of Korea's racism are discussed, the Korean bothered to put up an emailed comment that describes Korea's treatment of Amerasian people as "atrocity" and "ethnic cleansing." Yeah, that's some serious kimcheerleading right there.

Please, give only relevant comments to the post. This post is about biracial Koreans. Say something about how biracial Koreans are treated in Korea -- either your personal experience, or based on outside materials. As long as the comment is relevant, the Korean really does not care how harsh a word Korea's racism is characterized by. For once in Internet's history, let's try to have a focused, intelligent discussion.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: What is the Best City for Asian Americans?

Dear Korean,

Now that I have some financial freedom to move relatively wherever I want, where is the best place for Asian Americans to live? New York City has been my home for 30 years and I have never liked the attitude towards Asians here.

Sam

Dear Sam,

Very interesting question. The Korean's personal pick would be a tie between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Both cities are heavily Asian, which means no more dumb statements like "Your English is so good!" or "No, where are you really from?" It also means that Asian Americans run major businesses, which means less potential discrimination (intentional or otherwise) in the course of your job. Both cities have very good and real Asian food, although San Francisco leans more Chinese and Los Angeles more Korean/Vietnamese. But they do have slight differences, which ends up being a matter of preference. (It should be obvious that this is all generalization and individual experience may differ.)

San Francisco is where Asian Americans can go in America to feel "normal". The Asian American population there is so old that it is essentially mainstream. Even 80-year-old Asian American grandmothers speak perfect English. Even the white people in San Francisco have gotten so used to Asians that it does not even really register that Asians are supposed to be different somehow. No one has to apologize for the fact that the lunch that he packed for the office smells like Asian food, for example. In San Francisco, an Asian American can live while being oblivious to the fact that she is a minority.

Los Angeles is where Asian Americans can go in America to feel "special". Angelenos want to be hip, and being Asian in 2010 is hip. It is sometimes annoying that people constantly remind your Asian-ness, but that attention is generally positive -- it feels nice that people are curious about your culture and want to learn about it. Asians in Los Angeles tend to be more recent immigrants, which means you tend to be closer to the goings-on of your country of origin (e.g. the latest K-pop), if you care about that type of thing. But that can also mean that Asians in Los Angeles are farther removed from the mainstream.

Since this is a Wiki, let's hear from everyone. Asian American readers, where do you like? If you like your city, make a case for it even if it might not be exactly the "best". For example, the Korean has been curious for some time about what it's like to live in Montgomery, Alabama, where Hyundai is a major employer. Would the locals lovingly embrace Asian Americans who brought them jobs, or secretly resent their presence? Don't limit yourself to American cities either -- let's hear them all.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Freelancing in Korea?

Dear Korean,

What's the freelancing scene like in Korea? Here in NYC, most people I know in my circle are freelancers and the others are salaried folks. I'm wondering if it's the same way in Seoul or Daegu. This may be a candidate for the wiki.

Mike G.

Dear Mike,

Indeed it is! Readers, any thoughts?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Why do You Watch Korean Drama?

Dear Korean,

Here is a simple question. Why are Korean dramas so addicting?

K-drama Fan


Dear K-drama Fan,

Honestly, the Korean does not know. He absolutely LOATHES Korean dramas. Except for a few notable exceptions, the writings are terrible, the lines are unnatural, acting is awkward, everything is about hysterical yelling and the storylines defy belief. The Korean watched exactly three Korean drama series from start to finish in his life, and he hated himself for watching one of them. Give the Korean the DVD set of Six Feet Under, and leave him alone.

This is a particular pickle because many people become enamored of Korean culture through Korean dramas. And these people send such questions like "Why is Korean healthcare system so terrible? Seems like every Korean baby gets switched at birth." ARGH!

But the Korean's big belief is that people are not stupid. If they like something, they like it for a reason. So here is a Wiki question for all AAK! fans of Korean dramas -- why do you watch Korean dramas?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Bikes?

The Korean just came back from his honeymoon with the Korean Wife, so let's ease back into things with a softball Wiki post:

Dear Korean,

Where can I get a decent bike around here? I'm a fairly serious rider and all I can find around here are overpriced Taiwanese made bicycles or super cheap hunks of steel being passed off as "MTB"s. I left my decent bikes in the States thinking I'd have choices over here but so far I've been unable to find anything comparable.

J

J, the last bicycle that the Korean had in Korea probably does not suit your taste, since it still had training wheels. Readers, any ideas?

Got any question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Language Courses for Children?

Dear Korean,

I would love to go to Korea with my kids and spend about a month in the summer with them occasionally seeing relatives, but mostly I would like them to learn about the culture and language. They are half Korean and sadly speak no Korean but I'm hoping I could change that. Their ages range from 7-12 so a hefty program at Yonsei (which I did as a high schooler many years ago) would not be appropriate, but I'm sure there must be something they can do in Korea to learn the language in a more formal way. Do you have any suggestions?

Tina

The Korean is certain that this type of courses would be in demand, but unfortunately he is not aware of one. (Remember, the Korean never had to learn any Korean.) Readers, got any suggestion? Please share in the comment section.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Time Expressions in Korean

Dear Korean,

Anyway I'm after some metaphors involving the concept of 'time' in the language. So far I've gathered:

시간에 쫓기다: 'to be chased by time'
때를 놓치다: 'to miss an opportunity'

The idea behind the sentences is that Korean views time as something to capture or be chased by, likened to an animal in a prey-predator relationship. Can you think of any other examples along the same vein?

Cana X

This is a rather interesting question. Rather than confining the answer to whatever he could think of on his own, the Korean decided to open this question up for a little bit of crowd-sourcing. Korean-speaking readers: what other time-related expressions in Korean refer to time as if it were an animal?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Living Expenses in Seoul

Dear Korean,

I'm seriously thinking of moving to Seoul. Do you have an idea of what the budget listing would be for about a 15 week stay in Seoul, a detailed tally of expenses? Are there any other unexpected expenses expats/non-citizens are known to incur?

Ashley

Here is the problem: the Korean never visits Korea as a foreign tourist. He always has a free place to stay in various parts of Korea, because he has numerous relatives and friends who would be positively offended if he did not spend a few days at their places. Half the time, his meals are free also. Plus, he would not purchase any large items (such as furniture,) or order any consistent service (like the Internet or cable television.) So while the Korean is aware of how much things cost generally in Seoul, he cannot confidently say exactly how much living in Seoul for, say, more than a month will cost. 

So let's hear from mid- to long-term residents of Korea. Can you describe your budget, with as much detail as possible? One thing to keep in mind is that many expats in Korea are English teachers who usually receive free housing--which is usually the biggest part of the living expense equation. For this exercise, it would be great to hear about the list of items that generate a constant stream of expenses, such as rent, utilities, etc. Future visitors to Korea will thank you.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: What to do with Anti-Japan Sentiments in ESL Classes?

Dear Korean,

I am a Canadian living and teaching ESL at a Hagwon in Korea. With all the buzz about Dokdo lately, my Korean students have become increasingly outspoken about not liking the Japanese. I have learned about the history between the two countries, although I am obviously no expert, but these confrontations are really starting to bother me. The students seem angry when I choose not to answer them, or change the subject or when they hear that I don't hate the Japanese. They often do not say their thoughts completely outright (as in, "I hate the Japanese"), even though that has happened too, but are curious as to my stance on things. I do not tolerate racism, but I am trying to be understanding, and to teach tolerance. I'm not entirely sure how I should be handling the situation, and I don't feel comfortable asking my Korean co-workers.

Do you have any suggestions, advice, words of wisdom, or links that could send me somewhere with any of those?

Megan B.


Short answer? No. The Korean is, obviously, blends in with Korea's population rather well such that no Korean person comes to him for a validation of her views on Japan.

But surely, Megan is not the only ESL teacher in Korea who has been dealing with this issue. Readers, any pearls of wisdom?

Given that this is a topic that appears to sidetrack a lot of people, the Korean will issue this caveat: please keep your comments relevant. The issue is how to handle a situation like Megan is facing. Please stick with that.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Natural Style Deodorants

What do you do when you don't have time to answer questions? Have other people answer them! Cue the question:

Dear Korean,
 
I was wondering if you knew much about "natural" style deodorants' availability in Korea (i.e Tom's of Maine and JASON brands, or comparable brands). I unwisely didn't pack a long-term supply of deodorant when I came here, and now I'm running out. I don't want to use antiperspirant and would like to avoid deodorants laced with a bunch of synthetic chemicals.

Scott in Chungju

Sorry, Scott in Chungju, you are speaking to a guy who has never bought a stick of deodorant in his life. And it is not because the Korean is gross. Asians generally have significantly less apocrine sweat glands in their armpits, making them less susceptible to armpit stench. Either that or the Korean has a bad sense of smell, and everyone around him in his whole life has been exceedingly polite.

At any rate, deodorant always has been a sticking point with the expat population in Korea. So weigh in, folks. Have you been able to find a fru-fru, "natural" style deodorant in Korea?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: What to Tell Your Family?

Dear Korean, 

Please comes to know this stranger from the East Coast, U.S. henceforth as the Blankard. The Blankard is a recently certified ESL teacher. The Blankard comes from a family that greatly disapproves of the Blankard's choice to pursue South Korea to teach, for they fear for their Blankard, even if the Blankard himself feels apprehension only about 'leaving the nest,' as they say. I have read The Korean's posts from 2010 (Q: Is Korea a dangerous place? A: "No, no more than it has been in the last 40 years"), as well as the more recent posting about the Japanese radiation. These topics are cited as causes for "that part of the world being very volatile." The Blankard himself seeks ways to reassure his concerned family.

The Blankard

Well, the Korean has never had any issue with the Korean Family about his desire to be in Korea. (In fact, the Korean Parents would likely favor it.) As the Korean is recovering from his vacation, let's turn this one over to the readers:  readers, if you came to Korea for a mid- to long-term stay, how did you deal with your over-anxious family?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: What to do with Asian Names?

Dear Korean,

We are adopting a sweet little boy from the Seoul area. My husband is Lebanese/American and I am European/American. We were planning on keeping the name his birthmother had given him which is HaJin. However a Chinese/American male friend didn't think this was a good idea. My friend stated that growing up Asian was difficult enough, and he and his Asian friends were grateful to have been given more English sounding names. What are your thoughts on this?

Paige K.

That issue is a tricky one not only for adoptive parents, but also for a lot of young Asian American parents. Paige's Chinese American friend is not wrong -- it is tough enough to look different, and adding the extra effort of telling people how to pronounce your name all the time, only to see them never remember your name, could be a rather alienating experience. But on the other hand -- especially for adoptees, who have a difficult time retaining their heritage culture -- using the given name could serve as a good reminder of one's heritage. One form of compromise among Korean American parents is to choose a name that can operate in both in English and in Korean (e.g. "Mina".)

As for the Korean himself, he hopes to give the Korean Baby a Korean first name and an English/Christian middle name, so that while the child could go by the English name, the priorities would be clear, especially when it comes to everything legal.

Having said that, let's hear from our readers. Asian Americans, how do you feel about your ethnic names? What did/will you do with your children's names?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Beautiful Korean Words?

Dear Korean,

I recently learned of the word "마음". 마음 is a very interesting and beautiful word; it's often heard in K-pop songs. Are there other interesting words like it? My wife thinks 달콤 is a word with many meanings, too (though Google only offers one meaning: sweet).

Ralph

Very interesting question, but a difficult one for the Korean to answer with his dried-up sentimentality. So he will give this one to the readers. What are some Korean words you think are interesting and/or beautiful?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Do You Know This Book?

Dear Korean,

I'm trying to locate a 72 page book/manuscript entitled "5-18, the Kwangju Incident" by Arnold A. Peterson, circa 1990. Do you know where I can find a copy, or can you suggest others that I could ask?

Bill D.

That's a toughie. Fortunately, enough well-learned Korea heads visit this blog, so someone might know. Enlightened readers, got anything?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: What is Weird About America?

Dear Korean,

A friend posted this link to his Facebook profile a couple weeks ago. I had no idea that supermarket checkout-baggers were such a weird thing, that nobody uses checks anymore, and "that so much American cheese is coloured orange." It was mentioned a couple of times in the posting that most of the contributors were from Europe, which is fairly similar to the States, shared culture, politics, history etc. 

I guess I'd like another perspective on "America's Quirks." I would love to hear the substantive, as well as the off-base insubstantive comments. What are the most striking differences you've noticed from living in the States for so long? What do Koreans living in/visiting the states bitch about when they're blowing off steam over a $13 (!!!) bottle of Chamisul?

Just Curious

Just off the top of his head, and keeping strictly on the frivolous side, here are a few things the Korean has found peculiar about America:

• Wearing shoes indoors. HATE HATE HATE it. So disgusting. The Korean will never get over this.
• Insane amount of soda drinking. The Korean is pretty certain that in his first year in America, he drank more soda than he ever drank in his life at age 16.
• Ridiculous portions of food. (Discussed in this post.)
• Ice in every drink. 
• Excessive use of napkins.
• General preference for cooler temperature in everything (ambient, food, drinks, etc.)
• Drinking alcohol only (i.e. without eating something at the same time.)
• Music too loud in bars.
• Cell phones have the same area code as any landline, instead of its own prefix. (In Korea, all cell phone numbers begin with 010 no matter where you live.)
• To address a mail, going from small to large (i.e. "Number-Street-City-State-Country-ZIP") instead of large to small ("Country-Province-City-Number-ZIP").

The Korean will add more to the list as he thinks of additional items, but let's hear from the readers. What do you find peculiar about America?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Most Popular AAK! Posts of 2011

Here is a quick look at the most popular AAK! posts of 2011, by page view.

Most Viewed Posts of 2011 (All-Time)

1.  Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Korean Men
2.  The Ultimate Korean Looks List

3.  AAK! Wiki: Oppa! Oppa! Oppa!

4.  Why is StarCraft Popular in Korea?

5.  Dog Meat in Korea

The never-ending quest of the Internet for Korean men will never end.

Most Viewed Posts of 2011 (Written in 2011)

1.  Training of North Korean Special Forces

2.  The Korean's Response to Wesley Yang's New York Magazine Story

3.  How to Make Yourself Attractive to Korean Men (Special Guest Post by I'm No Picasso)

4.  Tiger Moms are Superior

5.  Picture from 1992 Los Angeles Riot

Thank you everyone for reading this blog. See you next year!

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Korean Schools Around Dallas?

Dear Korean,

We are hoping to enroll our daughter in Korean classes when she is old enough and take classes ourselves. We are planning to move to the Dallas area in 2012. I have been able to find plenty of Korean markets, restaurants and businesses, but I can't seem to find Saturday or Sunday Korean language classes for children and adults in the area. Do you know where I should look?

Barbara K.

The Korean has never stepped foot in the great state of Texas, unfortunately. Readers, any ideas?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Books about Korean Art?

Dear Korean,

I am a 27 year old student of the arts; and a graphic designer by profession. Recently I started learning Korean, and also about Korean culture. I was wondering if you had some books to suggest or resources for me to look into about Korean art, and art history. I am also very interested in learning traditional calligraphy.

Cassandra H.

The Korean receives a lot of questions asking for book recommendations, and he always has the same problem: The Korean rarely reads any book about Korea in English. For him, it's just not necessary. Hopefully the readers can help here -- do you know any books in English about Korean art or art history?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: What is Your Fantasy I Am A Singer Lineup?

The Korean is a huge fan of a Korean reality show called Survival: I am a Singer [나는 가수다]. The premise of the show is simple yet irresistible. Seven well-known singers compete for two weeks, sometimes with a song of their choice, other times with a song designated to them. The singers (or their staff) arrange the songs, stage effects and generally put on a show. At the end of each show, 500 audience members -- who are selected with an even distribution in age groups, so that the audience is not dominated by screaming fangirls -- vote the top three singers. After adding up the two week tally, the last place is taken off the show and the new singer comes on.

Needless to say, the show has been a massive hit -- which made the Korean realize:  it will be just a matter of time before Hollywood catches on. Sooner or later, there will be an American copy of I am a Singer on network television, because that's what American television people do. (Of course, this is not to say only American television people shamelessly copy TV show ideas.)

If the trend is inevitable, why not join it? Surely there must be a Hollywood intern scouring the Internet right now, looking for new show ideas. Perhaps this post can push the American version of the show in a manner that we want. So here is a fun little exercise: what would be your dream lineup of I am a Singer USA? Be sure to remember that you are not simply indulging in your wildest dream, but actually trying to come up with a reasonable lineup for a sustainable show. To that end, consider these formulas that the actual show has been following:

• The singers should be one of three things: (1) a former superduperstar who has been out of the limelight for a few years; (2) a very talented artist who has a niche appeal but not known to broad mainstream audience; (3) up-and-coming young artist who is talented but not very well known. In other words, these type of people cannot be on the show: (a) artists who are currently at a very high level in terms of public appeal (e.g. Lady Gaga); (b) untalented pretty puppets (e.g. Justin Bieber).
• There should be diversity in musical genre. The very first lineup of I am a Singer featured: R&B/Reggae singer, two soft rock singers with very distinctive voices, a rock band, two "classical" R&B singers and a dance/pop singer. The current lineup features a hair rocker, alternative rock band, three soft rock singers, a rapper and an old time diva who sings everything.
• There should be diversity in age and career, to include old time legends as well as younger generation.
• There should be diversity in musical stature. You cannot fill the show with seven hyper-legends, because that lineup is not sustainable. The lineup must include top-tier, mid-tier and indie stars.
• Be mindful of the budget. I am a Singer might be the most expensive show program in Korean television history, because each of the singers commands high premium. The show was made possible only because Korea's version of iTunes bankrolled the show, out of the expectation that the songs from the show (which will be owned by the bankrolling company) will sell extremely well online. They were correct. But even still, the budget is not unlimited.

The Korean will add one more requirement: since we are trying to envision a sustainable show, create a two-deep lineup. In other words, come up with the "starting" lineup of seven artists, and have a backup lineup of seven artists.

With these caveats in mind, create your own lineup! The Korean's proposed lineup is after the jump.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: How is Korea different from Korean dramas?

Dear Korean,

I was born and raised in France, growing up we had a lot of TV shows from the United States, and although they were fictions they somewhat gave me a good idea of how people lived in the United States. The first time I came to the US, I was actually surprised of how "accurate" they were and since I have been living in the US for many years, I still think that these shows were a good introduction to the US way of life.

So the question is: Are Korean Dramas a good introduction to Korean culture?

Celine T.

Of course, it is always a tricky thing to glean a country by the way it is depicted in a TV show. For example, although the Korean has visited the beaches of America many times over, he has never seen this type of thing...

In slow motion, too.
(source)

... ever happening. Nope, the lifeguards usually wear shorts and sometimes a shirt. And in case of an emergency, they usually run as fast as they can, not in slow motion.

But all jokes aside, TV shows often do provide a clue about a given country is like, particularly for those who have hardly any idea about that country. If you knew absolutely nothing about Korea, you will know at least something about Korea after having watched a Korean drama, however distorted and out of perspective that knowledge may be. However, the trouble for the Korean is -- he learned about Korea by being born there, and he never watches Korean dramas.

So the Korean will tweak the question a bit, and ask for the readers' input here. Do you watch Korean drama? Have you visited Korea? If your answer is yes to both, how was Korea similar to, or different from, what you observed in Korean dramas? The Korean is really looking forward to the answers for this one.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.