tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post8727739964483108704..comments2024-03-26T03:31:06.199-04:00Comments on Ask a Korean!: Outer Edges of Korea's Racism, and the Tourist RuleT.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-26626472970865059442013-07-10T07:35:12.716-04:002013-07-10T07:35:12.716-04:00How about when a bunch of Korean men attack a whit...How about when a bunch of Korean men attack a white man just for having a Korean girlfriend - is that racism, or is it just an annoying inconvenience???Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632437448982046863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-24682046192270190452013-01-30T03:31:20.309-05:002013-01-30T03:31:20.309-05:00Real racism is when a country says, even though yo...Real racism is when a country says, even though you were born here and your parents were born here... we don't like your ethnic name. If you want to be a citizen change your name to something we like. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-19320845954748305722013-01-30T03:26:06.983-05:002013-01-30T03:26:06.983-05:00I'm 100% Korean. I look Korean. I speak Korean...I'm 100% Korean. I look Korean. I speak Korean. Yet, I am also a victim of racism in Korea. When a girl doesn't want to talk to me. When someone doesn't give me directions. When the old ladies push me on the subway. When a popular restaurant runs out of the most popular dish. When a cafe refuses to give me free milk for my Americano, because Starbucks in the US does. RACIST! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-19127223902966355692012-12-20T16:08:21.138-05:002012-12-20T16:08:21.138-05:00Fine then I won't generalize all Koreans BUT,a...Fine then I won't generalize all Koreans BUT,as someone who also have black/Korean family members I am well aware of the attitudes Koreans have towards people of darker skin and I would be a little reluctant to bring my family there as well. People have to admit along with the stigma of being a foreigner in the country like SK...being dark foreigner in SK has its disadvantages.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08698481260161002274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-11776412593715643342012-11-17T22:11:01.597-05:002012-11-17T22:11:01.597-05:00Based from my own experience, people who grow up i...Based from my own experience, people who grow up in a homogenous environment (people, culture, etc.) is less flexible towards differences(that's me)than those who grow up in heterogeneous one(a lot my friends belong to this category). <br />I considered myself quite friendly and non judgmental, but sometimes I do taken aback upon meeting people with different skin color, religion, etc. It took me 29 years of living to understand that my moment of hesitation/fascination/confusion will probably considered as rude/unwelcoming attitude.<br />I personally think "real rude people" is minority among us, the rest "come across as rude-people" is probably just like me.<br />Broaden your horizon, meet people from around the world or at least observe them from MANY sources - don't rely from just a few (and narrow) point of view.Hanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07628931415970282528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-8721726524302998052012-03-02T07:03:17.704-05:002012-03-02T07:03:17.704-05:00Koreans are not racist in the same way as people i...Koreans are not racist in the same way as people in western countries but they do judge people by complexion - including fellow Koreans - and by how developed their country is seen to be. Russians or Romanians, for instance, might not be treated the same as Americans or French. Darker skin is seen as less attractive.<br /><br />There is no violent hostility to other races, however - not that I've seen - although there is xenophobic nationalism.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17226758157157715512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-30887046421510912972012-02-17T12:54:36.713-05:002012-02-17T12:54:36.713-05:00My wife and I - both VERY VERY white - were in Seo...My wife and I - both VERY VERY white - were in Seoul 7 years ago and we were invariably approached by overtly helpful people on many occasions while trying to sort out locations, destinations, etc.<br /><br />One man - to all appearances a well-off businessman in a suit - took about half an hour out of his morning to lead us to a camera shop, a Kinkos and recommend a good breakfast joint.<br /><br />I dunno from racism, but I didn't come across a single Korean citizen who came even CLOSE to treating us poorly.<br /><br />I suppose that means it's good to be white.ElRobbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17462748335208544033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-35617254787109812422012-02-15T00:53:44.862-05:002012-02-15T00:53:44.862-05:00could just as well be, Juche, that the simple fact...could just as well be, Juche, that the simple fact she looked different caused him to fix his attention on her, and if he'd spotted a Korean young person with dyed-blue hair, that would have attracted his attention instead and led him to attack that guy. The fact I look different means I attract attention, not because people are racist, but because I look different. Sometimes that means I attract the attention of cute young people, and that's fun. Sometimes it means drunks on the subway, or weird people, and that's not as fun... but I don't automatically chalk that up as racism, because I know if I wasn't on the subway car, they'd be shambling over to the person in the subway car wearing a spectacular hat, or the really tall one, or the fat one, or the androgynous one, or the one with facial piercings, and saying stupid things to them instead.Roboseyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308196436612993379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-65672291624827035002012-02-14T19:15:29.857-05:002012-02-14T19:15:29.857-05:00That is generalising though, you do realise that? ...That is generalising though, you do realise that? - If you say Korea, you are automatically placing all its citizens in the same category - never mind that all people should be considered individuals. Had you for example worded it 'some Koreans' or 'a few Koreans' that would make it less general. I do think it's really interesting that you say you have an African-American/Korean background. Interesting indeed.Chika Anenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14594826175926209419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-24694260863997374832012-02-14T18:56:54.479-05:002012-02-14T18:56:54.479-05:00Lol the words 'wrong skin colour' seem a b...Lol the words 'wrong skin colour' seem a bit harsh. Having said that, it may be a bit biased for one video to measure racism in South Korea. The two for example approached entirely different people altogether, so how can we know that the people the first person approached wouldn't be as kind and helpful to the next traveller? Also, how do we know that the people who were asked simply just didn't have enough time to stop and answer? I'm not saying that racism doesn't exist in S.Korea, but sometimes people may mistake 'not having enough time' or any of the likes as racism. At times there needs to be a clear definition of exactly what racism is and what levels of racism exist? - Just an opinion. Anyone's entitled to theirs I believe.Chika Anenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14594826175926209419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-14938840781526022182012-02-14T13:17:42.821-05:002012-02-14T13:17:42.821-05:00I agree that white people might over-exaggerate th...I agree that white people might over-exaggerate the racism just because they've never experienced it before. I myself didn't experience any racism. I also think people tend to jump to conclusions when someone is rude to them in Korea. They automatically scream "RACISM!" when really the person is just rude. I give people the benefit of the doubt. Until they actually show that they're being mean rude to me because of my race, I just assume they're just impolite.waterfall678https://www.blogger.com/profile/14515730984187958914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-63374809551259739362012-02-13T12:40:16.737-05:002012-02-13T12:40:16.737-05:00Some of the so called "Racism" in Korea ...Some of the so called "Racism" in Korea has to do with several different factors. Factor one being experience. Besides the tourists that comes to Korea, the most foreigner interactions that South Koreans have had wth foreigners involved US military. Until 2006 or so, South Korea was a destination where US military sent some of their worst if not problem makers to, and they caused problems. So, considering that the US military has been in South Korea for nearly 70 years and through that time, US has sent some of the worst military members they can offer. Experiencing something for close to 70 years would cause people to view certain people through jaded view. Factor two, Koreans in general, not the second generation gyopos or those with English backtground, but MOST koreans in Korea does not speak foreign language. No enlgish, spanish, german, or other foreign language. Koreans are relatively proud people that does not like to seem like they don't know something or look like a food in front of other people. So, if someone ask question in English or other language, they will, as a automatic reaction, ignore said question. Here is a tip for you, if you are going to visit foreign country, bother to learn few key pharses in their language. It will take you LONG ways in getting some of your questions answered. So, to wrap it up, close to 70 years of dealing with bad apples, and just ignoring something they don't know how to deal with.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-29673894957021761552012-02-13T03:31:03.084-05:002012-02-13T03:31:03.084-05:00I don't complain about racism, Nite. I do crit...I don't complain about racism, Nite. I do criticise it, though, but that was much long before I became a minor group. Because I got tired of some exagerated nationalist talks from a mentality that's left to us since the war in the early 1990s (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia). This mentality went much further than just hating the ethnic group of the state we were fighting against. It's a shame, but we got the neo nazi boneheads as well.<br /><br />Besides that, it's not true "whites" never experienced it. For example, Slavic people used to be slaves to the Venice Republic, the Austrian and Hungarian monarchy and many other rich countries of that time in history. In fact, the name "Slavic" itself means "slave".<br /><br />And it's not true black people and homosexuals don't complain that much. Take a look at all of the amazing black hip-hop artists. Besides that, I don't think black people are bad, but it is a fact that in some parts, they are developig their own racism and violence for the "whites", as the complaints went much further from being merely complaints. And take a good look at the Gay Pride parades regularly every year in many European countries.<br /><br />As well, a lot of "whites" are too snob to complain about anything, especially not racism, and nobody wants any problems or to go to jail, so they avoid any fight and stay quiet.<br /><br /><br />So, Nite, do some research before you make conclusions.Dac X Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293064862842657519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-78683664814839322172012-02-13T01:07:35.284-05:002012-02-13T01:07:35.284-05:00White expats complain the most about racism becaus...White expats complain the most about racism because they've never experienced it.<br />Black expats - a lot less, as well as gay expats.Nitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874562597484548152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-4312481383545937302012-02-11T13:33:22.783-05:002012-02-11T13:33:22.783-05:00To be fair, I should have added: to the extent tha...To be fair, I should have added: <i>to the extent that it involves strangers,</i> any time anything bad happens to a non-Korean in Korea, it automatically is about racism.T.K. (Ask a Korean!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-39266707363979355362012-02-11T12:40:59.663-05:002012-02-11T12:40:59.663-05:00But just discounting as a "deranged manic&quo...<b>But just discounting as a "deranged manic" (which of course I think he was) with zero racial reasoning a long jump. Depsite what kookimonster thinks, the stabbing of a black women in an area where I'd say there are very very few black women, much less black people, is significant. Do you think this guy was like, "who shall I stab today" and picked someone at random? And she didn't know him. So HOW can you say race was NOT involved?</b><br /><br />By that logic, any time anything bad happens to a non-Korean in Korea, it automatically is about racism. Is that what you are saying here?T.K. (Ask a Korean!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-50943502143968613312012-02-11T08:07:49.682-05:002012-02-11T08:07:49.682-05:00Well, the comment was, "But to come as a tour...Well, the comment was, "But to come as a tourist... don't worry about it too much." Alas, that's a flawed assumption. Do Korean people go around stabbing African American women? Obviously not. But just discounting as a "deranged manic" (which of course I think he was) with zero racial reasoning a long jump. Depsite what kookimonster thinks, the stabbing of a black women in an area where I'd say there are very very few black women, much less black people, is significant. Do you think this guy was like, "who shall I stab today" and picked someone at random? And she didn't know him. So HOW can you say race was NOT involved? <br /><br />No, I don't have more examples. Not something I have an interest in collecting. But would you really expect to hear a lot? Do the police/media scream whenever something like this happens? No one would have heard about this if she wasn't embassy. Again, this is not something specific to Korea - it does happen and is ignored everywhere. But Korea is not some excellent place where all you have to do is dress nice and you're good to go.<br /><br />Rather, I'd say tourist would be MORE apt to be viewed with racism, primarily because they don't have any cultural coping ability, such as language and knowledge of cultural cues. I'd think in Seoul this would be less so. <br /><br />To be clear, I would totally recommend Seoul as a tourist destination for anyone I know or meet.Juchehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12864162491084292463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-28280249802048664232012-02-10T10:30:27.794-05:002012-02-10T10:30:27.794-05:00Unfortunately you lost me at "This video is w...Unfortunately you lost me at "This video is worth checking out"<br /><br />This video has been passed around a lot lately. It's a terrible video and a terrible example.<br />1)It takes the mythbuster approach to scientific study. 1 case is anecdotal evidence and nothing else<br />2)The setup itself lent itself to bias simply by having the SE asian foreigner ask the question differently.<br /><br />The white guy opened with his question quickly "Excuse me....Coex". Some people did appear as if they were going to ignore him until they heard the word "Coex".<br />The SE asian never gets COEX out, because he starts with "Can I ask you some questions?"<br />There is nothing there for a beginner to non-english speaker to grab on to that they might understand. For those who do understand, this is often the lead in to a survey or something else. Let's not forget that some intense korean church-goers will follow people up and down the street trying to get them to talk to them. Since he looks Asian, they may have thought he's a churchie wanting to engage them.<br /><br />It is in fact this kind of attitude that creates this kind of racist sentiment in Korea.<br />Someone like TK sees this, and holds it up as an example of racism and the sheep buy in to it, repeat it, pass it around, and over their next beer with their all foreign crowd they all go "Those Koreans sure are racist, did you see that video?" "Uhhuh"crossmrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08926946277296911301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-59112606356936263482012-02-10T03:27:50.670-05:002012-02-10T03:27:50.670-05:00From my own experience, I'd say there ARE some...From my own experience, I'd say there ARE some prejudices based on someone's look, but that's not only about foreigners. For example, the fat people and people who don't care too much about their look, as well, have their own problems in the society.<br />Also, Korean racism is different from the racism you can see in Europe, where football fans and neo nazzis are litterally ready to kill you if they're in the mood. If a Korean doesn't like you, he or she will simply avoid you.<br /><br />I didn't feel too much hate or weirdness from Koreans. And it seems to me that they are kinda afraid of us sometimes. But when I speak in Korean to them, they get friendly all of a sudden.<br /><br />I didn't experience too much problems for being a foreigner, maybe because I'm a "white" European. Although I don't like the terms "white" and "black", because we're all brown.<br /><br />I do admit that I feel more comfortable when I'm hanging around with my boy, because he's Korean, so if there is some serious stuff about school or government, or shopping (because in the market streets they might raise the price to foreigners), when they see a Korean, it's somewhat a different approach. Though, sometimes, when they see me, they think he's foreign too.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, the tricks are the following, not easy to achieve, though:<br /><br />For the government and some official things, such as permission of stay and studying - As long as you can "proove" them that you got the money, you've got nothing to worry. If you have no money, it will be stressfull.<br /><br />For the Korean people - Speak Korean and they will love you. If you don't speak Korean, it will be hard until you learn it, but they're really satisfied with just an "Annyeonghaseyo", a bow and a smile. Of course, as your language skills are getting better, they will respect you more and get closer.Dac X Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293064862842657519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-89597447521088547912012-02-09T18:14:31.297-05:002012-02-09T18:14:31.297-05:00Why was it so hard to show politeness? Well...I do...Why was it so hard to show politeness? Well...I don't know. Maybe it's motivated by racism or maybe not. Here is my experience that might shed a little light on Koreans' racism or prejudice or whatever. <br />I had a chance to hang out with a black student and a bunch of others in the Netherlands a long time ago. Although I didn't and still don't consider myself a racist, I have to admit I was kind of overwhelmed (not threatened) by his skin color because of its darkness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. But it was the unfamiliarity and strangeness in a real life even though I watched a lot of black people in movies and on TV, which is not to say that racism in Korea is superficial. Maybe it goes deeper than that. But generally I believe it's not the "We are genetically superior to Black people" kind of racism.gogomatyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11197977655762704918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-85353574543079050582012-02-09T15:44:40.838-05:002012-02-09T15:44:40.838-05:00Juche,
That attack was committed by a deranged ma...Juche,<br /><br />That attack was committed by a deranged maniac, not a determined racist.T.K. (Ask a Korean!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-5819013364435012292012-02-09T15:39:13.294-05:002012-02-09T15:39:13.294-05:00Of course racism exists in SK. Racism exists in al...Of course racism exists in SK. Racism exists in all countries. Me and my friends who lived there never had anything happen to us. Dark, white, etc.kookimonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09161343249748343350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-8145317111749179072012-02-09T15:36:40.357-05:002012-02-09T15:36:40.357-05:00Juche - Honestly, those kinds of things could happ...Juche - Honestly, those kinds of things could happen anywhere.kookimonsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09161343249748343350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-85367123049324072142012-02-09T15:17:34.351-05:002012-02-09T15:17:34.351-05:00I know...We, Koreans, are so unfair to black/darke...I know...We, Koreans, are so unfair to black/darker people. What can I say... except we are sorry. We need a good education at school and at home. I personally believe we can overcome racism in Korea. Please understand unlike other Western countries we as a society don't have much experience having those people around.gogomatyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11197977655762704918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-7095893156655519622012-02-09T04:02:21.721-05:002012-02-09T04:02:21.721-05:00Good point. Your comment is similar to the thoug...Good point. Your comment is similar to the thoughts I had when I saw the video a while back. What if there are other factors involved besides race or ethnicity? How can anyone draw any sort of conclusion from this "experiment" - at least enough to say that this is a clear case of racism? As you mentioned, socioeconomic factors may have been involved. There are others. Height is one. Taller men, generally speaking, are more admired and command a much higher level of attention and respect across most if not all cultures. It certainly does in Korea and the U.S . The white tourist was clearly taller, and by a lot. Body shape is another. Tall and lean is more admired than short and pudgy, again, especially in Korea. Voice is another variable. There is a certain range of a man's voice that is particularly pleasing to people, especially women. This tone is in the mid to lower ranges like the White tourist's. High and squeaky like the voice of the SE Asian tourist is not going to get you much positive attention or respect from strangers. Clothes is another variable. The white man's black jacket, imo at least, is more stylish and looks more expensive than the 12.99 Walmart special the Asian guy was wearing which won't impress a lot of people in fashion conscious Korea. Even the colors of the clothes have an affect on people. So do certain accents and the level of English. Some may say that these factors are insignificant. I would wholeheartedly disagree. In fact, race may have been only a very small part of the overall equation. <br /><br />If the filmmakers wanted to make a statement about race or ethnicity, then they should have eliminated as many of the other variables as possible. Find tourists who have similar builds, similar degree of attractiveness, similar voices and even accents and familiarity with English, dress them exactly the same (JY's suggestion of putting them in nice suits is an excellent idea), coach them to act and say the same things in the same manner, and then ask the pedestrians whom the tourists encountered to fill out a questionnaire about their impressions of the tourists. Then, and only then, we might have a clearer picture of racial/ethnic bigotry in Korea. <br /><br />Btw, I made the mistake of reading some of the Youtube comments on that video. Makes me not want to have kids and bring them into such an incredibly ignorant world. Ugh.JacLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06881260567703817773noreply@blogger.com