Foreigners are often quick to claim that South Korea has a significant racism problem. But the vocal views of many English teachers overshadow a complex issue.
It has become almost something of a battle cry among the country’s burgeoning legions of native English-teaching foreigners: South Korea has a virulent racism problem.
An estimated 25,000 university graduates from the Anglosphere – the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland – currently call the country home. And they are also frequently among the most vocal critics of the racial discrimination that they say permeates South Korean society.
From angry public xenophobic outbursts and taxi drivers they say overlook them in favour of picking up Koreans, to unfriendly locals shifting uneasily away from them on public transportation, their list of complaints runs the gamut of perceived racial prejudice. Their own critics, though, argue that a significant proportion of these young critics arrive in the country armed with little Korean language or cultural skills, meaning it’s all less a racial discrimination issue than a communication breakdown.
One expert, though, believes that this Anglo-centric viewpoint – native English teachers make up a fraction of the 1.2 million-plus foreign population – anyway overlooks a crucial factor in the reality of South Korea’s troubles with anti-foreigner sentiment: It’s immigrants from South and Southeast Asia working in jobs rated as difficult, dirty and dangerous who bear the brunt of abuse in this rapidly developing country.
‘Prior to the 1990s the resident foreign population was negligible,’ says Samuel Collins, a cultural anthropologist at Towson University, Maryland, and a former lecturer at South Korea’s Dongseo University. ‘But as that population has ticked upwards to 2 percent, so have opportunities for people to define themselves vis-à-vis racial others and guest labourers who, whatever the complaints of expat teachers, really bear the brunt of racism in Korea. People from South Asia or Southeast Asia bear the double racial burden as being defined both as non-Korean and dark-skinned.’
Although discrimination is often dismissed by some as a side-effect of South Korea’s growing pains after a history of invasion, reclusiveness and poverty, there are a growing number of voices within the country calling for a tougher stance against racism and a proper legal framework to fight it. And with the National Human Rights Commission adding its voice to the debate recently in the wake of what was said to be a flood of ‘abusive’ and ‘discriminatory’ online postings against foreign immigrants as well as recent anti-multiculturalism rallies in Seoul, the problem has once again been brought back into focus.
The last time the issue was prominent in the national psyche, Indian Bonojit Hussain had successfully lodged a complaint of racial discrimination after being subjected to a xenophobic slur while travelling on a bus in Bucheon, west of Seoul. That was the summer of 2009. The perpetrator was eventually convicted of criminal insult in a landmark trial. However, the case highlighted the lack of a specific laws covering racial discrimination, a situation that persists today.
Regardless, Hussain admitted in an interview with the Korea Herald last year that migrant workers from regions similar to his home suffer even worse. ‘I interact(ed) with many migrant factory workers and after my incident they said: “This is nothing. The media are taking it up because you are a research professor. We face much more serious situations.”’
Photo Credit: Philippe Teuwen
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June
As a Korean-American (A Korean who was born in America, just to make that clear, not someone who’s mixed) there’s a lot that I can and can’t wrap my head around on this topic. While I’ve been around plenty of Koreans, I’ve never lived in Korea so there is only so much that I can infer of the Korean view of this topic. My best guess, however, is that it’s mostly stems from stereotypes and a bit of classism as well. Stereotypes of foreigners probably are a bit more difficult to break there compared to here especially considering the fact that they will only get a certain amount of foreign media. Since there are quite a few poor areas in Africa and SE Asia, unfortunately the horror stories of the way foreigners from these areas are treated probably has some credence. Even African-Americans are probably treated the same way because they have the perception of them being ghetto from the media.
Many people like to say that Korea is “behind” the West on these issues but the truth is that they just have less exposure and thus less experience with it. This is, of course, to be expected of such a homogenous nation so other than education, so other than education more exposure is the key to better relations.
Fortunately, like anyone you will meet on this planet, anyone with more than half a brain will be more than happy to get to know you first before acting on these pre-conceived notions and I am happy to report that there are plenty of people with fully-working brains in Korea, I will even be bold enough to say that they in fact make up the majority. Just present yourself well and you should be welcomed with open arms.
Andy
Korean racism is not limited to South Korea but it is also in US as well. As an Asian American with Chinese ancestry, it is not uncommon for me to hear very prejudice comments or receive looks of disdain from Korean Americans and Koreans from South Korea. I have a long time Korean friend who left Korea to NY when he was 11 years old. He mentioned these prejudice views are enforced in the Korean community. Given many Koreans view Chinese as a lower class, so they tend not to associate with them. As a result, the prejudice and racism are hard to break. South Korea as a nation needs to break away from the nationalist teaching that started after the Japanese colonial era. The current social challenges in South Korea was decades in the making and its people need to reflect and accept racism is wrong in order to drive meaningful changes.
jung22
Rather hypocritical, seeing how Chinese nationalism itself is sky high right now
I’ve met more than a few Chinese nationals that are quick to disparage fellow Asians.
Gakdugi
ah, koreans. Frustrating at the least, hurtful at the most. What I believe troubles non-koreans here most is constantly being treated as different. Koreans just haven’t left the mindset that we are all people behind and choose to focus on the differences.. mostly due to poor education or experience with other races. Take the word “waygookin”, which means foreigner and is constantly shouted on the streets by children and adult Koreans alike. The word itself actually is closest in meaning to “outsider”. Who wants to be treated like an outsider every day? That certainly doesn’t leave people with a good feeling, for sure. Is it racism? I think most of the time it’s not. It’s just ignorance. Koreans preach a lot about the notion of “nunchi”, which roughly translated means having a quick sense of someone’s feelings, but in practice their nunchi is extremely weak with foreigners. They don’t understand how their actions could be construed as prejudiced. As a foreigner who has lived in this country for 5 years, my biggest complaint is that every time I speak Korean (i’m pretty fluent now) I always get the same response. “Wow, you speak Korean really well!” I then have to repeat whatever it was I said because most of them were not listening to the content due to the shock. That can get really annoying. I think back home, if I said “Whoah, you speak English very well!” to an immigrant while ignoring what they said I wouldn’t leave them with a very good feeling. The best thing we can do (if you are a teacher here like me) is educate. If someone does something to offend you, point it out politely. For example, when an old man on the subway started using curse words and yelling “Go home America!” I stood up, and very calmy said in Korean “I do not appreciate your yelling at me. I don’t know you, or why you are angry, but please do not talk to me in a rude tone.” The next thing I knew, half the people in that subway car were standing up and coming to my aid. One Korean military guy told the old man to get off at the next station or he would call the police. I don’t know if this would work, if you don’t speak Korean and have the language barrier there, but in any case, you can respectfully educate. There’s no point complaining about something you don’t like if you are not going to contributing in some way to fix it. Well, that’s my two sense.
James
I could sit here and write an essay on all the things I’ve saw here so far. I’ll just give dates and what I’ve seen.
September 1st-December 15th 2002- Arrived in Korea as an American soldier. (18 years of age) Flew in to Osan airbase with nothing more then my uniforms, some civilian clothes, and personal hygiene goods. I never requested Korea, was never interested, and certainly was not planning on getting with the first Asian woman I saw. The first thing I saw outside of the military gate however, was a demonstration against the U.S. Military, condemning it’s very foot on the soil of South Korea. We were immediately put in uniform after a quick SOFA issuance, and sent to our respective camps for in-processing. Yongsan was the next place on the list, and let me tell you what, the demonstrations were ridiculous, and luckily we were in civilian clothes, riding an unmarked vehicle, which could have passed for a tour bus. I saw maltov cocktails being thrown over the fences of our gate, as well as a large number of Korean men fighting with flags saying “yankee go home!” I thought to myself, jeez, wow, so we are at war with South Koreans? 2 days later I was placed in Camp Kyle, in the Uijeongbu area, and the demonstrations had died down a bit, but we were still restricted to post for 45 days, guarding the gates and surrounding areas making sure no Koreans broke in. Several did however, but when they did, we found out Koreans were in the high-rise apartments across the street were taping the whole incident with there cameras, hoping to catch us in the act of beating them. So we calmly subdued them and kicked them off post into the KNP’s possession. It was a depressing, boring, unpredictable first 3 months of my life in Korea.
2002-2005- I went through alot of training, and co-existence with the ROK Army. Every now and then, usually once a year on the anniversary of the tank accident, there was restriction to go off post for a week or two. In that time while doing CP patrol, I came across these areas. I condemn them, and believe they are disgusting- (Red light Districts)
Miari, Cheongyangri, Yongsan, 588, (nickname for Yeongdongpo district) Suwon, Yong ju gul, Itaewon “hooker hill.”
When I saw each and every one of these, I was astonished at the so-called claim that Korea is advanced and society is mature. In my mind, I compared it to other countries with the “sex” business issues. But in that time was only very little to what I learned later. Each and every one of those Korean women give up their lives for that job. Typically they are hired by “mafia,” and given a loan. Anywhere from 5 million-25 million won etc. They are set forth to pay back that loan within a certain amount of time. But usually when it’s finally paid off, they realize there’s really nothing else for them to do, but keep doing that job.
All those areas were off limits to U.S. Soldiers, so on CP, and my own discoveries, they were placed in the back of my mind as “trash.” I came across Hongdae, a cool club district, with alot of clubs that had “NO GI” posters. Which it really didn’t matter because that was also off limits after hours as well. (considering at that time our curfew was 12am weekdays, 1am weekends) but that didn’t matter, every once in a while a soldier would go there anyways. Sometimes caught, but in most cases not. Then there was Gangnam, Apgujeong, Cheong dam. Alot of cool areas.
Then there as Itaewon. Full of foreigners, anywhere from American, Nigerian, Southeast Asian, European, any and all were there. During the day, even now, it’s vibrant. With street shopping, alot of great restaurants, nice tour guides. At night it changes. The hooker houses open, all the clubs open. They were, and still are military friendly,(clubs that is) some not charging at the door for soldiers.
Then there’s the ever-famous “ville.” These are streets outside of U.S. Army camps trafficking foreign women, and at the time I was in the army, Russian, and Koreans, and Filipinas. They are still housing filipina women to work at their bars. These bars are owned only by Koreans, and they hire the foreign women through “brokers” in their countries. They are promised, singing or acting jobs, but are them thrown into the job of a “juicy girl.” They are meant to sit with soldiers, talk to them, come on to them, in some areas, such as Tokeri, some places in Camp Casey, and many others sex. Many of the girls after coming here, end up marrying an American, as an escape. Quite common.
Summer 2004- Married a Korean citizen. Easy as pie legally. Very hard to get CS sponsered at that time however.
Summer 2005- Fresh out of the army and looking for employment in Korea. Even though there were some bad memories from the military, I thought, hey! I can do something else, subconciously thinking that I could be “accepted.” My wife at that time, really had no idea what kind of position I could do, and neither did I. I was granted a “spouse” visa from immigration, and learned that, that visa was like gold here. (job-wise) I went from door to door in Itaewon. to some of the restaraunts, saying hey I have experience in the States. Most of the doors were closed in my face, really nobody even paid attention to me. Some of them laughed, couldn’t believe a foreigner, especially an American was looking for a position working in a restaurant. I realized this wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought it was going to be. I was living off my final paycheck, and back BAH from the military, when finally I discovered http://www.englishspectrum.com. I thought cool! I can find a job here. Of course I saw some of the negative forums, and postings there. But I paid no attention. I posted a resume, and finally got my first position! I was hired as an English teacher to adults in Gangnam. 15,000 won an hour. I thought, hey compared to the states, thats pretty good. But of course with no experience, and being an imp in the classroom for awhile, I finally gathered that was not getting paid very well, and barely making the monthly minimum wage in Korea. (856,000 won per month)
End of Summer 2005- Was making money here and there. Not too easy, but I was ok. Enjoying marriage, Korean food, various other things. One night walking out of the subway station with my then wife, (we were arguing) two Korean men (aged 32,33) were saying something loudly in Korean, and it seemed to be directed torwards us. At that time, I didn’t have much Korean skill, and didn’t pay much attention to it. My then wife turned to them and asked why they said what they said. I, of course, was intrigued by this and asked her what they said. She said the one man had stated in Korean, “dirty blood, why would you do that to yourself, are you a whore?” Somewhere within that moment, the one guy punched her in the face. As you can imagine, I exploded with rage, not believing what I had saw. I hit him several time, put him in a headlock, various other physical violence. My best friend (Mark/still military) was with me at that time. When I came out of my anger blackout, he told me, “damn bro, you really kicked his ass.” Suddenly I was surrounded by about 20 Korean guys, not letting me go anywhere, and the victim of the beatdown, proceeded to call the police. When the cops finally arrived, they looked at him, looked at me, and proceeded to smack me with their batons. They cuffed me, and threw me in the backseat of the cruiser. My then wife, was crying not understanding what was going on, and an ambulance taking the Korean man sped off. Upon arrival at the police station, they continued, to slap, smack, and talk in bad language, (I could understand a bit at that time) I never had a translator, and I was kept in their local jail for 3 days. They then let me go, charging me with assault and battery, and a court date. Of course, I didn’t have much of an idea what was going on, and my ex wife just translated several things for me that day. We went to court a few weeks later, and they ordered me to pay 5.1 million won to the “victim” and no other reprocussions. I did as they said, and tried to forget it.
Winter 2005- Anti-English Spectrum hit the newspapers, and I started noticing the stares, and glares, especially when they saw me with a Korean girl. I had never really noticed anything like that before, but after being what I had been through several months back, I had to make sure everything was ok in front of me, and behind me. Sometimes I had thought, “aye the hell with it, lets go to America.” But financially we weren’t ready for that, she didn’t have a visa, and I couldn’t go there empty handed. One night, while walking out of the last train at Hapjeong Station, a group of 5-6 guys were walking behind us, one threw a cigarette at my head, and another spit near my shoes. They were fairly drunk, maybe late 20s-30s. I turned around, of course gave them some lingo, suddenly several of them jumped on top of me. (this was in the station near the exit, one CCTV camera if I recall) I fought several of them off, started defending myself. I can remember that they weren’t very strong, not much of a “jump” if you ask me. I was on the floor with one in a head-lock, and out of my rear view vision, a shoe came to the side of my head. Knocked me clear out. I came to about 1-3 minutes later. No men there, and a crying spouse next to me. I asked what happened, and she told me exactly what I’d remembered. She screamed that she was calling the cops, and they ran off after knocking me out. I went to the local police station near Hapjeong station, and they gave me dirty looks immediately when I walked in. (I would blame this on the ChosunIlbo anti-englishspectrum outbreak) We explained the story, and I was still a bit drousy from what had happened. They waited around, didn’t really do anything, and asked if the guys were drunk. We made the mistake of saying yes, and believe it or not these cops said. “you have to understand a Korean when he’s drunk.” I couldn’t believe it. I requested them to open a case, a to get the CCTV tapes from Hapjeong Station. This never happened, and 6 years later I’m still waiting for a phone call. (They had taken my Id Card and ran it, and came across the fight I had previously, my ex told me she overheard a cop saying “he got what he deserved.”
January 2006- Still recovering from the depression the year before, I got a new position recruiting ESL teachers. My boss was cool, a Korean-American lady straight out of Texas. Took care of me well, paid great commision, and even hooked me up with a house. I started learning Korean here and there, mostly from my then wife. (we were arguing alot then, especially about living in Korea, and the hardships I had so far) During my times as a foreign recruiter for English schools in Korea, this was a common question, or request:
-White teacher only
-Is he black or Russian?
-Is she good looking?
-Caucasion/Female/under 30
-Oh he’s so fat!
At this time, I couldn’t believe the things they said, but I didn’t care much, it was my main source of income and I gave them what they requested.
I was driving at that time as well, noticing the horrible way people in Korea drove. Not respecting the red lights, turn signals were hardly ever used, and forget replacing brake lights!. Again, during te beginning of my driving here, I thought, “wow, you call this advanced?”
Here are my list of accidents and outcomes
2006- I was going straight threw a green light, and a car suddenly changed lanes. (was in the turning lane) Cops came, we drove the cars, showed licenses. The other driver blamed me of course. 90% I was wrong they said. “You need to learn Korean Law” was their broken English expression. Insurance paid the damage (Suseo Station Intersection)
Winter 2006- Sideswiped by a drunk driver at the Daerim Station intersection. (I was not moving waiting for the green light) He tried to get away, he was drunk, and his gf in the passenger side looked terrified. Luckily my best friend was there to restrain him. Called the cops, and their first question at the scene was “are you GI?” Great first impression aye? Went to the police station, was questioned, provided a racist translator who kept saying I didn’t know about Korea well, and the drunk driver was swearing and saying prejudical things to me in the background. “Stupid Yankee, Just die.” Things like that. They gave me an alchohol test .000, they gave him a test .13, the guy was wasted. The cops just sat behind their desks for over 2 hours playing with toy cars reenacting the accident. Outcome I was 95% wrong. Unbelievable? Believe it.
Spring 2007- Driving through a green light at the Ansan station intersection. On the other side a the street is a spot where lots of buses do u-turns, well-known for overpowering cars anytime. I was going 80KM/hr when a bus in the back of the line tried to do a u-turn right in front of me. Destroyed my car completely in front, and the engine was smoking, catching fire. I climbed out of the passenger side window, scratched up, but not hurt. I came to the sidewalk where there were a large group of Koreans watching the situation. Not on of the them asked, “are you ok?” Or even close to that. Went to the police station. Cops said 50/50 yay no more car
Early Summer 2007- Riding my motorcycle through an intersection near Gasan Digital Complex Station. I have no memory of this, or the month before it. (short term amnesia) Witnesses say I had the green light, and a car driven by a 42 year old woman flew through the red light and knocked me 50 feet from my bike, split the helmet open, left me in coma for 2 weeks, broken clavicles, 2 brain hemmorages, several other broken bones, and 2 months in the hospital. Outcome, orginally her insurance company offered $3,000, I barely managed to get $10,000, including medical costs. When I tell other people about this, it’s unbelievable. Yay arthritis is kicking in!
August 2009- Driving late night near Bosan station in Dongducheon city, when a taxi does a left turn trying to be a nascar superstar. Messes up my right passenger door, and wheel well. We go to the police station. No translator, but luckily at this time, I have plenty of Korean skills to make sure they know I’m not an idiot here. The passenger in the taxi took my side, he was a Korean citizen, born in Pakistan actually. The police ignored him and acted like he didn’t exist. Police were really disrespectful and annoying. With the exception of the policewoman who came to the scene first, extremely nice, and could see what happened. Outcome in my favor finally! 80/20
February 2011- Fire Station intersection near Itaewon Station. I got the left turn signal, went, and was hit head on by a 40 year old women with 2 kids not buckled up and crawling around the car. Luckily damage was not really bad, and nobody was injured except the car for a few days. I waited for the insurance company to come, and she immediately admitted to her wrongdoing. 100% in my favor
Also during the year 2006-2007, I began to resent foreigners in Korea. I blamed them for my bad luck, fights, things of that sort. I made very few friends in Korea, and thought, what’s the point? I should hang out with Koreans more! And that I did.
With them I discovered:
Room Salons: Expensive bars with beautiful women that will give you a happy ending if you want. Regretfully I went there when I was working for a Korean company, and some private English students. I watched married men stay the night with the women all the time. I couldn’t believe it.
Anma (Massage Parlor) Ok, I went one of these 1 time! By mistake! In 2003, while in the Army, my body was killing me, so I asked a Katusa friend, hey where could I go to get a good massage? He pointed in that direction. I went there, slapped down the $60 and had a great massage, up until she started touching my genitals, with direction for you know what. I said “hey!” Nasty, anyways, I got out of there quick. Since then, almost any Korean guy friend I have, or have worked with admits to going at least once a month to one of those.
Noraebaong (Karaoke) w/women- I went to the singing rooms often with Korean co-workers, and it was fun. However when it was an all male encounter, they always ordered the singing girls. 30 bucks up front, and whatever you want after, you get my drift.
I never been but heard talk, and seen:
Kissroom- A place you go and kiss and make out with hookers
Call girls- You’ll find these business cards all over the place at night, (guys on scooters with masks on throw them on the streets around 8 or 9pm at night, or walking guys stick them on a car) Meant for one thing only.
Including all the other red light districts I mentioned before.
Fall 2007- Went to America for 9 months. What a difference, relaxing, with a decent job, with my then wife. Things however didn’t work out for us there, I decided to come back to Korea.
Spring 2008-Now, I’ve been here since. Came back alone this time with all the things I didn’t notice before, I notice now.
-Dirty Looks (they even give each other dirty looks)
-Sex Industry all over the place
-Disrespectful Drivers
-Those who live in their own special world
-Guys looking at you like they want to fight you (Korea-Foreigner)
-”Hey look at the foreigner!” (daily, so annoying)
-”Have you ever been with a Korean girl?”
-”Do you like kimchi?”
-Korean women watching the “glass ceiliing” at work, and at home.
-A large number of Korean men marrying foreign women from poorer countries. Typical age difference 15-20 years. They think thats ok, but a foreign guy marrying a Korean girl? Thats a nono.
-Migrant workers treated like scum.
-Still looked at as lower then a Korean, tourist, or whatever they may be thinking at the time when they see me, or any of us.
-Watching the new Korean couple, so cute and touchy. Married couple, no touching, they both kiss in public? Never.
-Reading the news about foreign crime getting worse. When the population of foreigners in Korea is a large number of Chinese. Never thinking it could be them, it must be that white guy.
-Hey foreign teacher! HIV test, FBI background Check, Drug test! Korean teacher has to do this? Never
-Korea is #1! (Korean)
-Yankee go home! (Korean)
-The U.S. Soldier always makes a problem! (Korean)
-More Anti-English spectrum material
-Hey! Lose your wieght!
-Do you have a girlfriend?
-Relentless stares, sometimes through the whole ride on the subway/bus.
-Pointing at the foreigner
-Drunk men, trying to speak broken English to the foreigner.
-Drunk men trying to pick a fight with a foreigner.
I could go on but I’m getting tired.
Tomorrow I’ll wake up bright and early with a smile on my face. Wait for the next stare, and whisper of “hey look at the foreigner.” Oh and maybe another great newspaper article about the greatness of life in Korea. Let’s get it on!
Tyar
@James
Indeed, your story is an essay :) I’m quite shocked. I’m from South East Asia. I learn korean language. Here in my country Kpop is new trend. Learning korean language isn’t caused by KPop fever, but because i like linguistic. Anyway, i have korean teachers. They seem nice persons. One of my korean teacher told me that many young koreans want to leave to stay abroad. Life is so hard, there. Stay abroad make them relax for a while though they, of course, always proud with their country.
I just can’t believe, nowadays racism still exist. I have British English Teacher. We do respect him as a teacher. In my country, we also have nickname for foreigners, just to make them feel close to local people. We welcome anybody from any part of the world.
In my daily life, i surrounded by many different races and religions. We grew up by respecting others. Though, in every country always has racism (my British English Teacher said that), racism is not common thing here.
I plan to visit Korea next year. I don’t know, will I go there after I read your story and many others about Korea’s Racism or not. I hope people around the world will have a same opinion of anti-racism. There is no one in the world deserves to treat worse than others.
Peter Jones
Don’t bother. No matter how hard you try, you will never be accepted in Korea as part of their country. Trust me, I know.
meh
“…When the population of foreigners in Korea is a large number of Chinese. Never thinking it could be them…”
Lovely, railing against racism directed towards you then suggesting it should be directed towards another ethnic group.
Charlie
@John Chan
Korea and Japan were definitely influenced by Chinese culture but to say that they’re a subset of Chinese culture is so wrong and ignorant. First off, Korea and Japan have been around for almost as long as China. Some of the oldest pottery in the world has been found in Japan. If you did your research, you would find that Korea and Japan were influenced but not formed by Chinese Culture. The use of Chinese characters which have been modified and changed over thousands of years for both cultures shows some of the influence. However, as far as spoken languages go, they show NO similarities to Chinese. They basically used the symbols, changed them, and implemented them into their own language. Especially when it comes to Korea, as a kingdom, it was formed in 2333 B.C, which is around the the same time the culture/kingdom of china started to form. YOU should be the one listening to people like Matt and Alan. Based on what you’re saying, you support one of the things that aggravates me the most that i hear all of the time from ignorant people saying how all asians are similar and derived from Chinese. That’s just completely untrue and ignorant, sure they were partially influenced from Chinese culture, but they are not even close to Chinese. I don’t know about you but when it comes to genetics i can clearly tell the difference between Japanese and Chinese people specifically. Honestly, i feel like the current day China has abandoned a lot of it’s pas culture, and that’s a sad thing to see. However, i’m not accusing China as being a fake country, non influencial or anything, i’m just trying to clear up anything stating that Korean and Japanese people are directly related to the Chinese. Now, i’m not completely knowledgeable on this subject, but as a 16 year old white guy who loves East Asian cultures, wants to live in East Asia, and usually hangs out with asian kids, i feel like this is an issue that needs to be clarified and addressed.
Ling
I am not sure how much some of you know about chinese-Korean-Japanese culture/history. As a chinese born in Malaysia, i have a partner who is a Korean, and a best friend from Japan. The three of us hang out alot and i realised that there are many similarities on spoken language. Also, the Chinese civilization was discovered way before the Korean or the Japanese. That’s why they were one of the very first civilization. It went as far back to 5000BC. On my view, i think the whole racism issue is due to strong nationalism of the Korean. I am always surrounded by many Koreans and non of them said anything bad about the country and all of them are dying to return home despite being in the beautiful Tasmania.
Cyrus
The problem would be Koreans being a racist to the very people that made their SoKor survive the Korean War.
I do not care what people they are or where in the Globe they live but if they do not know how to respect a “debt of honor” then they are like trash.
Oliver
If you want to see overt, institutionalized racism, try living in Japan.
As the author of this article hints, Korean racism towards white Caucasians is nothing compared to the racism experienced by South Asian migrant workers living in Korea.
Furthermore, there is a growing phenomenon of South Korean men in the countryside marrying brides from South East Asia. It’s at the point today where roughly 1/5 births in Korea is from an interracial Korean-SE Asian couple. This is unprecedented in a country which is the most homogeneous in world, even more so than Japan. This is where the real story of current and future Korean race relation lies, in the countryside with Korean-SE Asian marriage couples, not in a glitzy, upscale neighborhood of Gangnam or wherever some overprivileged American college grad lives and works as an English teacher to over-privileged Korean children.