Comments on: ‘Lost’ and Korean manhood

By: Mette Lambaek

Mette Lambaek — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 01:33:33 +0000

tit torture with needles

Lost and…

By: Not sure about that

Not sure about that — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 13:44:36 +0000

hmmm… I saw the show several times and I have to say that as a Korean man, I do agree that Korean men are some what like that. But this is a TV show! People would rather see something provocative then some discovery channel crap(figure of speech… not trying to discredit the discovery channel). Obviously, writers went little too far by creating a stereotype Korean man. The show went overboard by creating a character like that. I had heard that Kim Yoon-jin was the one who wanted to make two Korean characters in such ways. No wonder… she is a Korean woman who lived in America for many years. Maybe her Americanistic thinking overshadowed her original view of the way of Korean culture. If you are not Korean, you probably do not fully understand the Korean culture. I could never tell someone to fix me a dinner, but Korean men who live in Korea can. Simply because there is an understanding between many Korean men and women that it is woman’s duty to do all of the house work. But aren’t there some American women who would rather stay in home and do all of the things that Korean women prefer to do? If you compare, even though there are more working moms in Korea today than few years ago, the ratio of American working moms and Korean working moms is probably close to 50:1 or greater. So, it’s cultural thing. Korean women prefer not working, but many American women do. So, in American peoples’ eyes, Korean marriage system may not seem suitable. Even in the U.S., I know a Korean couple who are just like that or even worse than what the TV depicted of. I asked her why she would do all these “un-necessary” things… She told me that that’s what she wants. I clearly do not see them as happily married couple, but I am not a part of their relationship. I would never understand what they have as a married couple.
As far as talking about how Koreans are racists. I have to say that there are many racist Koreans around the world. But are Koreans only racists in the world? Or are they the worse kind? If you go to Japan, many still believe that they are the superior mankind. Chinese peoples discriminate harshly against smaller or poor Asian countries. I had lived in Mexico for one year and Mexicans are much worse than Koreans. In the U.S.? Black people are much racists, but they get away, because they always bring up the past slavery in the U.S. White Americans? Hey… You think getting a job in a corp. is easy as non-white American? You think there is no discrimination?
Gimmi a break~
Also, aren’t American people forcing Mexicans to leave this country? Oh… illegals only right?…hmmm

By: Richie

Richie — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 22:49:41 +0000

Koreans always tell me to leave their country. (Koreans would leave their country)

By: Richie

Richie — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 22:39:36 +0000

I agree with matt. I?€™ve been here in Korea for 7 years now-working in a Korean company doing office work. I can say I am lucky because first, I?€™m a mix breed Filipino-American (the white features dominate the ethnic Filipino features). Second, I spent my growing years in America where I picked up the language and ?€œtwang?€?. Because of these two obvious features I can easily get a job. Koreans don?€™t hire African-American English teachers. They don?€™t care if the person is a bum in America who accidentally found his way to Korea. As long as you are ?€œwhite?€? that will do. I met one American who worked in Macy?€™s as a sales clerk before becoming a teacher in Korea. My point is. - come on lets be honest?€? prejudice and racism is felt. I sometimes feel it. Koreans like me because of my features and my ?€œtwang?€? but then when I show them my Korean green card I know they get disappointed learning I?€™m Filipino. Koreans would leave their country. I love to. Its just that I?€™m married to a Korean.

By: Richie

Richie — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 22:02:41 +0000

Koreans are racist, judgmental, very critical,selfish, greedy, materialistic…..and im talking here of the people in general.

By: Korean and black

Korean and black — Mon, 27 Dec 2004 14:56:00 +0000

To all you bitches who think this is how Koreans think/act ur a dumb ass. My mom is Korean(full) and my dad is black(full). Not all Koreans “hate” black people. Like some white people don’t hate black people. It just depends on who the person is. So if u sterotype people like that ur a dick. Even though some Koreans are like this doesn’t mean all Koreans are. Plus, I just went to Korea this summer and a lot of the Koreans were very nice to me. So to u bitches yall don’t know shit so u should keep ur mouth shut.

K.P.

By: robertneff103

robertneff103 — Sun, 26 Dec 2004 06:23:10 +0000

Bluejives - Merry Christmas

You wrote -
But then Korea has never had the benefit of the slave experience, racial discrimination, segregation, white mob lynchings, ethnic clashes (even amongst ethnic Europeans fresh off the boat through Ellis Island), trials by all white juries, the Civil Rights struggle, and other historical events that were standard modus operandi for the most Free Nation in the world. What do you want?

I believe you need to go back and study the “Mother land’s” history. Slavery existed up to the Japanese control of Korea. Racism existed and does exist in Korea - read history and you will see that there were a number of Japanese that managed to drown in the countryside, coincidence? Segregation: - hmm…..need we comment on this? come-on even you know that is a stupid thing to say - think of butchers. Ethnic struggles - well again - see the Japanese control of Korea, the earlier semi-control by China and those cover this subject, but lets go deeper - lets look at regionalism and its problems - we know that it has become a lot better but there are still enough hatreds between the two southern provinces to probably fill books. Kangaroo courts - hmm….does yangban mean anything to you? Pay enough money and anything goes your way in a Choson court. Civil Rights —- do we want to touch that one?

Here is my point - this happens in ALL COUNTRIES or has happened in ALL COUNTRIES to one extent or another.

Wishing you the best

Robert

By: Bryan Ruffin

Bryan Ruffin — Sun, 26 Dec 2004 04:14:33 +0000

The husband is also shown as a gangster - working for her father. The impression I got was that he was more Sicilian than Korean.

And a previous poster noted that he started out an Alan Alda, 70s type sensitive male and was turned into a distant, cold machine by her father.

Placing bets here that he’s also the First Character Killed Off.

By: Mizar5

Mizar5 — Sat, 25 Dec 2004 22:20:38 +0000

Pearsall Helms>”Bluejives, what is the appropriate level of saintliness Producers of Pallor should be striving for in their depictions of Persons of Color? Minor folk saints? Angels? Twelve disciples? The Big J?”

The US media generally goes out of its way to actually portray minorities in a positive light. Personally, I’m secure enough in my skin to handle a little truth. People with ego problems will always be sensitive and whiny and unfortunately, we Koreans sometimes tend to suffer from a victim mentality. Some people will never be content and are always looking for excuses to feel slighted and wronged.

The wide acceptance of minority actors in the US in roles that are non-stereotypical is really rather amazing. I mean, you have a black man playing god and Asian people in Charlies Angels. Pretty damn good considering our percentage of the general population.

I have yet to see such in Korean media where negative stereotyping is rampant. Think for a moment about the unfair treatment of Americans in films and movies like the Barber of Hyoja Dong and the the inaccurate and distorted biases in the mainstream Korean news.

We Korean Americans really have very little to whine about considering that we’ve pretty much gotten a free ride. It was the Chinese and blacks who paid the price of prejudice back in the day when racial consciousness was not so accute. It’s time some of us grew up and learned to take responsibility for our own lives and stop blaming everybody else for our insecurities.

That’s a good Xmas wish I guess. Merry Xmas everybody, and love yourselves - you’ll do just fine!

By: Mizar5

Mizar5 — Sat, 25 Dec 2004 10:34:36 +0000

bluejives>”"Asian female characters have been portrayed as obsequious, desirable, and likable who had to be rescued from the clutches of evil oppressive Asian men (the White Man?€™s burden, anyone?). Asian male characters, on the other hand, are portrayed as inscrutable, dangerous, threatening, or a harmless dweeb?€?always the perennial ?€?Other?€™. This is a pattern that has been established time and time again in the portrayal of Asians specifically and is an another example of the white male post-colonial ?€?divide-and conquer?€™ mentality except it is perpetrated against Asian men and Asian women. Of course, most white-male viewers would find absolutely nothing wrong with this sort of subtle and insidious practice.”

Bullshit, bluejives, the truth is that you suffer from an inferiority complex and have too much time to brood to invent conspiracies that don’t really exist. It’s just gyopo syndrome. Hopefully you’ll outgrow it with a little emotional maturity.

For a dose of reality, just ask yourself: if you needed to support your sweeping condemnation of an entire race, would you be able to back your bald assertions with objective research?

bluejives>”May I also point out that in the US, the numerically superior white majority often likes to put a media gag especially on an outspoken minority who may have things to say that makes whites uncomfortable?”

“Point out” whatever your obvious racial inferiority complex compells you to. But eventually learn to stop blaming “the white majority” for your emotional insecurities. Try hanging out with some Asian Americans who are not whiny racist punks. I’m one who would be glad to teach you the real meaning of self acceptance. It doesn’t come in a bottle or a tube (boob tube included) but from simply getting over your supposed differences and seeking your deep commonalities with the rest of humanity.

Fortunately not all Asian Americans are so pathetically uncomfortable in their own skins that we have to portray ourselves as perrenial victims.