Terry Gou (郭台銘), chairman of Hon Hai Precision, the mother ship of Foxconn, which manufactures products like iPhones for Apple, just went on a verbal attack against Koreans when while claiming iPhone5 will put the latest Samsung Galaxy phone to shame. (See more thorough article here.)
“I respect the Japanese and especially like their execution and communication styles,” Gou said. “Unlike the Koreans, they will not hit you from behind.”
He didn’t even call Koreans, “Koreans.” The Chinese term he uses, 高麗棒子, meaning “Goryeo billy club,” is so well-established as a Chinese derogatory term for Koreans that it’s afforded a brief historical study at Wikipedia’s Japanese section.
This kind of talk about Koreans is not uncommon in Taiwan, where people are still angry over how twenty years ago they were sure South Korea was one of Taiwan’s closest friends until Seoul suddenly announced it was choosing Beijing. And, for that matter, where even a former president says he respects the Japanese and visits Yasukuni Shrine.
Interestingly, just last month the Samsung Economic Research Institute issued a paper about Hon Hai and what Korea stands to learn from it.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Not that I don’t appreciate the post, Peter, but you do realize I blogged about this a couple of days ago?
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2012/06/21/foxconns-head-bashes-koreans/
Busted!
Why is “billy club” offensive?
I’ve heard a number of explanations for the origin of the term, including one referring to billy clubs carried by Korean policemen in Manchuria. The Koreans were not trusted by the Japanese to have guns. Thus, the slur is interpreted as a put-down of Koreans as collaborators during the occupation.
“The Koreans were not trusted by the Japanese to have guns.”
So very true…
Why is “billy club” offensive?
uhh… because it’s used as a put down?
Same as asking why is jjangke offensive. It refers to black bean sauce noodles. What’s so offensive about that one?
Seems like a kind of silly put down. If someone called me a billy club, I’d take it as recognition of my ass-kicking prowess. I wonder if the choice of the word “Koryo” isn’t also at issue — that’s not the term the Chinese typically use to refer to Korea, is it?
Also, isn’t it kind of rich for Taiwanese to look down on Koreans as collaborators with the Japanese?
Some Chinese deride Koreans as collaborators, but I don’t know that Taiwanese do. They might just be using the slur without regard for the origin. I believe there is another theory about the origin of the term that dates from an earlier period, but I do not recall the explanation.
One of the worst traditional insults in the Chinese language is to call someone a turtle egg. I guess Chinese insults lose their sting when translated.
“Kaori Bangzi” (Goryo Bangzi) is a term originated from China, not necessarily an origin of Taiwan. All that matters none, when people use the term as put down, nobody cares how and where that term came from, nor what that really means.
I can see somebody saying something like this behind closed doors, and that’s alright. But what would be the reaction if Steve Jobs is seen telling his audience making a slur against Koreans and Samsung in public? The backlash would be unbelievable. But since this is Taiwan we’re talking about… nobody cares other then a few raised eyebrows.
Oops. I’m as smart as a billy club.
Did people call you “Koryo billy goat” when you were little, cm? You seem to have some sort of “콤플렉스 “
@sonagi “I believe there is another theory about the origin of the term that dates from an earlier period, but I do not recall the explanation.”
Checked with my GF, a PRC-born Manchurian and she believes Gaoli Bangzi predates 1949 in China and is derived from Korea’s tribute relationship with China. Bangzi itself is not derogatory, although it carries the meaning of “cops” in some uses.
Most Koreans think the Chinese are very cultured people with deep philosophy. In reality, they are bunch of wild pigs drenched with alcohol, sex and lawlessness.
And, some think that Americans are highly cultured people with justice and reason. Have them visit trailer park at night.
People are people. No country is better than others. Only difference may be that money brings some retreat from the poverty ugliness.
So, this Chinese dog barks at Koreans? Just ignore.
@RolyPoly I think Koreans are discovering that in light of what has happened within the last few months.
Americans are not immigrants knocking on somebody else’s doors though.
Well people move to what they perceive to be a “better” country or at the very least a country that they are interested.
At the end of the day Foxconn CEO is blowing a lot of hot air. They don’t even make their own branded stuff. To go from a contract assembler to a leading brand is going to take more than 5 years. They don’t even develop their own products. Good luck to him in 5 years time he will be eating those words.
Reuters report:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/06/us-sharp-honhai-idUSBRE87507I20120806
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