Video Blog 21: Complaining About Korea

[deezonyxde77]

lol too funnny

[vertigo718]

You guys are idiots and ethnocentric. Learn to adapt to foreign norms and mores instead of judging other cultures by your own standards of courtesy and etiquette.

[JamesianDGAF]

called racism ;] learn to deal with it buddy just like the states

[DrJohnyHaze]

Bad thing about korea. No medical marijuana

[mcwarn00]

Korea is only rich because America gave them billions in aid. If it weren't for the aid South Korea would look just like North Korea. That's why their society is so backwards, they are like the hillbilly that won the lottery. Public spitting, pissing, vomiting, screaming, and mistreatment of women are all much more common than in the west. The cops are lazy and corrupt. The people there are apathetic and robotic cowards. Also, out of 112 countries studied, Korean men have the smallest penises

[acasurfing11]

@mcwarn00 Yeah, Korea is thankful towards the US and we are in good relationship with them. However, if you know the Korean history well after the war, there were strong, almost totalitarian but very intelligent leaders that made Korea stand back up again. We grew tremendously in electronic, technical fields and Korea is pretty much the only country that became this strong and urbanized in such a short time. (approx 50~60 years)

[acasurfing11]

@mcwarn00 and who the fuck cares about the size of penises? You may and maybe some other corrupted people in the mind, but ALOT of people don't really care. you say it like its such a shameful thing LMAO. Okay, I understand that you hate Korea and you memorize every single fact that is not so outstanding about Korea and go spreading it around in order to bring Korea down, but its not working haha. Public spitting? i see it everywhere in every country i've been in.

[jstele]

@mcwarn00 Study history and stop making up lies. So ignorant.

[mcwarn00]

@jstele I did leave. I've been to 11 other asian countries and I loved them all. Korea is the only place I experienced racism on multiple occasions.

[jstele]

You're a pessimistic person. Enough said. You think Asians are treated better in the U.S., a supposedly progressive, multicultural country?

[cheboludisimo]

What to do, I don't know yet for sure, but being on the margin is hard to handle without veering into a deep depression. The problem with your video is that you don't discuss this enough, and it's easy to see how you go around reinforcing the norms that have developed: acting like a foreigner: shooting your camera in English in public, letting Koreans talk to you in English-- This is where a lot of the problems you seem vaguely aware of stem from. When in Rome fools!

[cheboludisimo]

...continued... Asian eyes, dark black hair, etc. you know what I'm saying, right?, just because people from more genetically homogenized places vary with physical characteristics Koreans know who looks like a foreigner. What I'm getting at is that then it becomes appropriate, and I don't know how so many people learn this, to speak to a perfect stranger for seemingly no reason, and in English. After six years of this, it's getting really hard to tolerate, so I'd like to make a change. cont....

[cheboludisimo]

For the most part your complaints were all the cliche ones that people from out side of a big city often feel when the go into the midst of a huge city. That part was pretty gay. Then you just started to get into the real issue, which is that a lot of Koreans, so many (like in Seoul for me, say I'm out on the city streets for two hours it happens five to ten times) a lot of Koreans openly discriminate against people who look different from the Korean norm: semi-fair yellow skin...

[jstele]

@cheboludisimo A lot? Not really.

[beatnix99]

Join the club... Being a 3rd gen Asian American I still have ppl come up to me and comment on my perfect English. You are feeling what us minorities feel here in the states... We have a word for it too. Perpetual Outsider.

[imreallyjin]

you crack me up. good thing you stopped; short and sweet

[megkoji99]

haha if you don't want strangers talking to you, you should come to Japan where they ignore everyone around them lol. It's very peaceful that way. People will apologize for everything if they think they've offended you... politeness is an art form, or a craft.

[tttfrenetic]

Just sit man. Little kids talking to me lol Damn... Anyway, mostly everything you said I had to experience in the States coz I was an Asian.

We were treated as outsiders. Even Asian-Americans..

And white people are always like, I don't understand that there is racism. Why are Asians and blacks bitching all the time? Well... I guess you have the experience to tell other Americans.

.

.

To tell you the truth, it does suck to be a minority doesn't it?

[m419s]

korea + a little time = big muthurfucking war with north korea nuking the fuk out of the south!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! stay away unless stuupid!!!!!

[JimmyChiffels]

Suck it up buttercups

[TDP788]

@JimmyChiffels Is that what you say to your boyfriend, FAGGOT?

Anal? Try looking that word up in a dictionary before you use it incorrectly. Don't get angry at people for making hypothetical comments. I said "it could be that", which, in English, implies that I am speculating about what you experienced. Since you speak "perfect" English and Korean, maybe you could have responded more intelligently by explaining instead of lashing out.

[mcwarn00]

I've been to many countries, and South Korea has to be the most dismal place I've ever been. They eat dogs, the people are rude, there is no nature, it's completely polluted, and the cities are ugly. Living here for 8 months has felt like 10 years, I can't wait to leave.

[TDP788]

@mcwarn00 No "nature"? Sounds like you live in Seoul or another big city. You should have picked a better destination, like Jeju.

[iloveredbull09]

@mcwarn00 im sure they will be happy to get rid of you, as well. 

[jstele]

@mcwarn00 Then leave. What's stopping you? It's not Korea, but your pissy attitude.

[delmar7336]

hey cheer up it's better than korean getting discriminated in your country...

[ChelsiiWun]

@delmar7336 right!

[Xentradi97]

This is a good rant. I can totally relate as Korean who spent most of childhood there.

Koreans are one of the warmest people once you get to know them and they get to know you and like you. They'll treat you like a family. However, if they don't know or care about you, there's the other extreme where they can treat you like insignificant outsider. They say this is because Korea went through various wars and suffering at the hands of outside (both internal and external) forces.

[Xentradi97]

@Xentradi97 And because of that, they bond like know other amongst the in-groups and friends and family especially in time of crisis. But also has a tendency to treat strangers, outsiders and foreigners with a great deal of ignorance, distance and obliviousness. I do wish that they were little less extreme.

[weeegoesthemonkey]

Oh wow. You're not very happy people are you?

[PerfectSins]

That's a very valid point but saying that people are oblivious in Korea is just an insult

In subways, buses where it is VERY crowded, bumping and pushing will occur often. But most of them are from older people who are usually less educated and more from rural.

Also you havn't seen very much of Korea if you think people aren't polite, or at least that is what I felt you've implied here

Honorifics are VERY important to everyone and the respectful gestures and tradition are not found in US

[JimmyChiffels]

i hate how ppl say EXCUSE ME here... in a sarcastic tone

[TDP788]

@JimmyChiffels  It could be that what you perceive as being a sarcastic tone is actually the variance in pronunciation of English words by a non-native speaker. Don't be so defensive.

[JimmyChiffels]

@TDP788 Defensive? You're the one being anal Faggot.

btw. I was born in Canada and speak perfect Korean and English.

[TDP788]

@JimmyChiffels Yeah, your being defensive. It is irrelevant that you speak Korean. How does someone say EXCUSE ME sarcastically and why would they? You just generalized a whole nation based on your vague assumptions about limited social interaction. Now that your ignorant attitude has been revealed, it doesn't surprise me that you interpret cross-cultural interactions negatively.

[kerryoke68]

LMAO at Big Mamma pippi.

koreatown in Los Angeles is the same. I lived there and even though I was white, all the old people in my building expected me to be like a daughter.

I was in the market there and had to explain to my husband that they do not have the same 3 feet of space rule. A very old lady was on line behind my husband and just started leaning on him. I could see her little head coming up from his side as she held on to him. It was really adorable actually. He just let her.

[kpmth00]

Very interesting video. I know they don't proofread, but ppippi is 삐삐 who was a character on television.

[AsianFool4u]

i've been to seoul before and i kno wat u mean. i lov korea but the ppl, not so much(only sum). I always appolgize when someone bumps me or i bump them but in a subway, someone bumped into me and left, i appologized. geez. ppl are too busy to hav feelings.

[ztevo]

go royksopp

[dahyec]

I love your vid. So funny and frank!

[fruitygumball]

I was asking for directions in the subway in Korea, no one would stop to help me. They all ignored me as if they didn't hear. People seemed really cold to complete strangers but friendly to their acquaintances.

[JuSeo91]

hahaha good vid

[lamyjoongbo]

it's pretty the same complains i had once i was in korea, but by the time i really became used to it even amused by it, ajummas became my favourite because they so lberated to talk to you and smile at ur face not like young people who are afraid of even talk to you,! it was specially hard to be treated like an outsder when i wanted to date korean guys!

but i'm determined when i will comeback i'll be more opened!

[whifling]

That was surprisingly upbeat for a complaining vid ( '-') and quite funny.

[Parkjisung91]

for one thing on the bus, you can't be pissed so easily just because the old man said no, it's typical for elderly ppl in korea to be a little ackward or cold toward foreigners or even toward his fellow koreans. i know how u felt but it's just one of the korean elders characteristics, not all of them are like that. korea have some multicultural characteristics but it's not as much as country like canada

[playerdaehyun]

damn dude is that sinchon where your interviewin the korean girl???.............

i really miss that place i was there a few months ago

[FunkyMonk6969]

Go down to Busan, it's more mellow there. You must be in Seoul correct?

[tomives1985]

@FunkyMonk6969

nah Mike was in Gwangju

[lastweekspants]

This was great. Makes me want to take more care with my videos about Korea.

[iFlyiFall]

I like how you expressed things you dont like without making Korea seem like a horrible country hope it gets better, I miss Korea ;(

[kjoey76]

Its looks your in the country side or a smaller city where foreigners are not common. Seoul or Busan is a better choice.

[jimmydenfield]

i love big mama pippi in hongdae!

[koala8]

that was funny

[BiGBANG0428]

yeah i like how ppl here say "excuse me"

when they bump into you...

i dont think there is a fit sentence in korean meant to say when you bump into someone....

[jstele]

@BiGBANG0428 You obviously don't speak Korean.

[acasurfing11]

@jstele i know how to speak Korean fluently. ㅈㄴ웃기넼ㅋ 알지도 못하면서 다 아는듯 지껄이네.

[jstele]

@acasurfing11 Not based on that sentence. Oh, and it's "실례합니다" in Korean. "Fluent speaker." rolls eyes.

[acasurfing11]

@jstele what are you talking about? do you even know what i said in Korean or did you just google translate it? lol. I said 'fukin funny, lol, your pretending to know everything but actually know nothing" Thats basically what i said and what does it have to do with "excuse me"

[jstele]

@acasurfing11 You don't speak Korean. Look it up. My god,

[acasurfing11]

@jstele 뭔개소리- - 아놔병신아냐?

니가 한국말 못하겠지 ㅁㅊ놈아 넌 내말 알아듣기나 하냐?

넌 아마 google translater 나 존나 써대겟지

let me see you speak korean jstele ^^

and YOU should study PROPER history and STOP being brainwashed by the distorted truth.

[acasurfing11]

@jstele honestly, there are bad things about every country. I live in the country that promoted itself as the 'best place on earth', and ACTUALLY placed atleast in the top 5 of the world's best place to live.

But i still have numerous complaints, and i hear professors ranting and complaining ALL the time.

Honestly there is no perfect place there is always the good and the bad sides, coexisitng.

LIKE the YIN and the YANG.

[Xentradi97]

This is a fair criticism and assessment about Korea. Korea indeed has a some way to go before becoming a true melting pot or a metropolitan society in terms of ethnic and cultural diversity as today's globalization demands it. It will take time as the influx of mass foreigners and residents only started in last 20 years or so. Korea indeed has a lot to offer but also lot to be desired. I hope it continues to change in positive way

[bluetextbooks]

Try being black in America for the last 22 years kiddo lol.... I know how you feel!

[janaysayqua]

You don't know how tough it is unless you're an albino living in the United States for the last 23 years pal lol... we all have something to complain about!

[crazygnius]

i live here in seoul... yeah i encounter some of incident happen in your video.. i am a filipino.... but some are very hospitable... i just say its hard to make korean friend because few can only speak english,nor i cant speak koean =( anyways nice blog.. make more videos like this!!

[BabyMissa]

If you apologize to the person for them shoving YOU around, you'll find most of the people will be delightedly surprised. =D

[alpacaone]

I was hoping that bearded glasses guy would be a surrogate Mike who would fill in this week. Or something similar to that.

[sonicmatt30]

where is that shot of the castle/palace at? Keep up with the videos, there awesome.

[eightwillwontcannot]

Tom has formidable eyebrows

[Hereticxxii]

Thanks. This is one of the fairest "rants" about living in Korea that i have heard from another foreigner here. Life here is good. Sure there are things that can drive you nuts but too much of what you hear is just ethno-centric cheap shots from people with piss poor attitudes. Yeah its hard being in a foriegn and insular country, but Korea has a lot to offer and 90% of getting by is ones own attitude. Keep making the great video. I wish mine looked half as good as yours.

[jaboboface]

haha just have to say i really liked ur comment! thumbs up for u! ^^

[PerfectSins]

@Hereticxxii

I don't know about the fairness...

A LOT of these things that he's said, and used as an example of (like the bus) are based on FEW experiences from people in his area. There are 48 milion people in Korea and generalizing these rude behaviours as the whole nation's is absurd.

I lived in america and I've experienced far more rude things but I don't think it's the whole country

Also if an asian with heavily broken english started talking, u seriously think people wouldn't laugh?...