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Racism in the Korean media....
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khyber



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:41 pm    Post subject: Racism in the Korean media.... Reply with quote

Hey there...most of you involved in the ajuma play thread (I HAAAATTTE that name since ajumas were not ONCE the victim of a joke except to rhyme with "hajima")

Anyways, you won't be surprised to read that I may be having "contractual issues" with my school.

While the idea of salvaging my job may be beyond hope, I'm still gonna make an effort. Luckily, , there is no stipulation about breaking the law in my contract...only one "you must behave in a manner that doesn't "tarnish the teaching profession".

Because of this, I am hoping that the great people here on eslcafe could help me with a little project.

I am looking for ANY instances of Korean racism in the media (pictures and video are IdEAL but english and korean text would also be grand). Let's keep it limited to the last 5 years...I don't want to be flooded after all.

I work in EPIK and my supervisor, though he was NOT a member of the audience didn't take to kindly to the LIES AND MISREPRESENTATIONS in the paper. Sorry, perhaps that is unclear. He took kindly to the lies and misrepresentation, he didn't take kindly to thinking that I ACTUALLY did those things.

Assuming my continued employment comes under questioning I want to explain myself. An absolute WORST case scenario is that I remind my supervisors how incredibly prejudice the Korean media is. I would love to walk in with a file folder an 1.5" thick. That would absolutely make my day!!

So, can y'all help a brother out?
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laogaiguk



Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Racism in the Korean media.... Reply with quote

Sorry dude, but that won't work. You should realize that. I feel for you, the entire thing was blown way out of proportion, but this will just make you look worse to your Korean bosses. I sincerely suggest not trying this. If the bosses were smart, they could find racist things in Western media pretty darn easily too.

Don't lay the blame on Korea. Keep the focus on you and why you did it if you need to. Tell them there was no malicious intent. But if you go in with accusations flying about their culture, you are doomed.
Again, I support what you did, but this won't work and to be honest, seems very wrong in my opinion.
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Benicio



Joined: 25 May 2006
Location: Down South- where it's hot & wet

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This strategy may backfire on you. They are already sensitive enough and may just look at it as more "unwarranted" criticism.

Anyway, here's the classic Bubble Sisters dumbfoolery:
http://wk.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2003/02/27/200302270007.asp

There's these:

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200603/kt2006032219480654060.htm

http://joi.ito.com/archives/2004/03/17/racial_stereotypes_in_korean_newspaper.html
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khyber



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This would only be presented as a case if I get desperate and it looks like they'll fire me.

It should be noted that this is not something I "blame korea" for. I CERTAINLY don't think this is "Korea's" fault...heck, I don't even blame the citizens and Koreans in general for this...not IN THE LEAST!


In any case, if it comes to this and if I would have felt I had to use it, I would have most CERTAINLY not do it to make anyone angry or do it out of spite. I believe there are ways that I could work with it without making it seem like I was being a real d1k about it...I THINK.


In any case, I still see your point and, since I don't want anyone angry at me WITH GOOD REASON I'll go back to the drawing board.

Thanks for hte heads up. I (and others) are obviously a bit unbalanced and POed over this situation and it's good that others are helping me keep focus.

Thanks lg!
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bellum99



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You could just get a new job in a new area and move on. Why do you fight so hard to stay at the job when they don't want you? It sounds bad to say...but...perhaps it is impossible to recover from it. You probably got screwed over by the press but the boss cares about the school's reputation and your "now" crappy one reflects on him.
If I was the boss..I would fire you just to shut up the people talking about you. He probably has to answer questions everyday by parents. Perhaps you should take the firing with some good grace and move on...it may not be a fight you can win.
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is anyone a really big fan of K1? I remember last year seeing a profile of a black fighter that juxtaposed him with a gorilla. First they showed a gorilla charging across the jungle, then the fighter charging across the ring; next they showed a gorilla screaming followed by the fighter shouting in victory.

It also shouldn't be difficult to find examples of Togolese and Ghanians being portrayed as monkeys in the World Cup last summer.
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khyber



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1) Because I have two months left on my contract..two months of (almost all) vacation.
2) Because I REALLY like my job
3) Because I REALLY like my school and my school REALLy likes me (they are, in fact, making an effort to help me).

My "boss" is in an office far far away from me and probably didn't even know my name existed until this came up. I am in EPIK and there has not been ANY mention that a performer has been in that program (though brief mention of being in a public school...CERTAINLY nothing that makes me a "burden" on the headquarters). The Korean language news sources reported it once and haven't touched it since. I can only hope that the "rabidity" (a word?) of the netizens wasn't quite abusive enough to make this into a big issue. That could be because that most of the articles have said that punishment has already been meted out (not true). I personally am hoping (and thinking) that the issue is "media dead"...and therefore not a burden on my bosses.

I feel like I am giving away FAR too much info about myself so I hope you'll excuse vague answers from now on.
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RACETRAITOR



Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wasn't everyone mad at you in the first place for going overboard and criticising Korea? More criticising is not the answer and will only make you look pettier.
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bellum99



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry man...I didn't know you were so close to finishing. Look..I do feel for you and think you got shafted. I just think it will really never die down. I would fight to finish the contract but would not expect to stay there. Koreans love to gossip....
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RACETRAITOR wrote:
Wasn't everyone mad at you in the first place for going overboard and criticising Korea? More criticising is not the answer and will only make you look pettier.


Demonstrating that Koreans also love to criticise others might not be lost on everyone.
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JeJuJitsu



Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Man, if you guys would just not have charged anything...you'd have much more leverage, as then they could not chalk it up to Visa violations, they would have to explicitly state what upset them (and we all know what is REALLY behind the witch hunt).

I know you couldn't have known, but as it is now, they have the visa issue to use, so they don't need the bring anything else up.


Last edited by JeJuJitsu on Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Bondrock



Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Location: ^_^

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:52 pm    Post subject: racism Reply with quote

Koreans do not get all charged up about racist remarks by their own citizens, albeit in the media or on a website.

i feel for you guys... but, the bottom line is that you have embarrased the school and the boss.

if you apologize humbly and the issue dies down you can probably finish your contract. if you keep pushing buttons the Korean gestapo will find another way to get rid of you.

again, sorry for your troubles.
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khyber



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1) I didn't embarass my school OR my principal. They have known that I've done plays in the past and had NO problem with it
2) As for my "boss", well, I don't know how I could have embarassed him when I haven't been singled out and there hasn't really been any connection between the EPIK program and this play.
Yes...I REALLY just want to finish my contract. I've been good; done my 90% of my best...never made anyone angry and said yes 99% of the time (even things BEYOND my contract...). I think it is fair if they let me finish and refuse to re-sign me. I hope I could convince them of that.

Quote:

I know you couldn't have known, but as it is now, they have the visa issue to use, so they don't need the bring anything else up.
technically the actors didn't CHARGE anything.
As for the visa issue, I think it's lame that volunteer hobbies are under the government's jurisdiction but if they are, I can't realyl complain about my being charge: Just that the law is silly.

I will apologize though...I'll see if I can even turn on the water works.... that'd be something.
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Paddycakes



Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Assuming my continued employment comes under questioning I want to explain myself. An absolute WORST case scenario is that I remind my supervisors how incredibly prejudice the Korean media is. I would love to walk in with a file folder an 1.5" thick. That would absolutely make my day!!


Thank you for providing me with my chuckle of the day.

If you do this, be sure to bring in a secret video camera so we can all watch while you hit your EPIK boss and the Korean media with a giant J'accuse aimed squarely at Korean racism...

What are you going to do, march into his office and do a PowerPoint presentation on racism in Korea like something out of To Kill a Mockingbird???...

I can see your EPIK boss now.... what the hell are these waygooks smoking?


Last edited by Paddycakes on Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm with Mr. Bondrock on this one. I understand what you are trying to do, but seriously I think that's not going to work. You don't want to make things even worse..they probably won't even understand WHY it's racist.

It sucks that your job is in jeopardy over this, but I think if you just apologize and promise not to do it again (at least while you are employed there) it might pacify them.
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