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What's with Koreans' photophobia?

 
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idonojacs



Joined: 07 Jun 2007

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:09 pm    Post subject: What's with Koreans' photophobia? Reply with quote

What is it with these people and photographs?

You see video footage on TV, whether ads, news, or some show, and they blur out all or nearly all of the faces, signs, buildings, license plates.... why don't they just blur the whole dang image and get it over with?

Is there some sort of law involved? Can I get arrested for taking photos of people in public, or posting them?

They have movies on cable television showing people having real intercourse, but they blur out the genitals. And how does that protect the children? Like they don't see just about everything else in their cramped apartments. And then they go urinating in front of you and their friends in public like it is a show.

My co-teacher asked me to take photos of the kids at the school festival. So what happens? The kids hide their heads, turn away, put their hands over their face, hold objects in front of their face. It's like they are criminals on a perp walk. Some even run up, yelling, and stick their hand in front of the lens, or worse, onto the lens.

But that doesn't stop them from "surreptitiously" taking pictures of you with their hand phone in class or on the bus.

What is going on here? It reminds me of Anthony Quinn from Lawrence of Arabia, when he smashed the reporter's camera. He though the camera would steal his soul or something.
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Scotticus



Joined: 18 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not sure where you're coming from with the camera-shy thing. I'm not sure if you've noticed this yet, but Koreans are constantly taking pictures of themselves. I'm apalled by how often they photograph themselves and each other. Some of my students are camera shy, but on the whole they ham it up like crazy.

The face blurring is probably due to Korea's ass-backwards slander laws. Or it's because the show you're watching is a fake (like that Suh-Kaen-Duhl show).

In any case, I've never experienced the kind of vehement anit-picture stuff you're describing...
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venus



Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Near Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scotticus wrote:
I'm not sure where you're coming from with the camera-shy thing. I'm not sure if you've noticed this yet, but Koreans are constantly taking pictures of themselves. I'm apalled by how often they photograph themselves and each other. Some of my students are camera shy, but on the whole they ham it up like crazy.

The face blurring is probably due to Korea's ass-backwards slander laws. Or it's because the show you're watching is a fake (like that Suh-Kaen-Duhl show).

In any case, I've never experienced the kind of vehement anit-picture stuff you're describing...


Japan has the same laws that means pics in the news are often blurred or partially obscured.

A hint to newbs - Koreans DO NOT like being photogrpahed in their workplaces (ie markets) or in the street by people they don't know / tourists. In Thailand they may not care, but Koreans do not like it, so I always use a telphoto zoom from a long way away so they don't notice. You should see some of the cool candids I have of my neigbours in their apts. I have a 220mm zoom with 24X digi zoom. I can literally get a clear view of a familly in their living room in an apt building over 500 metres away.
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RACETRAITOR



Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

venus wrote:
Scotticus wrote:
I'm not sure where you're coming from with the camera-shy thing. I'm not sure if you've noticed this yet, but Koreans are constantly taking pictures of themselves. I'm apalled by how often they photograph themselves and each other. Some of my students are camera shy, but on the whole they ham it up like crazy.

The face blurring is probably due to Korea's ass-backwards slander laws. Or it's because the show you're watching is a fake (like that Suh-Kaen-Duhl show).

In any case, I've never experienced the kind of vehement anit-picture stuff you're describing...


Japan has the same laws that means pics in the news are often blurred or partially obscured.

A hint to newbs - Koreans DO NOT like being photogrpahed in their workplaces (ie markets) or in the street by people they don't know / tourists. In Thailand they may not care, but Koreans do not like it, so I always use a telphoto zoom from a long way away so they don't notice. You should see some of the cool candids I have of my neigbours in their apts. I have a 220mm zoom with 24X digi zoom. I can literally get a clear view of a familly in their living room in an apt building over 500 metres away.


Post n00dz!

Personally, I just shoot from the hip. Nobody ever seems to notice.
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Ya-ta Boy



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
You should see some of the cool candids I have of my neigbours in their apts... I can literally get a clear view of a familly in their living room in an apt building over 500 metres away.


I doubt very much that I'm the only one who has a problem with this.
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idonojacs



Joined: 07 Jun 2007

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

venus wrote:

Quote:
You should see some of the cool candids I have of my neigbours in their apts. I have a 220mm zoom with 24X digi zoom. I can literally get a clear view of a familly in their living room in an apt building over 500 metres away.


Are you out of your mind? That is an invasion of privacy. In the States we would call you a "peeping Tom." There's laws against that. You could be arrested.

People have a right to privacy from being photographed in their home, even if they do not pull the drapes.

You should be ashamed of yourself.
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Gwangjuboy



Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Photophobia is the discomfort some feel in bright light. As far as I know it has nothing to do with having your photograph taken.
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mindmetoo



Joined: 02 Feb 2004

PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Libel laws are rather bizarre here. Even if a person is doing something in public, you can still sue for libel if it damages their reputation.
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Ilsanman



Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's probably law. I don't let anyone take a picture of me here unless I know them well. It may very well end up on the internet.

In porn movies, they blur out the man's face but not the woman's.
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azzwell



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: where the girls from Super Junior cannot find me

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

its just that koreas sparkling people are about two thousand years behind the times. they really do think a camera will steal your soul.
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twg



Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya-ta Boy wrote:
Quote:
You should see some of the cool candids I have of my neigbours in their apts... I can literally get a clear view of a familly in their living room in an apt building over 500 metres away.


I doubt very much that I'm the only one who has a problem with this.

Someone needs to have the camera smacked out of their hands.
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stevemcgarrett



Joined: 24 Mar 2006

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

idonojacs asked:

Quote:
You see video footage on TV, whether ads, news, or some show, and they blur out all or nearly all of the faces, signs, buildings, license plates.... why don't they just blur the whole dang image and get it over with?


Yeah, bruddah, I hear ya. Have ya ever seen that lame spin-off of the American reality TV show "Cheaters?" The voices are garbled to where they sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks and the faces are blotted out too. It's about as dramatic as watching jello get hard in a revolving pie case at a truckstop diner (don't ask).

It seems like all East Asians love to take every scenic photo with themselves in it. Try going on a trip with a group and taking snapshots only of picturesque scenery, architectural wonders, and fauna and flora and see the odd looks you get.

Of course, it could be worse: I had a grandma who mostly took photos of highway directional and state welcome signs and RV parks and then made us sit through slideshows of it all (yes, twg, that would explain it).
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indytrucks



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: The Shelf

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

venus wrote:
I always use a telphoto zoom from a long way away so they don't notice. You should see some of the cool candids I have of my neigbours in their apts. I have a 220mm zoom with 24X digi zoom. I can literally get a clear view of a familly in their living room in an apt building over 500 metres away.


Shocked

Pal, that's just downright creepy.
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Pyongshin Sangja



Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Primitive people have always feared that the god in the magic box will steal their soul. Koreans are no different.
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