Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pocariboy73]

05-01-2008 17:40

Nike Slaps Ban on Gyeonggi Council Members

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Regional council members' angered an international sports goods maker through making sexually explicit gestures during their visit to its headquarters abroad. The politicians quickly tried to explain themselves, claiming ``difference of culture'' as an excuse, but businessmen in the United States called for an apology and prohibited the council members from visiting them again.

According to the Chosun Ilbo, the incident began when seven members of Gyeonggi provincial council visited the headquarters of the world's largest sports utilities maker Nike in Portland, USA, early March as part of their efforts to forge ties between Korea and the US. While there, two council members reportedly touched the breasts and private parts of a female statue. Witnesses said they even tried to put their hands in the statue's crotch while giggling. This left many of the workers there feeling horrified.

Later on, the witnesses complained to the company that the politicians' behavior was terribly embarrassing. ``Half of them were behaving like immature teenagers'' one reportedly said.

The headquarters' spokesman told the council team that the company felt deeply uncomfortable after hearing about what happened and that they will ``not welcome any further visits from the council.''

The two shunned members sent an abrupt apology email to Nike saying if any inappropriate demeanor had taken place, it was never on purpose but due to a difference in cultures.

They later claimed that they may have ``leaned toward the statue'', but nothing like what was mentioned in Nike's complaints. ``We did take pictures but no such dramatic things happened. It was miscommunication stemming from a difference between cultures. We just made an apology because Nike seemed to want it, that's all,'' a council member said.

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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/05/117_23480.html

[Bibbitybop]

While this is a unique case, this further escalates the "rude" stereotype people hold against Koreans. Ask a flight attendant in Asia which culture causes more problems.

[JongnoGuru]

I agree with the Koreans on this one. Their apology was completely honest and accurate, this really IS due to cultural differences. The relevant difference here being that Korean men -- especially the successful, well-educated, holders of high public office -- actually do behave like immature teenagers quite often. They didn't mean any disrespect to Nike, to Oregon, to the US or to the nudie statue. They were just having a little High-Class Korea-Man Fun�. The Americans overreacted. They should visit here, a week in Seoul will put it all in the proper perspective.

Anyway, hasn't Nike been making shoes in Korea for eons? Surely this isn't their first experience with the locals. I don't get it.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Wow. Isn't Nike from...BEAVERton!?! HAHAHHAA!

[Julius]

99% of Korean male behaviour is simply unnaceptable in the west.

It only takes 5 minutes of stepping foot outside this country for them to start to realise it.

[Scotticus]

[Bingo]

Typical boorish, infantile Korean male behaviour. I'm not surprised one bit, but good for Nike for calling them on it. Only by constantly pointing out to Korea that they often behave like immature peasants will they ever change.

And it's these clowns that are sitting in judgment of us English teachers.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

I long for the destruction of the English-teaching industry in South Korea.

[ED209]

[philipjames]

What would entice grown men to make sexual gestures towards a statue of a naked woman. I'd expect that from twelve year olds. These are Korean politicians, representing their country and province, behaving like adolescent fools. And as someone said, these are the clowns sitting in judgment of us. I swear Koreans lack the 'inner voice' gene that says 'Hey, maybe this behaviour is inappropriate / immature / inconsiderate etc." Friggin unbelievable.

If this story had been written without mentioning the nationality of the offending visitors, how long before the thought "They're probably Korean" would enter most readers' minds? Probably about three seconds.

[GoldMember]

Actually this incident has received coverage in the Korean language media, and the polititians inviolved have been chastised in the Korean media.
Koreans themselves don't go for the cultural differences excuse.

Not only do these clowns behave like morons, but they then further insult the intelligence of their hosts by thinking their hosts are sooo stupid that they'll go for such an idiotic excuse.

But then again we had this from Australia:

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23615760-2761,00.html

TROUBLED WA Opposition leader Troy Buswell has broken down in tears at a press conference and admitted he sniffed the chair of a female Liberal Party staffer.

[jkelly80]

I think the difference is that no Western public figure would ever think to use a "cultural is relative" excuse when caught acting like a misogynist. There is a great deal of boorish misogynistic behavior by well-educated men in the West, but they don't try to weasel out of it using identity-politics buzzwords.

[Lekker]

Nothing cool happens in Oregon except the Goonies and Short Circut.

[Whistleblower]

A difference of culture is just that whilst behaving in an inappropriate manner is something else. How embarrassing for the Council to behave in such a deplorable manner.

[hugekebab]

But then again, the Americans being 'horrified' is a typical example of PC American oversensitivity.

I think its funny and would have presented the council members with an award.