Korean Job Discussion Forums

toby99 · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:30 pm Post subject: Met a famous expat?

Does anyway have a story about running into a "famous" expat here in Korea? By that I'm referring to some of the big-name expat bloggers, cultural commentators (like Mike Breen), or other (in)famous members of the community. These aren't people who are necessarily famous outside of Korea, or even in Korea, but are fairly well-known among expats.

Another note: I've noticed that other countries have produced famous expats- teachers who go on to become famous later in life. For example, Ed Norton and author Jay McInerney (from the literary 'brat pack' of the 80s with Bret Easton Ellis) did stints in Japan.

Has Korea produced any expats that have gone on to achieve notoriety later in life?

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

giraffe · Joined: 07 Apr 2009

well one guy became know internationally as swirly guy. HE was a pedophile who ran away to thailand after things got sticky here in south korea. THey made a documentary about him on well known news channel. WAs on the interpols list and everything...

toby99 · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject:

seoulshock · Joined: 12 Jul 2005

I've met Dave, but in Los Angeles. What a friendly guy.

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

Lucy DeCouture who played 'Lucy' on Trailer Park Boys once taught in Korea. Trailer Park Boys is really popular in Canada.

optik404 · Joined: 24 Jun 2008

toby99 · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:57 pm Post subject:

I met David Tz back in the day. I wouldn't say he one of the real big-names in blogging, but he has a sizable online presence. He used to run a bar out in Bucheon a few years ago. Real hard drinker and went through a nasty divorce, and then got arrested last year. Spent 8 months in a Korean slammer.

His blog is one of the most depressing things I've ever read. I hope he gets his life together:

http://dtz247.blogspot.com/

optik404 · Joined: 24 Jun 2008

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:42 pm Post subject:

I met a former Russian diplomat who used to live in North Korea. I met him in Itaewon. He's living in Korea with his Kazakhstani-Korean wife. He was one of the recognized faces in Russian regional news in the past.

lemak · Joined: 02 Jan 2011

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

Konglishman · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing

I have met Robert Holley a number a different times due to my previous employment.

One time, by pure chance, I met Michael Arnold in the Seoul subway. The funny thing is I had no idea he was famous until I happened showed a friend his business card.

Finally, in a bar in Gwangju, I also met Brian Deutsch who has the blog Brian in Jeollanamdo.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:54 pm Post subject:

Sperling came out to one of those old ESL Cafe shindigs back in 2004, anybody who was around at the time and went to that would have met him at least briefly.

I've known ZenKimchi for a long time through someone. It took me a while to realize it was the same guy, actually. We don't roll or anything, but if we bumped into each other I'd think our conversation would not mainly be about his blog.

In a similar vein, I have met two of the 3 Wise Monkeys guys, the gonzo writer guy and the webmaster. Also have met in person admins of a few other Korean expat sites. I'm not sure that counts as being famous, but yeah.

Met one of the Western actors from The Host at a friend's house party, he just had a small role in it but I think he appeared on Surprise quite regularly as well.

edit: Oh and anyone who has even just slightly regularly frequented Itaewon has probably bumped into Steve Revere before. And if it's not her, I swear Lisa Kelley's doppleganger hangs out in Gyeongnidan all the time.

hiamnotcool · Joined: 06 Feb 2012

Nice thread....so um....what were these guys like? I know a lot of bloggers but none of them are famous.