Korea: Racist country?...?

Question

I heard that Korea is very racist to black people and it scares me. I love to go to Korea one day but I heard lots of scary, racist stories, like how racist they are. Is that true? Like I kind of don't wanna go there...scary. How are black people really treated there? Any stories and please, anyone who is black.. can you explain your story to your trip to Korea?

Answer 1

In reality, I think a lot of minorities get treated pretty fairly over there. However, you MUST consider this. In any nation which is extremely homogeneous, it is INEVITABLE that you receive some rude stares because you are different. It is just human nature to fear what you don't know. And the truth is, Koreans don't really know black people. We've been in constant contact with whites and other Asians, but not really blacks. It doesn't help that Hollywood and rap artists send out major stereotypes as blacks being "gangsters" all the time. However, I think you'll have a great time. Have fun :)

Answer 2

Try to give Korea a shot.

Jack Brown spends so much time and puts so much effort into proving something is bad. Why don't you devote the time you have left into something more productive? You need therapy and a life!

Answer 3

i agree with curve_o

im asian who have many korean good friends.

but if i am black,no no no scare scare..i hate them.

Answer 4

I am korean and Im not racist. Yes the older generation do look down and often teach their kids but there are non racist koreans in korea also. Just dont let the racist people ruin your fun there.

Answer 5

People who tend to say Korea is a racist country are probably ignorant themselves. Korea is stuck between China and Japan, and have gone through many hardships. The country has managed to rapidly develop as one of Asia's economic power, but in terms of politics/social issues (like from experiences stated previously,) it still needs time to develop. I also think Korea should do more to advertise its tourism. It doesn't mean the country is under military watch and people will throw rocks at you when they see you. I hope those 'horror stories' don't stop you from visiting Korea and enjoying your time there. Just keep an open mind and then you decide where you had a better time. (if you get to visit both Korea and Japan) But truthfully, is it fair to generalize about a whole population?

It's the 21st century and it's a free country!

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/intro.html

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/inde...

Gene H: Stop whining. I guess you toned down a little, but you've been bashing Korea all this time that many people here simply find you a-nnoying! I don't understand how your response (/thumbs down) can serve as a clue. to what?! People who give your response, which expresses Koreans are racists/not to go to Korea, a thumbs down are racist?

Answer 6

japans seem to be a little more racial then koreans

i have lived in both korea and japan, and i currently live in korea!

i am part korean AND black, and i'm going to tell you a story about my korean grandparents. they aren't racist, but they are very traditional, and back then, they did not want my mom marrying an american person at all. but not they are all happy. the older generation can be mean, because of their traditions

korea is NOT racist, and whoever told you that is just outright stupid. there are ALOT of interracial marriages here, ALOT of amerasians. and most koreans are preferring to get with americans in general. everywhere we go, the koreans are so interested in my dad and my brother. they always crowd around us, and they always touch our hair, and compliment on how we look [ because blasians tend to look exotic they say ] and they loveeee my dad! they think he's so nice & funny and he gets along with EVERY korea. my dad has been here for over 16 years, he's been to almost every base, and cities where blacks and american's don't live. he has never encountered racist koreans.

koreans LOVE americans, especially blacks, believe me. they have alot of shows on t.v about life in africa and alot of korea celebrities go there and stuff. they are interested in the life, culture, and how blacks look. there may be those few koreans who are just haters and will be mean, but those people don't matter. i have lived here for about 12 years of my life, and nothing has ever happend to me. i have been all over korea. koreas are interested in blacks, and i have never met a mean korean!

and you would be SO surprised how much they love the black culture in the states. they LOVEEE hiphop & rap, and the clothes, omg it's so crazy. 95% of the namebrands here are american stuff like baby phat, south pole, roccawear lrg & stuff like that. you will be liked :]

i'm sorry if i'm making koreans sound obsessed, but their not. they are just genuinely interested

Answer 7

Yes, they are racist but not all of them. I have heard a lot of Filipinos saying that Koreans do not treat them well, but of course, not all Koreans are like that, or maybe they treat me kindly because I look like them.

Answer 8

I am a Korean-American married to a German, and I grew up resenting how the Koreans of my parents' generation were resistant to change. (They all expected me to marry a Korean man since I was born!)

When I took my husband to Korea for the first time, I realized Koreans aren't racist per se, but the product of a very homogeneous culture. Many kids grow up never seeing a non-Asian person unless they live in a big city such as Seoul or Pusan.

In fact, my poor husband was stared at everywhere he went. Kids would pull on his clothes, call after him in simple English phrases, and ask him if he was an American. (As a German, he was slightly offended, but we have an agreement if anything goes wrong during one of our travels, he would accompany me to the American embassy.)

With that said...we did run into a few situations. Drunk businessmen at well-to-do bistros would lecture me in public about speaking English to my husband. They figured that if he was in Korea and married to a Korean, he might as well learn to speak the language.

When my husband and I wore traditional Korean wedding outfits for photos at the Palace, a Korean grandma (half my height) started berating me for marrying an American. I wound up talking back to her saying he was German, and got an even harsher lecture.

The other annoying part is that my family did not want to leave me and my husband alone in a taxi together. They feared that the taxi driver would be suspicious of a Korean female alone with a white male. (Ridiculous I know!)

To ease your way into the culture and earn lots of winning points, here are some helpful hints:

1) Dress respectfully and conservatively - think Banana Republic or J-crew. Even better if you can afford labels or have a source for quality knock-off labels. Koreans seem to immerse themselves in brands like Coach, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Burberry, Ferragamo, Gucci, Prada...need I say more?

2) Speak in a very soft, calm voice, be very humble, don't brag and show lots of respect to everyone you meet - ESPECIALLY people older than you.

3) Don't ever permit a Korean to "lose face." For instance, if your taxi driver is an older man and he gets lost, apologize to him for giving wrong directions. This is a hard concept for Westerners and my husband got upset when one taxi driver started berating my dad since my dad didn't clarify which Hyatt we wanted. (My dad only told the driver 5 times.)

4) Try out and praise kim chee - a Korean fermented cabbage

I hope these tips can not only help you have a great time, but to also help you become a better ambassador and advocate of diversity in South Korea.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Yes. They are in America, too. Don't go unless you have to. As a clue, watch and see how many thumbs down I get. I doubt if this answer even stays on. I will receive a violation notice. But it is simply the truth.  

Answer 10

heck no!! i am korean and lot of my friends would actually like to visit africa!!! some even have african pen pals. if you think that people do scary stuff to you. act normal and they don't do anything. we aren't barbarians you know! some people are racist, true, but they are the ones picked on m the society! korea is a great place except the air pollution.  

Answer 11

for me, not all korean people are racist. it depends on the person's identity and environment. i don't blame koreans but i think racism occurs everywhere, and it doesn't stop until everyone realize how bad it is.. I'm not korean and black but I'm asian. i experience racism too but i just don't pay attention to those people who  criticize people by color. even though people say that koreans are racist, i will just ignore it because if i believe it, i might offend korean people who aren't. i still want to go to korea.  

Answer 12

I have been to Korea several times. I am not black but I have heard stories from people who were obviously mistreated due to their dark skin.  You will not be treated violently, but there seems to be a general lack of appreciation for black folks in Korea.  They simply do not want them there .  Consider going to Japan where they LOVE black people.  

Answer 13

koreans are very kind. i don't understand what other people is saying here. those stories are just fake. there would be no problem because of your race.  

Answer 14

all races are racist. the racism might not be big on some people but they might have a small feeling of racism once in a while.

im korean and i respect all people, except if they have done something against me, i too have a small feeling of hatred about them. something that i wish wouldnt happen.

Answer 15

korea and its korean people are perhaps one of the most beutiful and and civilized people on the planet, i hope to go there someday as well, as for thsi black racism stuff, can u blame them? isnt america gettin fed up with them as well?