Who knew Korea was so racist? I guess when 99% of your country is ethnic Korean, they're not used to anybody else... http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?no=283952&rel_no=1 MVP Ward Visit Exposes Korean Racism Government considers creating new policy to help multicultural families The Pittsburgh Steelers' Hines Ward, voted the most valued player (MVP) in American football's Super Bowl last month, arrived in Seoul on a 10-day trip around the peninsula and has used the media attention to focus on the much-neglected issue of racist attitudes here toward people of mixed ethnic background. Born in Seoul to a U.S. soldier and his Korean wife, his family moved to the United States when he was one year old. There, his parents, like the majority of GI-Korean couples in the 1970s, divorced shortly afterwards. At a news conference held on Tuesday, Ward maintained that growing up half-Korean in the U.S. had not been easy. "I've overcome a lot, been teased a lot by American kids about my being half-Korean," he said. Ward is scheduled Saturday to meet and talk with biracial children about discrimination and bullying and to try and give them some encouragement for the future. It is well publicized here that children born to non-Korean parents, particularly Filipinos and Vietnamese, experience teasing and bullying due to their different color. Koreans are educated from a young age that anyone not of Korean blood is a "foreigner," while children of mixed descent are generally referred to as "half-bloods." "It is said that biracial people in Korea are discriminated against. I hope that I can help to change those biases," Ward said. The MVP footballer also explained that he is presently involved in discussions that could lead to the establishment a foundation like the Pearl S. Buck International (PSBI), which could help children of mixed race. After the news conference, Ward and Kim Young-hee, his mother, met with President Roh Moo-hyun and first lady Kwon Yang-suk at the Blue House. Referring to the level of racism in Korea toward children on mixed descent, President Roh commented, "I wonder if Mr. Ward would have had as much success if he had been raised here." According to the PSBI, there are over 35,000 people of half-Korean descent living here, mainly owing to a recent influx of Southeast Asians who came here originally seeking work but are now married to Koreans. In North Jeolla province alone, there are over 750 students from international marriages attending elementary or middle school. Because of problems related to racial discrimination, however, the dropout rate from middle school for children having such backgrounds is almost 18 percent, resulting in a disproportionate level of unemployment and poverty. The controversy highlighted by Ward's visit has also led to changes in government policy, and it was reported Friday that from now on young men of mixed race born after 1986 would be allowed to join the military, though as yet there have been no applications made. During a hearing on the issue of racial discrimination in the National Assembly held last week, Kim Chung-whan of the Grand National Party argued that more educational and financial aid was required to give such families a way out of the poverty trap. Rep. Kim also pointed out that any bill designed to help Koreans of multicultural descent would have to include a provision "prohibiting racial discrimination against people of mixed-race'' as well as for the establishment of a special committee charged with creating new policies to help people of biracial descent and their families. 2006-04-06 15:30 (KST) ©2006 OhmyNews
Mixing of gene pools is good, just say no to inbreeding. That is why American Indians captured and kept some white women, to help add some new genes to their gene pool.
Anytime people stay in isolated situations, fear of the unknown is human nature but that fosters intolerance. Many Asian cultures are very tight-knit as grandparents often live with the children. 3 or 4 generations living in the same house is common. As an aside, that is why I am not a big fan of Americans who intentially move to "safe" neighborhoods. I don't blame them because I usually understand why but the unfortunate bi-product is a lack of exposure to other types of people which often breeds racial intolerance (unintentionally or intentionally).
Not to defend the fact that Koreans (and all Asian, and European countries) have a lot of racial problems, (where in the U.S., as high as the tensions are, is probably closest to a trully homogeneous society that gets along) beacuse there are. But I think it's worth pointing out that Ward was raised in the states, and his teasing and pain growing up happened in the states. But the article used him as the intro to a problem in Korea (which just seems weird).
I am half Korean and know first hand the racism that exists there. My grandfather didn't acknowledge my father for 4 years. Then he piggy backed on us when he needed a visa to get over here. Not in the city so much, in more rural areas, the things they say to you....
Mixing genes is always a good thing. When you have mixed ethnicity, you get When you go for racial "purity", you get
I've heard that many Koreans are taught (by their parents or culture I assume) that the reason Europeans are so (comparatively) hairy is because they're haven't fully evolved. I know it's true in my case (I may be related to the missing link), but I'm not sure it really applies to everyone.
I had a Korean roomate in college and he carried an air of superiority. He cursed Japanese students behind their backs and pimped Hyundai cars. This was in '94 when Hyundai's were like $8K.
I live in spring branch with all the beautiful korean women. I grew up in a middle to low income black neighborhood. my neighbor when we moved in the neighborhood was a black guy and his wife was black. they got divorced and he married a korean lady who already had three mixed race kids from her first husband whom was also black. she had a son who was my age, he was a pretty cool guy. he had an extreme weight problem and he died 4 years ago. he also had some other issues that factored in his death. anyway after reading this I wonder because his mother's first husband was black did she have a hard time meeting korean men, so she ended up marrying another black man. when she moved into my neighbor's house over time their house had a funny smell. I was always afraid to ask what it was because I didn't want to offend him. later, when I was in college I used to work at a bank in spring branch and a lot of koreans banked there. a lot of them dealt in mostly cash so I would have to count theese huge bundles of cash, and the money smelled just like my neighbor's house. so finally I asked a lady I worked with, what is that smell. she said it was garlic, koreans eat a lot of garlic, which is very good for your health. there's really no moral to this post.
There is alot of tension between Koreans and Japanese. I mean, it was less than a hundred years ago when Japanese soldiers kidnapped hundreds of thousands of Koreans. They were raped, killed, and sent to Japan where even today they are treated like slaves, second rate citizens, and in many places, denied a basic education.
I thought that was pretty well known. Not all Koreans, of course, but as a whole there is definite ethnocentricism.
4 real...Don't get me wrong, I like all types of women, but the exotic look is pretty hot... As for the topic at hand, I've been to Seoul and if you are not from there, they do definitely gawk at you...I'm a fairly big guy so they would stop and point when i was there...I couln't understand what they were saying, but it probably wasn't good...
Who knew America was so racist, too? LMAO! From what I understand, the Koreans think these marriages are a result of non-Asian men with an Asian fetish and Korean women with an inferiority complex who think western men, and western people(usually white) in general, are better. How is it possible for two people to marry for love when they can't communicate with each other(as in 99% of the cases because they surely can't speak each other's language)? Maybe these soldiers just wanted to use them for some easy sex while over there because they can just as easily divorce them back here (as indicated by the outrageously high divorce rates with these Asian "war brides"). Basically, they think these war brides are sellouts and the "American" soldiers are just using their women for sex.
LOL, try traveling as a westerner in parts of China outside the big cities "HALLLOO! HALLOO!! HALLLO!!!!" Even in Beijing in Tienanmen Square usually people (from out of town, I imagine) will want to take pictures with you.
