The Korean Language is not an Accessory

[jjongkeys]

How do you guys feel about this? 

[Eewteuk]

yes it is its sugoi just like japines

 

[A Boy Like Troy]

Qurl bye

[amber oppa]

Wow unnie daebak! ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹

[YNRA]

Saw this a few days ago, she mad cause she cant even speak her own language

[xXXXXXx]

i saw this yesterday, i really liked it.

[jjongkeys]

Wow unnie daebak! ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹

i see what you did there 

[amber oppa]

i see what you did there 

 

 

lol, but in all seriousness, I understand what she's trying to say and she does make some good points but at times she comes across as one of those pissy and pressed Korean Americans that doesn't like any form of Korean Entertainment but then sees non-Koreans enjoying dramas, Korean pop etc and, for some reason, is annoyed. You don't have to be able to speak the Korean language to be able to appreciate and love Korean culture, that's so fucking stupid of her. It does enhance your appreciation, definitely, but you can love a culture without knowing the language.

 

But the Koreaboos who do put random Korean words in their sentences and say 'oppa' seriously need to be dealt with.

[mgl]

I get where she's coming from, but this can happen to any other language/culture and she shouldn't be annoyed that people actually show some interest in her culture, even if sometimes misguided.

Sure there might be a lot of ignorance and stereotyping, but it's not everyone and some might actually take the time to properly learn the language and the culture, which might not have happened if something hadn't piqued their interest in the first place.

[cinnaminhbun]

The English language isn't an accessory either but many people throw it into their native tongue anyways even if they're not fluent in English. It's a mixing of cultures and as such, there will be some who properly take the time to learn the language while there will be those who just throw it in for fun in their dialect. It's not necessarily something to get so heated about, in my opinion.

[Honey Thighs]

I like her take home message but part of me feels like she's just pressed she can't learn Korean for herself... 

 

It's like, I get that you should try to learn another culture to the fullest extent and not just a few words here and there. Korea has so much history, tradition, and culture that I can see how it's frustrating to see it reduced to a few catch phrases from kpop fans but that doesn't give you the right to bitch at anyone who takes any interest in it at all. Not everyone has the time to learn a language until fluency or completely immerse themselves into the society to appreciate Korea to the fullest extent. I only know like 10 words of Korean but I'm still fascinated by the culture and want to visit someday to see all the historical landmarks and eat every food possible there. 

[bananabrows]

jaebal calm down pls

[PIXSEOULS]

Tbh, it used to annoy me how some fans stream Korean phrases (in romanization, no less) throughout their sentences. It made no sense to me, especially when they're not Korean. I got used to it, but I still find it weird if somewhere were to call me unnie or whatever. Then there's the ignorance to what the Korean culture is really like. She also pointed out another common issue. Going to your home country and simply being viewed as too "americanized." While I liked some of the points she made, and wow did she say it all really eloquently, I want to say that the appreciation of a culture can lead to learning the language, because that's how the interest comes about anyway. We may not know what it's like in their shoes, but I don't think it makes sense to stop fans who are genuinely interested in it. I don't want to just stick to my heritage in my own little box, because there's so much more out there that I want to know about through other cultures. 

So I get where she's coming from, what I feel she needs to look at this in a different way that isn't so personal. 

[YNRA]

The English language isn't an accessory either but many people throw it into their native tongue anyways even if they're not fluent in English. It's a mixing of cultures and as such, there will be some who properly take the time to learn the language while there will be those who just throw it in for fun in their dialect. It's not necessarily something to get so heated about, in my opinion.

Lol I was just about to say Asian countries butcher the shit out of english way more often then non-asians butcher asian languages. I agree w/ you, it isn't a big deal at all.

 Be glad people are even taking interest in your ancestor's culture/language in the first place.

[cowgirlbebop]

But........ Korea throws in random English EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. People who dont know English and have never been to an English speaking country just litter it throughout everything: their speech, business names, billboards, songs, everything.

 

Trust me, there are bigger battles to be fought. Just let it go.

[blondeyoona]

I'm pretty sure that she was explaining cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation are two different things.

 

These "friends" I have on FB constantly call each other "unnie" "oppa" and ever since EXO M came into the scene, I've seen them use "gege" and it's the most annoying thing on this earth. 

 

Her culture isn't a trend or something "cool at the moment". She has a right to be angry.

[Honey Thighs]

But........ Korea throws in random English EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. People who dont know English and have never been to an English speaking country just litter it throughout everything: their speech, business names, billboards, songs, everything.

 

Trust me, there are bigger battles to be fought. Just let it go.

 

always so wise 

[amber oppa]

Lol I was just about to say Asian countries butcher the shit out of english way more often then non-asians butcher asian languages. I agree w/ you, it isn't a big deal at all.

 Be glad people are even taking interest in your ancestor's culture/language in the first place.

 

Exactly. Without Korean entertainment how many people would even care about Korea? Majority of people who like dramas and K-Pop wouldn't even care, SK would just be the irrelevant neighbour to the much more known NK.

 

It's not like Koreans and K-Pop don't throw random English into their sentences either. Krystal's character in The Heirs says something in English every episode not to mention other things like Changmin's "Nice catch" or "the loof is on fire".

 

She just comes off as pressed rather than someone trying to make a point.

[Ghettoe]

I'm pretty sure that she was explaining cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation are two different things.

 

These "friends" I have on FB constantly call each other "unnie" "oppa" and ever since EXO M came into the scene, I've seen them use "gege" and it's the most annoying thing on this earth. 

 

Her culture isn't a trend or something "cool at the moment". She has a right to be angry.

 

I think her anger stems from the fact that it honestly comes from the idolization of k-pop. Hence, the youtube video comment but on the other hand, a lot of people start off that way yet become fascinated and enamored by the culture. You have to start somewhere. I've learned French seriously but if me saying Mon Dieu in middle school would have caused a rant well, "let them eat cake."

 

I won't apologize for liking the word "Aigoo."

[Delincious]

The English language isn't an accessory either but many people throw it into their native tongue anyways even if they're not fluent in English. It's a mixing of cultures and as such, there will be some who properly take the time to learn the language while there will be those who just throw it in for fun in their dialect. It's not necessarily something to get so heated about, in my opinion.

[Almondandlime]

I think her anger stems from the fact that it honestly comes from the idolization of k-pop. Hence, the youtube video comment but on the other hand, a lot of people start off that way yet become fascinated and enamored by the culture. You have to start somewhere. I've learned French seriously but if me saying Mon Dieu in middle school would have caused a rant well, "let them eat cake."

 

I won't apologize for liking the word "Aigoo."

Exactly. True cultural appreciation often stems from initial cultural appropriation. There was a time when the only Korean words I knew "oppa" and "saranghae," but those beginnings eventually inspired me enough to go learn Korean seriously. 

 

And like others have said, English is often used to sound "cool" too, but I don't really mind. To be honest, unless it's seriously offensive, I don't think that cultural appropriation is as bad as some people make it out to be. 

[SAYAKA]

It's weird because I thought her argument was going to in a different direction when she originally started. I definitely agree with some if not most of her points. Cultural appropriation can be a bitch and I don't think I can put her down for getting emotional about it. To others it can seem like it's appreciation but it's not always the case.. Sometimes people can confuse appreciation and appropriation (interestingly the words are spelled so similarly)

 

I think her whole arugment was that it annoys her that KPOP and Kdrama fans throw around Korean words like it's nothing. Like it's cute, yet she is going through this struggle to connect to her Korean heritage through language and is failing. Sure kpop fans and kdrama fans need to stop throwing around the few Korean words in their sentences like "Oppa saranghae!"I also agree with the whole being considered "other" in America, yet also being considered too "Americanized" in your own country. It's like where do I exactly fit in?  

[Ghettoe]

Exactly. True cultural appreciation often stems from initial cultural appropriation. There was a time when the only Korean words I knew "oppa" and "saranghae," but those beginnings eventually inspired me enough to go learn Korean seriously. 

 

And like others have said, English is often used to sound "cool" too, but I don't really mind. To be honest, unless it's seriously offensive, I don't think that cultural appropriation is as bad as some people make it out to be. 

 

I think cultural appropriation can be bad especially if it's riddled with ignorance but wanting to embrace a different culture and learning about them is not appropriation. Plus don't get me started on the appropriation of black culture in k-pop.

 

Furthermore, there's the molehill in this. I just like the word aigoo and my desire to learn Korean is not quite there. Am I then some cultural appropriating, ignorant prick just for liking a word. Should the spanish speaking folks come at me too for saying me gusta? When does it transcend into an insult? When I cutely call someone unni?

[denizen mars]

The English language isn't an accessory either but many people throw it into their native tongue anyways even if they're not fluent in English. It's a mixing of cultures and as such, there will be some who properly take the time to learn the language while there will be those who just throw it in for fun in their dialect. It's not necessarily something to get so heated about, in my opinion.

The key difference between using Korean culture and the Korean language haphazardly and doing the same with English and western culture is that western culture was enforced through colonialism and imperialism. It's not an equal power dynamic you're considering here. 

 

My personal feelings are...I guess you just have to figure where to draw the line, in an age of globalism. I'd draw it at appropriating traditional Korean culture and using 'oppa' and 'unnie' and such inappropriately. 

[blondeyoona]

 

It's weird because I thought her argument was going to in a different direction when she originally started. I definitely agree with some if not most of her points. Cultural appropriation can be a bitch and I don't think I can put her down for getting emotional about it. To others it can seem like it's appreciation but it's not always the case.. Sometimes people can confuse appreciation and appropriation (interestingly the words are spelled so similarly)

 

I think her whole arugment was that it annoys her that KPOP and Kdrama fans throw around Korean words like it's nothing. Like it's cute, yet she is going through this struggle to connect to her Korean heritage through language and is failing. Sure kpop fans and kdrama fans need to stop throwing around the few Korean words in their sentences like "Oppa saranghae!"I also agree with the whole being considered "other" in America, yet also being considered too "Americanized" in your own country. It's like where do I exactly fit in?  

 

 

All of this is spot on.