Here's an article in the Korea Times sent to me by a number of readers.
A popular female TV celebrity from Germany is creating a heated debate, if not controversy, with her book that apparently focused on the less than glamorous side of the Korean society.
Vera Hohleiter, a panel member of the popular KBS2 TV show, “Chat With Beauties” ? also called “Misuda”?published a book in Germany, apparently highlighting her negative experience in Korea.
In the TV program, Hohleiter said on a number of occasions that she “fell in love with Korea.” Her book, however, indicates otherwise, according to a South Korean blogger who lives in Germany and read the book.
On Thursday night, the blogger who identified herself as “a Korean student studying in Germany” posted a piece on a popular Korean Internet web forum. She said she bought a book, titled “Sleepless Night in Seoul” written by Hohleiter and gave it to a German friend as a gift.
Not long after, her German friend came back to ask her: “Is everything written in the book true?”
Realizing something went wrong, the Korean student read the book. “I am convinced that she wrote the book with a clear intention of dissing Korea,” she was quoted as saying by JoongAng Ilbo on Saturday.
So the source is a Korean netizen living in Germany?
According to the Korean student, Hohleiter wrote in her book: “As a well-mannered and well-educated person from Europe, I put in a great deal of effort to appreciate the Korean society, but everyday I counter something that makes me fail to do so.”
For example, Hohleiter wrote: “Korean girls are obsessed with keeping up with the popular trend of time and therefore they predominantly wear mini-skirts. But then, when they walk up the stairways in the subway station, they make every possible pretentious effort to hide their exposed bodies. I don’t understand why they even wear mini-skirts from the start.”
The 29-year-old German also said, “Koreans have a bad taste for gossiping about foreigners. When they spot them in a public place such as in the subway, they delve into a very detailed criticism of their appearance and do it in a loud voice.”
The book, according to the article and I guess according to the word of some Korean in Germany, says that a lot of the show is scripted.
As for her TV remarks, she said a half of them were pre-written by a writer. “You just memorize and regurgitate what is already scripted during the show,” she said.
I last mentioned this show in July, when Korea Beat translated an article about an episode bashing foreign guys in Korea.
After choosing as the worst foreigners in Korea those foreigners who always speak English or their native language, never learning Korean, and easily meet Korean women they said, “most western men approach Korean women by saying they want to learn Korean.”
They also said there are many foreigners who live in Korea for many years but speak poor Korean. Among the criticisms a particularly strong one came from Japan-born Sayuri, who said, “when you go to a foreign country, learning that country’s language is proper etiquette.”
They also implicitly criticized the attitude of Korean women who get involved with “tall foreign men who speak English.”
Kenya-born Euphracia said, “in Korea it seems that if you’re tall and just speak English well, you’re treated as the king… My other Kenyan friends were so surprised when they went out with they Korean girlfriends.” Germany-born Vera said, “if a German guy is tall then everybody thinks he’s handsome in Korea… They come to Korea and start acting like Casanova.”
UK-born Eva said, “foreign men who were not popular in their home countries are treated like kings… It’s so strange that western men who of course have very plan features are always being followed by pretty girls.”
Eva added, “if a Korean friend of mine is thinking about having a western boyfriend I tell her to let me see him first. Once my Korean friend’s boyfriend from the UK turned out to have a girlfriend back in the UK.”
* Updates:
From commenter Martin:
Have to chime in here. I've read this article in Korean yesterday and it came as sort of a surprise to me. I am German and have read Vera's book a few weeks back. When I bought it, I thought it would be the usual crap that we normally get from books about Korea but it was a decent read and the picture she draws of Korea is VERY positive. The few negative aspects she points out do not stand out at all, though I'm not surprised that some random Korean netizen picks up on them and the Korea Time publishes a story based on that person's opinion/interpretation. Unreal.
Having said that, I'm not out to defend Ms. Hohleiter. I think it's highly hypocritical to categorize all German guys in Korea as "losers back home", who apparently just have to step off the plane at Incheon to get hundreds of girls just because they're "tall". Especially so, when noone in Germany has ever heard of you and you sure as hell would have never been on a TV show.
Complaining about Korean girls following trends and wearing mini skirts? Following what your writer/producer tells you to say and wearing mini skirts on the other hand is ok, I guess?
Can't get vegetarian food in Korea? That Koreans generally aren't very accepting of vegetarians is a well-known fact. You don't even have to be in Korea to figure this one out.
Accusing Koreans of not being familiar with the orthography of "vegetarian" in their own language? A bit pretentious if your Korean isn't the best either.
Anyway, the whole story is unsubstantiated as the book really doesn't say much negative about Korea or Koreans.
And from Mark:
Well folks. It's all just so much hype again. I've read her blog and what she says about the accusations levied against her by Koreans. Her reaction is utter disbelief and sadness at being misrepresented by the Korean press and Korean netizens. But don't we all know about the Korean press and Korean netizens by now?! Do I need to spell it out? NEVER EVER believe anything a Korean journalist says or what Korean netizens say! (BTW a Korean netizen called her a slut and told her to leave Korea or else...). As far as I can glean from Amazon book reviews her book is fairly positive about Korea, but also mentions the negative points all of us here know and talk about on a daily basis. The problem lies mainly with the Koreans: they simply can't take any sort of criticism as they've been brainwashed to be hypernationalist and are literally proverbial frogs in the well. And they lack a sense of humour of the tongue-in-cheek kind.
Anyway, here's her blog for those who speak German:
http://blog.brigitte.de/korea
39 comments:
What's the German for "Don't shit where you eat"?
I'll look it up after I finish searching for "Like clockwork, the netizens go crazy when a foreigner complains about Korea."
Like clockwork indeed. HERE is your "netizen":
During that period, 41,944,832 people visited Naver News. Of these, 350,545, or 0.84 percent, left at least one comment. This means that less than one person in a 100 who read a piece of news leaves a comment. And of those that left comments, the 11,878 members of the “Super-Comment Tribe,” who write on average over 70 comments a month, left 2,212,813 of the 4,373,306 comments that were left during the 10-day period. In other words, they were responsible for 50.6 percent of the total comments from the survey period. The Super-Comment Tribe might make up only 3.4 percent of commenters, but they form the “hub” that manufactures Internet opinion. Yonsei University psychology professor Hwang Sn-min said, “That comments are driven by a minority of netizens means it’s hard to consider them representative of Internet opinion.”
The Korean press should stop taking the "netizens" seriously. This story should not be news at all, but there are a bunch of lazy journalists out there.
I dont think its wise to immediately jump into conclusions regarding the veracity of that Korea Times article (in fairness to the German girl). Theres no point arguing/debating about this. For one, the source of the story is from an anonymous blogger. Maybe the netizens are just overreacting.
At least Koreans might think twice before opening a nazi bar now.
Have to chime in here. I've read this article in Korean yesterday and it came as sort of a surprise to me. I am German and have read Vera's book a few weeks back. When I bought it, I thought it would be the usual crap that we normally get from books about Korea but it was a decent read and the picture she draws of Korea is VERY positive. The few negative aspects she points out do not stand out at all, though I'm not surprised that some random Korean netizen picks up on them and the Korea Time publishes a story based on that person's opinion/interpretation. Unreal.
Having said that, I'm not out to defend Ms. Hohleiter. I think it's highly hypocritical to categorize all German guys in Korea as "losers back home", who apparently just have to step off the plane at Incheon to get hundreds of girls just because they're "tall". Especially so, when noone in Germany has ever heard of you and you sure as hell would have never been on a TV show.
Complaining about Korean girls following trends and wearing mini skirts? Following what your writer/producer tells you to say and wearing mini skirts on the other hand is ok, I guess?
Can't get vegetarian food in Korea? That Koreans generally aren't very accepting of vegetarians is a well-known fact. You don't even have to be in Korea to figure this one out.
Accusing Koreans of not being familiar with the orthography of "vegetarian" in their own language? A bit pretentious if your Korean isn't the best either.
Anyway, the whole story is unsubstantiated as the book really doesn't say much negative about Korea or Koreans.
Well folks. It's all just so much hype again. I've read her blog and what she says about the accusations levied against her by Koreans. Her reaction is utter disbelief and sadness at being misrepresented by the Korean press and Korean netizens. But don't we all know about the Korean press and Korean netizens by now?! Do I need to spell it out? NEVER EVER believe anything a Korean journalist says or what Korean netizens say! (BTW a Korean netizen called her a slut and told her to leave Korea or else...). As far as I can glean from Amazon book reviews her book is fairly positive about Korea, but also mentions the negative points all of us here know and talk about on a daily basis. The problem lies mainly with the Koreans: they simply can't take any sort of criticism as they've been brainwashed to be hypernationalist and are literally proverbial frogs in the well. And they lack a sense of humour of the tongue-in-cheek kind.
Anyway, here's her blog for those who speak German:
http://blog.brigitte.de/korea/
In typical form, the Korea Times has printed a few random quotes that they gleaned from an angry Korean blogger. The fact is that foreigners aren't supposed to have opinions about Korea, even when they speak fantastic English and say mostly positive things. The article was a joke, the blogger is a loser, and as for girls being made to say positive things about Korea on TV...
I feel like I'm just stating the obvious here, but sometimes it needs to be said.
Good thing the American media never misrepresents anything. Good thing American netizens didn't blow their lid when Sienna Miller referred to Pittsburgh as "sh1tsburgh" but yeah korean netizens are nuts.
Can someone please explain to me why Koreans are such absolute babies? Do they not understand that by blasting every single person that says something remotely negative about their country, they're just proving the original speakers point?
@M:
Only those who can't find a valid argument to support their belief start pointing out the flaws in others.
This post isn't about media in general. It's about the Korean media and only the Korean media. Pointing out that media in America sometimes mirrors that of the Korean media is redundant.
No doubt you'll find media from all countries has instances where the journalism a piece of shit. This does not, however, negate the fact that the article being mentioned should criticized.
I'm sure there were some netizens and bloggers that had the same reaction to the "Sienna Miller" incident just the same as there are netizens and bloggers right now who dislike the article about Vera Hohleiter.
Bekah wrote:
Only those who can't find a valid argument to support their belief start pointing out the flaws in others.
Perhaps, but the K-blog commentariat tends to include a lot of comments where the writer is treating whatever annoyance of the day as if it is an indictment of all Korea/Koreans and is a uniquely Korean thing.
ThisIsMePosting wrote:
Can someone please explain to me why Koreans are such absolute babies?
So all 50 million South Koreans are implicated by this netizen and this reporter and the commenters who replied?
By the way, my "don't shit where you eat" comment was about the things she'd said about her show.
Particularly for an industry that trades in images, that's Keeping Your Job 101. If she did not clear what she was writing about her job before it was published, she was probably not just being foolish, she may have been in violation of her contract.
@This is me posting
Sure, for the same reason the expat blogs I've read are filled by A FEW expats who seem to be cry babies themselves. Because snarky comments aren't just the sole property of a FEW in the expat community in korea. I'm sorry my one comment offended "every single person that says something remotely negative about their country"
Why is is that some of the commentators only get their panties in a bunch when someone points out that flaws in some one OTHER then korea. And please spare me the THIS IS ONLY A KOREA BLOG defense.
@ Bekah
I guess I thought I could get a quip or two in without writing a novel on media, society and race. I thought I was allowed. I was wrong. For the record if the updated blog entry was correct then I think the koreans in question were wrong to do what they did and yes they just give the expat bloggers more ammo. And Bekah,
"No doubt you'll find media from all countries has instances where the journalism a piece of shit"
Wasn't that what I was implying? Sure thought it was. I can tear on the Korean media but can't give context? If I go on the abc.com forums I can only critique the U.S.A? I can't point out the bad things that other contries (like korea)also do?
*sigh* and no Brian, I wasn't taking a swipe at Pittsburgh.
"... the 11,878 members of the “Super-Comment Tribe ... left 2,212,813 of the 4,373,306 comments that were left during the 10-day period."
Wow. That's almost as many comments as Kushibo leaves on K-blogs in an average week, trying to defend Korea's honor by pointing out that something totally different happened someplace else at another time.
Ha ha...
Your snide remark and your accusation that I'm the master of the tu quoque argument (examples, please?) aside, it doesn't negate my contention that the so-called "netizens" are often an unrepresentative lot and they shouldn't be the frequent focus of Korean media stories.
In fact, far from "defending Korea's honor," I have for years been a vocal critic of common Korean media practices that serve to exacerbate, distort, and misinform, including things like that.
Nice try, WeikuBoy. Thanks for playing.
Kushibo: Great point about the media picking up on "netizen" comments, as if they represent the nation. Much like the Uyoku-dantai in Japan, the vitriolic comments by some Korean posters are more representative of an extremely loud minority than anything else. It's definitely not a majority.
I have a few comments of my own and some more information on my blog:
The "controversy” over Vera’s book on Korea.
Alex wrote:
Kushibo: Great point about the media picking up on "netizen" comments, as if they represent the nation.
I find it galling, really. It is an extension of the "man on the street" interviews of yesteryear, but with far more negative baggage and potential for mischief attached.
Not only do they often fail to represent the majority, but they also have learned how to manipulate the media so as to cause such distortion in favor of their own views.
Too many times have I seen silence from those with views they thought might be unpopular but which were actually majority views, largely because of a fear of on- and off-line reprisal.
Though I think Ms Hohleiter was a bit foolish if she took digs at her employer or revealed (legal) stuff they might not want made public, I would be deeply angered if she were fired because of some perceived offense having been made when the offended are a bunch of bored people with a broadband connection and way too much time on their hands.
Much like the Uyoku-dantai in Japan, the vitriolic comments by some Korean posters are more representative of an extremely loud minority than anything else. It's definitely not a majority.
I prefer the term "vocal fringe." It perfectly suits the tyranny of the netizenry.
By the way, WeikuBoy, I thought your "Malaysia Truly Arabia" comment was pretty funny.
Inspired, I came up with these:
Korea, spittingly
"Die, dammit!" Korea.
I guess it's still too early in the day.
Thanks for the good comments everyone, and for shining more light on this topic. Clearly the KT piece---based on a Joongang Ilbo story in turn based on some random Korean in Germany who learned of the book through the friend---represents a distortion.
M, you bring up a good point about Sienna Miller. I was out of town for that, but it was big news for a while. Also big news was when one of the pitchers, former Pirate Ian Snell, said something like he wouldn't want to live in Pittsburgh because he's not a Pittsburgh guy. The media still talks about that to this day. Your point that homers everywhere are screwed up is well-taken.
I'm sorry, allow me to rephrase my statement and question:
Can someone other than kushibo please explain to me why Koreans are such absolute babies? Do they not understand that by blasting every single person that says something remotely negative about their country, they're just proving the original speakers point?
@kushibo
Please note, kushibo, that your opinion on anything - Korean related or not - means less than nothing to me. I won't listen to anyone who believes that the media makes up all these stories of corporal punishment or supports stranding 5 year old kids outside their school as "acceptable punishment." You're more than welcome to talk to other people here, just don't address me ever. I try very hard to avoid your vile tripe because everything you write infuriates me. This is not my blog, so I'm trying very hard not to start a flamewar here, I'm just telling you now: I don't care what you say, I skip all your posts, I don't plan on addressing you again here ever. Next time you see something I type that you don't agree with, don't even bother typing back to me. Just keep scrolling. Good day.
@M
I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about. Are you Korean? If so, refer to my previous question. Also, chill out, 'cause you're just proving my point.
My comment was 1000% not directed at you. It was a comment based on the story Brian posted. It is also not the first time Brian (or others) have posted stories about people writing or saying negative things about Korea and having the Korean community lose their s#it over what's being written or said. I'm also very sure that nowhere in my statement did I say others aren't allowed to do it: people can say whatever they want about the country they live in and often do. More power to them. It just seems that whenever people talking about Korea negatively, it becomes an international incident with Koreans calling for blood and vengeance and "if you don't like it, leave." Furthermore, my generalization obviously doesn't mean 100% of the Korean population, but that's the great thing about generalizations: They're usually not meant to be taken literally. Keep in mind, however, that stereotypes are sometimes stereotypes for a reason.
Lastly, I have no idea what you mean by: "Why is is that some of the commentators only get their panties in a bunch when someone points out that flaws in some one OTHER then korea. And please spare me the THIS IS ONLY A KOREA BLOG defense." I've read that part 15 times now, and I can't make heads or tails of it. Also, I don't think I mentioned that this was a "only a Korea blog" at all in my last post, nor do I believe this is only a Korea blog (Brian has quite evidently posted about things outside of Korea). So, I'm not at all sure we're you're going with this but you sure did get your panties in a bit of a bunch there, buddy.
ThisIsMePosting, I love you, man. I really love you.
And I really mean that.
Word verification: sac tan, perfect for a hot, sunny day like this.
@Brian
Sorry I wasn't trying to be so flippant when I posted. You wrote: "homers everywhere are screwed up"
I should have written something more like that. Sorry about attitude.
@This is me posting
I assure you I am quite chilled. I never post on these blogs so I assumed you comment was directed at me. Sorry. You wrote "Also, chill out, 'cause you're just proving my point." I didn't realize two snarky postings qualifies as losing my Sh t. Yes I am korean. My comment "Why is is that some of the commentators only get their panties in a bunch when someone points out that flaws in some one OTHER then korea" WASN'T aimed at this blog I've read through a few others like marmots hole, ROK Drop, and a few others. I assure you I have not called for bloody vengence or anything.
I've read through a few others like marmots hole, ROK Drop, and a few others before coming here and it seems like more then a few others love to pile on every stupid thing a few koreans do. Sorry should have taken more time to proof read.
Look, by all accounts the Korean bubble in general, and the Korean internet in particular, is a real pressure cooker and a special case. When people like Madonna start losing their careers because of internet rumors about non-existent sex tapes and people like Angelina Jolie start killing themselves because of what a few jackasses post online, then M's point that Korea is not the only place with crazy-ass nutizens might arguably have some relevance.
Personally, I regret the many cool chats I did NOT have during my time in Korea, because Koreans as a nation are too overproud and immature to tolerate ANY candid discussion. Here's how bad it is: after telling a class today how much I will miss Korean food, I made the mistake of adding that the only things I don't like are rice cakes, which feel like lead weight in my gut. I could feel my students bristling. "What? Teacher no like Korea rice cake? Get out!"
[sigh]
"Inspired, I came up with these:
Korea, spittingly
"Die, dammit!" Korea.
I guess it's still too early in the day."
I'll say. How about this:
Korea: Within Spitting Distance of China!
@ This is me posting
You hit the nail on the head and I think many people would agree with you. Koreans are painfully aware of their utter irrelevance in terms of historical achievement and contemporary international politics and try to mask this with ultra nationalism and haughtiness (a classic reaction for those with inferiority complexes). I'm not against Korea, but I am acutely aware of and speak about its faults. And if I ever were to write a book about Korea it would be entitled: A Nation of Children (not really, but it does express what I feel about Korea (also in an affectionate way)). The Koreans can be extremely lovable, but also extremely childish. They simply don't have the history (and please don't give the Korean fantasy about their 5000 years of unbroken history). I think those versed in history - especially contemporary history - know full well want I'm talking about (and, no Kushibo, I'm not a racist, anti-Korean, one-sided, etc. Please keep your thoughts to yourself. No one is interested).
Particularly for an industry that trades in images, that's Keeping Your Job 101. If she did not clear what she was writing about her job before it was published, she was probably not just being foolish, she may have been in violation of her contract.
Is she still on the show? I was under the impression she no longer worked for them.
If that is mistaken, please correct me.
I don't like the fact that in the English speaking Korean blogosphere, there's always a trend to protect "us foreigners" against the evil Korean media and/or netizens. This is so unreflected and generalizing, and it reproduces exactly what the "Korean media" does to "us, the foreigners".
Now about the book. I'm German, I've read her blog, I've read the first part of the book, and I have to say, it is not what you would call high literature. It is written very simply, and it's all about her following this boy to Korea, without much thought and preparation. Now, from what I gather, people who have high standards of literature generally think the book is shallow, childish, unreflected and other things. Those who might have lower standards think it's okay. There's probably a bit of ambivalence in the way she wrote the book.
That being said, the problem is that she really did say in the book that she doesn't like Korea all that much -- which is clearly NOT what she said in the shows. This is where the Korean public feels betrayed. That's where the trouble originated, not in the mere fact that she said some not so nice things about Korea.
Of course what's going on now is not fair. BUT -- If you go on that show, don't you have to think beforehand that you will be a figure of public interest? And that your life kind of changes with that?
The thing is also, there is for example Mirja, the other German girl, or the Finish girl, who both do criticize Korea in the show, and Mirja even has a column with the Sports Shinmun where she is critical, and there are other foreigners who say critical things in the press and there is not the least bit of a scandal.
How on earth is one random person's opinion of a book considered "news"?
First: I'm German, I've been working in Seoul as IT-specialist some months, I've visited south Korea several times, I'm engaged with a Korean woman, I've lived together with average and high class Korean families. So I'd say I already gained some insight concerning the south Korean society. I read Vera Hohleiter's book and was really disappointed. The ONLY positive things she can tell about south Korea is: It's interesting, never getting boring, and it offers chances to foreigners they'll never get elsewhere (like taking part in a TV show...). And last but not least her Korean boyfriend "Joe" And that's ALL positive. So if someone is telling that the book accounts very positiv to south Korea / Seoul did not understand the meaning or has a very negativ impresson towards south Korea, too. Here is my very own and subjectiv recension of the book:
The book is published at first sight like a collection of negative experiences.
This certainly also corresponds with the only subjectiv feelings of the author.
It's not a matter to tell the reader a subjective opinion. But exactly this circumstance
would have been supposed to be explained at least at the beginning of the book, though.
But the impression is that there's nothing positiv in Seoul/South Korea to report.
It primarily depends on the character of one's own whether one feels comfortable
in a "strange world" like South Korea or not. Sentences like "Kimchi smell is like a
highly-poisonous cloud of smog" reflects only Veras very own opinion. Someone else would say "Kimchi smell is strong and you have to get used of it "
A longer and more intensive preparation time before the long stay
in Korea would have prevented the author from some negative experiences for certain.
I also have experienced much which Vera has experienced. But my feeling subjectively was apparently completely differently:
Far more positive !
She should have been aware that she is a representive of Germany in the Korean TV. Telling positiv things in the show but very negativ in her book is the worst she could do. Instead she should have been just honest. Hopefully the korean people don't judge all Germans now for her behavior, 'cause somehow I feel ashamed for her.
@Gitte & Silberdrache
Are you obsessed with that girl, or what? That is so funny!
I've seen your posts in German language forums and you just translated them into English. To make her look bad in front of a larger audience because there are more English speakers than German speakers in Korea? Don't you have anything else to do?
It sounds like you're just jealous of her. And, Silberdrache, I think you don't need to feel ashamed for her, I think you are rather embarrassing yourself! That kind of behaviour is not much different from the Korean netizens!
I read her book too and I love it! It is very amusing and well written. And I also have a very good taste in literature, Gitte, don't believe you are the only literature expert here. It just sounds like you're angry that Vera got a book deal with one of the major publishing houses in Germany. And don't put it like she got the book deal because she is on misuda. In Germany only very few people (only Kyopos, acutally) know about that show.
She did not even write much about the show. In my opinion, the book is neither extremely positive nor extremely negative. She just expressed opinions that I've heard from about 80 percent of all foreigners in Korea.
I also didn't find a huge difference between what she said on TV and what she wrote in her book. She was never one of the misuda girls who seemed to be over-excited about living in Korea. She was always rather critical. It's not really fair to compare Vera to Mirja and Taru. Those two have been living in Korea for about 10 years. Their Korean is a lot better, that's why they can express everything they want to say.
Stop bitching and grow up!
Well said Natalie! I couldn't agree more!
Anyway, there is NOTHING WRONG with criticising a country. In fact, this is done on a daily basis in many different forms: newspapers, magazines, TV documentaries, books, etc. Every country gets its fair share sooner or later.
Criticism is an important and healthy way to get a reality check and to control and eradicate illegal/immoral/inhumane/questionable practices.
If there were no criticism in this world we'd all be mad, tyrannical egotists (a bit like Korean bosses).
Why should Korea be the only country that is beyond criticism?
There are thousands of books on British imperialism, German Nazis, American genocide of Native Indians, Spanish conquests in Latin America, Israeli transgressions, Iranian ambitions to go nuclear, Swiss pseudo-neutrality, Russian communism, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Dutch colonialism, etc., etc.
Only Korea is pure and untouchable? Ha, ha! Just have a look at Korean war massacres, Joseon Dynasty annihilation of Buddhism, etc.
And now a girl from Germany writes an irrelevant little book and the Koreans are start crying and whining like babies and issuing death threats!
How utterly PATHETIC! GROW UP or be the laughing stock of the world!
I'm not obsessed with that girl. I am obsessed with people that are going to protect her now, because
SHE is criticized now. Why should she be protected against our criticism whilst hers is allowed ?
So please don't measure differently now.
I translated my post from German to English to make more people able to understand it.
So what's wrong with it ? Most Koreans don't understand German.
Just take my words for true and don't interpret something else
in it. It's neither my intention to make her look bad (she did that already on her own) nor
am I jealous -why should I. Please try to stay objective and don't get angry so fast.
I am criticizing that she has nearly NOTHING positiv to say in her book WITHOUT preparing
the audiance that all her very own and very SUBJECTIVE experiences. In my eyes that's
just not fair towards south Korea and it's people.
Even my Korean fans draw attention of Vera and the whole debate about her book because
WITHIN KOREA she is indeed a kind of celebrity. It's not only what the Germans are thinking
about her now, for myself it's especially what Koreans are thinking about Germans now.
You know how average people are: One German on TV = all Germans. But not all Germans
agree with her and THATS THE POINT.
It's not the matter that criticism is not allowed. It just depends on the context, on the circumstances, the
the whole situation. So come out of your "poor Vera has to be protected" or "criticism is not allowed"
-stance and try to be more OBJECTIVE. Korea is not "the holy land" - but as each other country it
has it's bad BUT it's good sides, too.
Nothing more to say.
I bought the book and I read it cover to cover. This means that I'm probably one of the 0.1% of commentators who've actually read it and who are qualified to write about it! Conclusion: The book is nothing special. Vera had difficulties integrating into Korean society and she complains a lot. However, many of her criticisms are valid. None of her criticisms are particularly harsh or offensive. Anybody who thinks himself justified in threatening or abusing Vera or feels he has a duty to defend Korea's honour on the basis of this simple, irrelevant book should seriously consider talking to a mental health specialist.
Okay, this may be like flogging the proverbial dead horse but I had to wait for a biz trip to Germany to get my hands on the book. I bought a second copy because I found Vera's description of her initial Korea sensation so close to my own experiences that I had to give one book to my Mom as a shortcut to answering the "how are you" question.
Few people seem to consider the purpose of this book. It is NOT a Lonely Planet replacement. It is NOT the definitive guide to Korean culture and history. It does NOT make a claim to be balanced and objective.
Quite the contrary, it is very clear from the book's cover and blurb that here we have a blog-style, very subjective description of one person's initial experience with a new culture, a diary rather than an encyclopedia. The book works only in this style. Had Vera written "but today of course I know better", the book might have been twice as thick.
The book is also entertainment. What is more entertaining: a description of the correct procedure to use chopsticks, or anectodes of personal chopstick mistfortunes (Vera apparently had no problems with eating tools, unlike myself)? So, there is no reason at all to expect a postive, or even fair review of Korea. Yet people keep complaining that after 3 years in the country, she should know better. Of course she does, but the book is about her first year!
There are only few real mistakes in the book (considering its subjective nature): the "Hermit Kingdom" is translated as the "Hermetic Kingdom" (and even that makes some sense) and, biggest blunder of all and surprisingly NOT caught by any Korean blogger, Dokdo is placed into the "Sea of Japan". Well, at least Dokdo is Korean in her book :-)
Most of the criticised statements have been taken out of context - her so-called "criticism" of Misuda show simply does not exist if one bothers to read the paragraph leading up to the statement. It gets downright silly when she complains about cockroaches in HER apartment and is then criticised by someone who never had cockroaches in HIS apartment... and so it goes on.
Now it only takes a few hours to read the book, but how many mandays have already spent on comments (99.9% by people who have never read it)?
Anyway, dead horse don't run...
I've just finished reading the book, and I hated it while I was reading it, but in retrospective, it makes me think, so I don't regret reading it.
I hated it, because the author clearly has only negative things to say, as becomes obvious in the final part where she has to draw a “mindmap” in order to be able to find anything positive about living in Korea (and the only thing she comes up with is “it's never boring”).
That's fine, there's nothing wrong with criticism, but it's more her Western attitude that annoys me, it's as if she said “These people have a different culture, that's so annoying”: “they eat so much meat, they drink so much soju, they wear ugly clothes in the bathhouse”. Chapter after chapter, we learn what a failure Korean culture is in her eyes, and how much easier life would be if Koreans just were more reasonable and behaved like herself.
And of course, that is subjective; to give an example: Personally, I always enjoy the social atmosphere of Korean dinners, where drinks and food are shared. In contrast, Vera sees it as group pressure, as the choice of food is a personal, individual, even private decision for her. Clash of cultures... you can't share food with people if you don't like what they like.
Now, why do I think the book is valuable despite the negative bias: because it shows that we can experience exactly the same things, yet interpret them in totally different ways. I've experienced – objectively – many of the same situations, but – subjectively – I interpreted them differently. What is positive for me, is negative for her. And again, that's fine. I may not like her attitude towards Korea, but if that's how she “interprets” Korean culture, then that is her contribution towards an ethnographic description of modern Korea.
This gives others – Koreans, expats, tourists – the opportunity to compare their own impressions with hers. Thesis, antithesis, synthesis.
By the way, previous bloggers have claimed that Koreans are always defending their country and culture. The opposite is also very common. Whenever I say to Koreans – and I mean it – how much I enjoy visiting Korea and how it is in many regards superior to Western countries, they always point out that Korea is not that perfect, that Korea too has its share of deficiencies. Rather than saying “good boy, we like you”, they say “look behind the scenes, where all the dirt is”.
Let's just imagine for a moment that Vera were Korean (and I've met Koreans who would agree with a lot of what she wrote – Korean emigrants who never wish to return to Korea). How would we all, and all the other reviewers elsewhere, have reacted to such a book if she were Korean?
I'm a Korean-American and have taken an interest in Misuda only recently.
I remember watching one episode, listening to Vera speaking plainly about how the French are known not to bathe as much as the Germans do. She didn't speak critically, but objectively like an anthropologist would. Hers was just one comment in a battery of stereotypes made by the panel about the French.
The Parisian French panelist, Anais, wore a discomforted smile through it all, but took it all in stride, making the occasional nod in concession to the comments. No problem for the French because they know they're awesome.
From this episode, I concluded that Vera tends to speak primarily to educate, not to entertain; that's her mode of thinking. She is frequently on the sidelines when the topic gets sensational and crazy, interjecting only when there is a mild topic about cultural holidays and bylaws.
There was another instance when new panelists appeared, and the veteran panelists were asked to give advice to their younger sisters as to how to succeed on the show. Vera suggested that the listening panelists should respond vividly when someone makes a comment because the camera gives these panelists more air time. She also said that one tends to feel disheartened when after a comment the listening panelists don't respond (which I think happens often with Vera because she tends to avoid the sensational).
I haven't read the book, but it seems to me that Vera hasn't had much air time to express her many thoughts about Korea. Her type of interjections don't flow with the more skillful deliveries of the more entertaining panelists. I'd imagine that this may have motivated the book, as a means of finally being able to share her anthropological thoughts, forthright and honest but not necessarily entertaining for TV.
As to why Koreans are crybabies, well...you know how Germans have "schadenfreude." Koreans have "어굴하다" or "uh-gool-ha-dah", a verb describing frustration owing to injustice.
This victim posturing, hermit kingdom mentality comes from being sandwiched between China, Mongolia, and Japan. Koreans know that they have a great capacity for achievement, but owing to geography and bullying neighbors, haven't been allowed to flourish peacefully until relatively recently (and only half of the country at that). The chip on our national psyche shoulder is huge as a result.
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