I’ve been in a k drama slump of late and because this has never happened to me before I’ve been trying to figure out why. I thought it was because I started a new book series and therefore didn’t have time for dramas and while that’s a part of it, it’s certainly not all of it. Today, I realized why I took a step back from Korean dramas. It started with the mess that was Backstreet Rookie then ended with Sam Okyere’s “controversy”. I am a black woman and while the absence of people like me in Korean dramas never bothered me, the continued disregard of black people by Koreans got to me. At one point I even agreed with the argument that South Korea is a largely homogenous country and so their treatment of black people made sense. I’ve changed my mind about that. It’s 2020 and you honestly don’t even have to try very hard to educate yourself. I just felt like South Koreans weren’t even bothering to do the bare minimum.
When they went after Sam for speaking out against racism it just further showed that they weren’t ready to accept people like me. The absence of black people didn’t bother me because I identified with other things in dramas. Turns out struggling to make it in life is a universal problem. Oh and crazy families. So there was always something in dramas for me. The problem came when I started feeling like I wasn’t valued as a human being by this society that had given me over 19 years of entertainment. Not only did they refuse to see me and mine, they completely ignored the pain they caused by their stereotypical portrayal of who they think I am. Not only that, but they also sought to silence me and mine when confronted about their racist behavior. I know it’s not all South Koreans. I know the people making dramas didn’t necessarily do anything wrong(except the makers of BR. They can go jump off a cliff), but it still bothered me enough to take a step back. I love Korean dramas but my love is warped with some serious unhappiness right now so maybe a break is in order. Maybe someday I’ll be able to watch a drama without getting mad all over again. Maybe Gong Yoo will make a drama and I will rush back into drama watching because one has to when that happens. But for now, I guess I’m stuck in slumpland.
Racism is a big issue in kdramas and for me personally but honestly you sound like me with Korea’s gender issues. I realised I’m just so tired of the way in which they portray women and portray relationships and the sheer overwhelming archaism of 80% of Korean dramas. And again it’s #notallkdramas and it’s not even all dramas. But it’s near impossible to find a romance in a Korean drama where the woman is not in an inferior position to a man in some way (if not in multiple ways) but also where the relationship isn’t childish and almost shallow.
But, yeah, Backstreet Rookie was the fucking worst. If they can make *that* drama then it starts to make me question what I’m handwaving more generally.
Anyway, Welcome to Slumpland! Stay a while.
Try not to stab anybody with your knitting.
Black woman here * raises hand *
I hear you, I see you, I feel you.
South Korea’s depiction of Black folks is a real problem and their refusal to appropriately address it is even more problematic.
and the argument that they are a homogenous country doesn’t even fly because they are EXPORTING kpop and culture. if they want to go international, they have necessarily signed up to be held accountable for their problematic portrayals (they as in the entertainment industry).
Lol yep. If Japan stays condense in their environment, then S.K can as well. But they can’t b/c they realize the Hallyu movement brings a lot of $$$ towards their country. It’s so weird honestly b/c some of their dramas would say problematic stuff, I hate it esp. when its like “Your skin is so pure/white” or sell Skin Whitening products like UGH. And then sometimes they’ll have less stereotypical roles like Tony from Itaewon Class or My Strange Hero. BSR was the worst ex. prob of showcasing awful racial stereotypes and not getting called out on it. A mess tbh, and sometimes I feel guilty consuming K-dramas b/c of this.
Koreans are able to recognize that anti-black racism exists, but not that they as a society actively play a role in it. Which baffles me.
Korean media & art has proven to be incapable of engaging in an accurate, nuanced and ethical portrayal of black people and black culture… and tbh I prefer its absence instead of its warped presence. I’m saying this as a fellow black person. This isn’t an exception to Korea, since anti-black racism is literally everwhere… but it’s especially insidious given how much Korean pop culture is actually influenced by black culture(s).
I could go on about how US imperialism has played a role in this and perpetuated white-supremacist ideals etc. but I’ll stop before this turns into a rant.
All this is to say: I feel you.
We can say this about gender and queer issues too and honestly it’s kind of depressing. Like with Graceful Family last year when you’re left thinking you’d rather these characters were completely absent than being treated this way within the text. And while I’m not watching it, I know that there was a recent ‘predatory gay’ trope in a drama. If you’re going to be this obtuse then don’t do it at all and it makes me feel sad to say that.
At times it does feel like no representation would be a lot better because what little there is of that representation simply feeds into the stereotypes, caricatures and myths that exist. Which really shouldn’t be the case in this day and age.
I’ve felt the same too, maybe no representation is better than a stereotypical one amd that too which feeds more negative stereotypes. Regarding representation of gender, race and religion I don’t know when people show the right representation in dramas, os it under pressure? Or is trendy? Or do they actually realize what’s right and feel corrected about it. I think especially gender has just become a trend and I’m not sure if the writers and pds actually feel that way. What happened to Sam O is what is happening to women in my own country. Correct someone about your identity and you’ll be horribly bashed. I still can’t believe there was a petition which said he should be deported. I love to have some wishful thinking that such people are still in the minority even if everything points that people with such thinking maybe in the majority.
Its insidious that people love Black music and culture but not the Black people behind it. I remember Sam O. and
Sam Hammington called out some comedian for wearing Blackface (2017?!!) and the comedian was a total a-hole about it and saying that there’s nothing wrong w/ what he did WTF?! I feel like Korea prob. has a Blackface incident every so often, prob. more but I don’t check for that crap. Altho I worry if any of my K-drama/K-talents have done Blackface since the attitude towards it seems to be rather dismal there. UGH.
Thank you for your post. IA. While I do enjoy K-entertainment and K-dramas, Korea has a big issue with racism and the issue with Sam has only exemplified that. The issue with Sam for one is in the back of my mind sometimes, and it makes me feel a bit bad for consuming K-dramas rn while they’ve this big racism issue given the treatment of Sam 🙁 Plus SK is a country with the fastest Wifi rate, if they’re ignorant, they can search it within a second so no excuses. Also with K-dramas explosion onto the West/Internationally, this is something that needs to be addressed. Itaewon Class should’ve been a sign for more good things to come, but one step forward and three steps backwards. But the real reason is that an Anti-Discrimination Act (Disabled/LGBTQ/Minorities/Etc) has been proposed but brought down b/c of Crazy Religious Cults/Churches having too much power with the Law/Politics that it makes it harder 🙁 Korea is prob where America was in the 50s when it comes to social issues. I feel you and I hope that you take the time off and come back to K-dramas or such when you feel ready, b/c as K-content is getting more popular, they ought to learn not to be ignorant and instead listen and work on their prejudices.
rue
September 16, 2020 at 3:32 PM
I’ve been in a k drama slump of late and because this has never happened to me before I’ve been trying to figure out why. I thought it was because I started a new book series and therefore didn’t have time for dramas and while that’s a part of it, it’s certainly not all of it. Today, I realized why I took a step back from Korean dramas. It started with the mess that was Backstreet Rookie then ended with Sam Okyere’s “controversy”. I am a black woman and while the absence of people like me in Korean dramas never bothered me, the continued disregard of black people by Koreans got to me. At one point I even agreed with the argument that South Korea is a largely homogenous country and so their treatment of black people made sense. I’ve changed my mind about that. It’s 2020 and you honestly don’t even have to try very hard to educate yourself. I just felt like South Koreans weren’t even bothering to do the bare minimum.
When they went after Sam for speaking out against racism it just further showed that they weren’t ready to accept people like me. The absence of black people didn’t bother me because I identified with other things in dramas. Turns out struggling to make it in life is a universal problem. Oh and crazy families. So there was always something in dramas for me. The problem came when I started feeling like I wasn’t valued as a human being by this society that had given me over 19 years of entertainment. Not only did they refuse to see me and mine, they completely ignored the pain they caused by their stereotypical portrayal of who they think I am. Not only that, but they also sought to silence me and mine when confronted about their racist behavior. I know it’s not all South Koreans. I know the people making dramas didn’t necessarily do anything wrong(except the makers of BR. They can go jump off a cliff), but it still bothered me enough to take a step back. I love Korean dramas but my love is warped with some serious unhappiness right now so maybe a break is in order. Maybe someday I’ll be able to watch a drama without getting mad all over again. Maybe Gong Yoo will make a drama and I will rush back into drama watching because one has to when that happens. But for now, I guess I’m stuck in slumpland.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
September 16, 2020 at 4:05 PM
Racism is a big issue in kdramas and for me personally but honestly you sound like me with Korea’s gender issues. I realised I’m just so tired of the way in which they portray women and portray relationships and the sheer overwhelming archaism of 80% of Korean dramas. And again it’s #notallkdramas and it’s not even all dramas. But it’s near impossible to find a romance in a Korean drama where the woman is not in an inferior position to a man in some way (if not in multiple ways) but also where the relationship isn’t childish and almost shallow.
But, yeah, Backstreet Rookie was the fucking worst. If they can make *that* drama then it starts to make me question what I’m handwaving more generally.
Anyway, Welcome to Slumpland! Stay a while.
Try not to stab anybody with your knitting.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
September 17, 2020 at 6:28 PM
BR was appallingly racist and stood by it to the bitter end.
KSKalways
September 16, 2020 at 5:44 PM
Black woman here * raises hand *
I hear you, I see you, I feel you.
South Korea’s depiction of Black folks is a real problem and their refusal to appropriately address it is even more problematic.
_my.river_
September 16, 2020 at 5:51 PM
and the argument that they are a homogenous country doesn’t even fly because they are EXPORTING kpop and culture. if they want to go international, they have necessarily signed up to be held accountable for their problematic portrayals (they as in the entertainment industry).
soulsearch12
September 16, 2020 at 11:52 PM
Lol yep. If Japan stays condense in their environment, then S.K can as well. But they can’t b/c they realize the Hallyu movement brings a lot of $$$ towards their country. It’s so weird honestly b/c some of their dramas would say problematic stuff, I hate it esp. when its like “Your skin is so pure/white” or sell Skin Whitening products like UGH. And then sometimes they’ll have less stereotypical roles like Tony from Itaewon Class or My Strange Hero. BSR was the worst ex. prob of showcasing awful racial stereotypes and not getting called out on it. A mess tbh, and sometimes I feel guilty consuming K-dramas b/c of this.
_my.river_
September 16, 2020 at 5:52 PM
and I am sorry by how directly this impacts you and I hear you.
Yuyuu, The Drama Queen
September 16, 2020 at 5:53 PM
Koreans are able to recognize that anti-black racism exists, but not that they as a society actively play a role in it. Which baffles me.
Korean media & art has proven to be incapable of engaging in an accurate, nuanced and ethical portrayal of black people and black culture… and tbh I prefer its absence instead of its warped presence. I’m saying this as a fellow black person. This isn’t an exception to Korea, since anti-black racism is literally everwhere… but it’s especially insidious given how much Korean pop culture is actually influenced by black culture(s).
I could go on about how US imperialism has played a role in this and perpetuated white-supremacist ideals etc. but I’ll stop before this turns into a rant.
All this is to say: I feel you.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
September 16, 2020 at 8:28 PM
We can say this about gender and queer issues too and honestly it’s kind of depressing. Like with Graceful Family last year when you’re left thinking you’d rather these characters were completely absent than being treated this way within the text. And while I’m not watching it, I know that there was a recent ‘predatory gay’ trope in a drama. If you’re going to be this obtuse then don’t do it at all and it makes me feel sad to say that.
rue
September 16, 2020 at 8:44 PM
At times it does feel like no representation would be a lot better because what little there is of that representation simply feeds into the stereotypes, caricatures and myths that exist. Which really shouldn’t be the case in this day and age.
wapz
September 17, 2020 at 8:34 AM
I’ve felt the same too, maybe no representation is better than a stereotypical one amd that too which feeds more negative stereotypes. Regarding representation of gender, race and religion I don’t know when people show the right representation in dramas, os it under pressure? Or is trendy? Or do they actually realize what’s right and feel corrected about it. I think especially gender has just become a trend and I’m not sure if the writers and pds actually feel that way. What happened to Sam O is what is happening to women in my own country. Correct someone about your identity and you’ll be horribly bashed. I still can’t believe there was a petition which said he should be deported. I love to have some wishful thinking that such people are still in the minority even if everything points that people with such thinking maybe in the majority.
soulsearch12
September 16, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Its insidious that people love Black music and culture but not the Black people behind it. I remember Sam O. and
Sam Hammington called out some comedian for wearing Blackface (2017?!!) and the comedian was a total a-hole about it and saying that there’s nothing wrong w/ what he did WTF?! I feel like Korea prob. has a Blackface incident every so often, prob. more but I don’t check for that crap. Altho I worry if any of my K-drama/K-talents have done Blackface since the attitude towards it seems to be rather dismal there. UGH.
soulsearch12
September 16, 2020 at 11:42 PM
Thank you for your post. IA. While I do enjoy K-entertainment and K-dramas, Korea has a big issue with racism and the issue with Sam has only exemplified that. The issue with Sam for one is in the back of my mind sometimes, and it makes me feel a bit bad for consuming K-dramas rn while they’ve this big racism issue given the treatment of Sam 🙁 Plus SK is a country with the fastest Wifi rate, if they’re ignorant, they can search it within a second so no excuses. Also with K-dramas explosion onto the West/Internationally, this is something that needs to be addressed. Itaewon Class should’ve been a sign for more good things to come, but one step forward and three steps backwards. But the real reason is that an Anti-Discrimination Act (Disabled/LGBTQ/Minorities/Etc) has been proposed but brought down b/c of Crazy Religious Cults/Churches having too much power with the Law/Politics that it makes it harder 🙁 Korea is prob where America was in the 50s when it comes to social issues. I feel you and I hope that you take the time off and come back to K-dramas or such when you feel ready, b/c as K-content is getting more popular, they ought to learn not to be ignorant and instead listen and work on their prejudices.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
September 17, 2020 at 6:18 PM
You may want to watch some of the videos at Skycedi on Youtube. Especially this one https://youtu.be/Alkvm8H9_hI.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
September 17, 2020 at 6:25 PM
I found their break down of the recent Sam Okyere controversy interesting.