English Spectrum-Gate Continues to Grow In Korea

If you haven’t heard about the English Spectrum-gate scandal head over to to Marmot for all the latest updates. However, I can’t help but think this thing is getting way over blown. Now even the Korea Times is getting in on the Spectrum-gate scandal with this article by Mike Weisbart.

Koreans have never liked the Hermit Kingdom moniker. Especially in this epoch of globalization, they want to be seen as open and worldly, with emphasis on `open’ in particular, given their eagerness to showcase for the world their amazing successes and, in no small measure, counteract their infamous inferiority complex by proving to themselves that they finally have arrived.

True, there is so much to admire. Indeed, much to be jealous of. But you really have to wonder sometimes if Koreans are ready for the Big Stage. A couple of ugly incidents in the past few days might shake your faith.

The first takes the form of a diplomatic dispute between China and Korea playing out at the government level. The second is taking place much closer to the ground via an Internet campaign by those oft-talked-about Korean netizens, some of whom have called on their members to assault foreigners at popular night spots like Hongik University and the Sinchon area.

Sounds bizarre, doesn’t it? The problem got its start on a discussion board at a website catering to English teachers living and working here in Korea. Aside from providing info on job opportunities and Korean culture and travel, the website also operates discussion boards where people can discuss issues and, as is often the case, vent frustrations about their experiences in Korea.

Most of the talk is just innocuous griping and or uninformed Korea bashing. But in this case, some Korean netizens latched on to a particularly infantile posting by one foreigner who extolled the virtues of Korea by arguing how easy it is to have sex with Korean women. It didn’t take long for the conversation thread to be noticed by netizens. Angered by the perceived slight to the honor of their women, they inundated the English website and put it out of commission.

But they didn’t stop there. Soon, discussion boards at popular portal sites were being filled with talk about the incident. One board I read was bursting with comments like “let’s punish the foreign assholes,” followed by calls to beat up foreigners seen walking around holding hands with Korean women. And because everyone knows that foreigners all hang out in bars at Hong-dae and Sinchon, people were told to gather there and watch for offending waygook-in.

One fringe Korean news site went so far as to put up a grainy photo showing one of the many smoky night clubs where Koreans and foreigners often mix on the dance floor. Young Korean women figure prominently in the foreground so one can only surmise that this was supposed to enrage the already lathered-up netizens even more.

Now, the campaign has somehow morphed into a drive to force out all the unqualified English teachers. Note how the inferiority has turned to superiority.

Weisbart concludes the article with this:

It seems that Koreans employ a double standard when it comes to how foreigners are expected to behave here and how they themselves are allowed to act outside the country. The incident in China shows a startling lack of sensitivity and, given the Chinese claims that the lawmakers had held an illegal press conference, Koreans should consider themselves lucky their representatives weren’t detained.

As I write this, there is thankfully no news that any foreigners were attacked on Saturday night. We’ll have to wait and see how much damage the incident in China causes to ROK-Sino relations. However they pan out, both situations raise awkward questions about the true nature of Korean feelings toward non-Koreans and whether Koreans will ever learn how to relate with others.

Well said and hopefully this whole stupid incident will just go away. However, I do love this quote from the Marmot.

You know, if I were a GI, I might be enjoying this all. God knows I’ve heard and read enough bitching from English teachers about how the military types make them look bad. Well, 8th Army personnel, here’s your chance for a little payback. Next time you see an English teacher, tell him you were thinking of growing your hair long, but you didn’t want Koreans to confuse you for being a hagwon instructor.

Yes I have heard plenty of English teachers bitch about GI’s and so it is ironic that they get stuck with this. If any English teachers out there need some high and tights to blend in with other GI’s now, I can hook them up. My wife can cut your hair for cheap. Plus I can give you tips about blending in as a GI in Korea.