Very interesting. I've been in Korea almost 11 years now (originally from Ireland) and so can relate to so much of what you said . I recently got Korean citizenship so I do have a bit of fun now saying I'm not a 외국인 anymore but obviously for anyone who doesn't know me they will always see me as a 외국인 as I don't like 'Korean'. But then my kids don't look Korean and they are fully Korean so for multicultural kids it's a whole other story too with the meaning of 'what it is to be Korean'. An interesting topic indeed.
Sam Hammington did an interesting interview on this topic - his take was pretty good, but he refused to answer the question directly which I think was kinda lame. I just KNOW he has an opinion.
Do you see a distinction between having become Koreanized and having become Korean? Becoming part of the in group totally changes the approach to language learning. Thank you for the thoughtful analysis.
Yeah, I do see a distinction between all of the words. I was intentional with my word choice - I didn't say "a Korean" which I think would imply citizenship/ethnic ties, I didn't say "Koreanized" because that, to me, has more of a soft power-related nuance to it. I just simply used the adjective Korean, because the ambiguity and multiple use cases sort of forces introspection and careful speech. Totally agree with you - finding ways to join the in-group, even if it's just in your own subconscious mind, was absolutely essential to success for me. Thanks for taking the time to stop by! I'll be talking about this more in another context really soon.
Super interesting and thought provoking as always. It’s really making me thing about my identity too 👀 … I was gonna start writing more but I’m gonna leave it here or this will turn into a novel 😂 Anyway thank you for the thought provoking content! ❤
No matter what you say, if you know at least one advanced Korean expression or a cultural reference that foreigners are not expected to know, Koreans will immediately tell you 우와 한국 사람 다 됐네~ 😂
This part of Korean culture is painfully ironic, because "becoming Korean" is basically impossible when you consider the general conditions for being considered Korean haha
I think it just depends on the connotation or context of the word. You can say "I am a Korean (citizen)" or "I am a Korean (member of society)" vs "I am Korean (race / bloodline)". For example, just as anyone can assimilate into American life and become American, I believe the same is the case for becoming Korean. Yes, I would say you're Korean, but you don't share the same bloodline as most native Koreans, as far as I'm aware. As for Oli, I think it doesn't really matter what other people do. Just let people do whatever they want to do, as long as they're not hurting others. I think Oli's biggest problem is his obsession over another person, regardless of their race / ethnicity. I think feeling offended over cultural appropriation is more of a problem than the people doing the appropriating. Don't waste your mental energy on people that are seeking personal happiness in abstract ways, we should just focus on ourselves and our own personal happiness. That's my opinion.
This is essentially my take, and the reason I chose the adjective form of the word. The ambiguity of English in this situation kind of forces a measured, nuanced view. I disagree with the American analogy but only in the sense of it being possible, mainly because Koreans don't generally have the same mindset - while an American like me might think it best for the future of Korean culture to invite interested parties to join in, much of culture here is very tightly tied with an entirely ethnicity-based identity.
@@KoreanPatch I understand your point. I think it's a very complicated topic. I think it's quite subjective, and like you said in your video, it kind of depends on who you're asking. I think your opinion is much more educated and nuanced than mine, seeing as you're fluent in Korean and I am definitely not. I think the title of being Korean is less important than the quality of your day to day life in Korea and how the people in your life interact with you. I think it's a success if your friends and loved ones view you as an individual rather than a foreigner, which I believe you touched on in your video as well.
I lived and taught English in Korea for three years and left with a survival level understanding of Korean (middle beginner). After taking a year off, I’ve been studying Korean everyday for the past 3 plus years. My level is upper intermediate and I’ve studied Korean history on my own as well. Ian, I never really thought about it until after watching your video, but I guess the reason why I am studying Korean everyday despite currently residing back in my home country (USA) is to “feel like I’m part of the in-group” in a way my younger self never was. 🤯
I can't help but wonder if the desire to fit in in this tasteful sort of way comes up naturally when you're earnestly learning the language from a place of love or kinship. Glad to hear you're improving your life in this way!!! 😊
Very interesting. I've been in Korea almost 11 years now (originally from Ireland) and so can relate to so much of what you said . I recently got Korean citizenship so I do have a bit of fun now saying I'm not a 외국인 anymore but obviously for anyone who doesn't know me they will always see me as a 외국인 as I don't like 'Korean'. But then my kids don't look Korean and they are fully Korean so for multicultural kids it's a whole other story too with the meaning of 'what it is to be Korean'. An interesting topic indeed.
Sam Hammington did an interesting interview on this topic - his take was pretty good, but he refused to answer the question directly which I think was kinda lame. I just KNOW he has an opinion.
Do you see a distinction between having become Koreanized and having become Korean?
Becoming part of the in group totally changes the approach to language learning.
Thank you for the thoughtful analysis.
Yeah, I do see a distinction between all of the words. I was intentional with my word choice - I didn't say "a Korean" which I think would imply citizenship/ethnic ties, I didn't say "Koreanized" because that, to me, has more of a soft power-related nuance to it. I just simply used the adjective Korean, because the ambiguity and multiple use cases sort of forces introspection and careful speech.
Totally agree with you - finding ways to join the in-group, even if it's just in your own subconscious mind, was absolutely essential to success for me.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by! I'll be talking about this more in another context really soon.
Super interesting and thought provoking as always. It’s really making me thing about my identity too 👀
… I was gonna start writing more but I’m gonna leave it here or this will turn into a novel 😂
Anyway thank you for the thought provoking content! ❤
There's really a lot to say about the topic. I'm glad to hear this is interesting to you, though!! 😊
No matter what you say, if you know at least one advanced Korean expression or a cultural reference that foreigners are not expected to know, Koreans will immediately tell you 우와 한국 사람 다 됐네~ 😂
This part of Korean culture is painfully ironic, because "becoming Korean" is basically impossible when you consider the general conditions for being considered Korean haha
I feel like this is the Korean equivalent of "nihongo joozu" for japanese learners XD
excellent video and articulation of this. You've given me something to think about.
Thanks a lot! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that finds these ideas worth thinking about.
I had a similar thing as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines... very hard to explain to other Americans back home tho
Very interesting topic and nicely introduced. Looking forward to more on this subject
Thank you! I'll keep trying to bring the heat.
I think it just depends on the connotation or context of the word. You can say "I am a Korean (citizen)" or "I am a Korean (member of society)" vs "I am Korean (race / bloodline)". For example, just as anyone can assimilate into American life and become American, I believe the same is the case for becoming Korean. Yes, I would say you're Korean, but you don't share the same bloodline as most native Koreans, as far as I'm aware.
As for Oli, I think it doesn't really matter what other people do. Just let people do whatever they want to do, as long as they're not hurting others. I think Oli's biggest problem is his obsession over another person, regardless of their race / ethnicity. I think feeling offended over cultural appropriation is more of a problem than the people doing the appropriating. Don't waste your mental energy on people that are seeking personal happiness in abstract ways, we should just focus on ourselves and our own personal happiness. That's my opinion.
This is essentially my take, and the reason I chose the adjective form of the word. The ambiguity of English in this situation kind of forces a measured, nuanced view.
I disagree with the American analogy but only in the sense of it being possible, mainly because Koreans don't generally have the same mindset - while an American like me might think it best for the future of Korean culture to invite interested parties to join in, much of culture here is very tightly tied with an entirely ethnicity-based identity.
@@KoreanPatch I understand your point. I think it's a very complicated topic. I think it's quite subjective, and like you said in your video, it kind of depends on who you're asking.
I think your opinion is much more educated and nuanced than mine, seeing as you're fluent in Korean and I am definitely not. I think the title of being Korean is less important than the quality of your day to day life in Korea and how the people in your life interact with you. I think it's a success if your friends and loved ones view you as an individual rather than a foreigner, which I believe you touched on in your video as well.
I lived and taught English in Korea for three years and left with a survival level understanding of Korean (middle beginner).
After taking a year off, I’ve been studying Korean everyday for the past 3 plus years. My level is upper intermediate and I’ve studied Korean history on my own as well.
Ian, I never really thought about it until after watching your video, but I guess the reason why I am studying Korean everyday despite currently residing back in my home country (USA) is to “feel like I’m part of the in-group” in a way my younger self never was. 🤯
I can't help but wonder if the desire to fit in in this tasteful sort of way comes up naturally when you're earnestly learning the language from a place of love or kinship. Glad to hear you're improving your life in this way!!! 😊
@@KoreanPatch I like the way you put that: love and kinship. 😃
UR Kor'Ian hahahahahha Love Y'all You Def Inssa'! K