MBC’s Video: A Response

In late May, Korean TV network MBC broadcast a short “news” piece titled “The Shocking Truth about Dating Foreigners”, a heavily biased, sensationalized report negatively portraying Westerners in Korea. (To watch the original video, click here.) It drew sharp criticism from the local expat community, with protest groups and petitions quickly appearing on and offline. Here Rachel Redfern contributes her own response to the video.

Carriers of HIV/AIDS, morally bankrupt, predators of Korean women: these are harsh criticisms of any group; however, all were present in the recent MBC video, “The Shocking Truth about Relationships with Foreigners”. The video alleged that foreign men were targeting Korean women as sexual partners, transmitting HIV/AIDS and impregnating Korean women without any personal consequences, and decried behaviors among Korean/non-Korean couples, citing sexual promiscuity and inappropriate displays of public affection, insinuating these relationships were based on physical attraction or a desire to learn English, and nothing more.

Members of the expat community strongly criticized the video for its lack of balance, sensationalized and misleading portrayal of Westerners, and poor journalism in its lack of facts, names, studies, and its over-use of conjecture and hearsay.

While the video only aired in Korea, it has made its way into other countries through word of mouth and, of course, social media and networking. Even the Wall Street Journal picked up the story, focusing on the lack of data supporting any of the claims made in the video, most of which seem unfounded.

Obviously this video is creating some very serious accusations from some Koreans about Westerners in Korea and whether young Korean women are being “targeted” by foreign men. It may be that the video raises the issues of expectations and the ever present fight between the traditional and the modern, perhaps exposing some of Korea’s deeper fears about what is being lost of its culture in the drive towards a more global society.

Granted, a large number of Westerners who come to teach in Korea are in their early to mid- twenties, and with their youth comes enthusiasm and an energy that is easily translated in the classroom and in their excitement about living in Korea. However, along with that enthusiasm comes the usual activities of youth: relationships, adventure, drinking, dancing, travel, and an eager desire to connect with others. At times there are miscommunications and cultural differences. Regardless, it is objectionable to suggest that foreigners do bad things simply because they are foreigners.

There are concerns about the possible implications of this video. Even though the video was created by one broadcast station and is not representative of Korea as a whole, videos like MBC’s could easily tarnish the rest of the world’s perception of Korea.

Korea has pushed itself with an enormous effort onto the global stage, becoming a powerful economic force, hosting the Olympics for the second time in twenty years (2018 in Pyeongchang), and, through K-pop, Korean culture has made its mark internationally. However, videos like MBC’s display an intolerant and xenophobic attitude that could undo much of the good that these other, more positive displays of Korean culture have promoted.

If Korea intends to invite the entire world to join in the largest of global events, the Olympics, I wonder what kind of welcoming atmosphere foreigners should expect? Will they be greeted with suspicion and disrespect? Or will they be welcomed as fellow members of a global community and as fellow participants in unity and sport? Given that Korea continues to invite foreign teachers, the Olympics, the World Expo and other harbingers of Western and global ideologies, it can only be hoped that the negative and xenophobic attitudes expressed in the video are simply the minority, and not representative of the wider society.

Consider also the effect this could have on the many multicultural families already living in Korea. Within Korea there are thousands of foreign men and women who have married Korean citizens, adopted Korean culture and tried to make Korea their permanent home: what effect will this video have on their lives and the lives of their children? Will these children face future discrimination and disrespect because one of their parents is non-Korean?

The implications of this video are numerous, but none so damaging as the possibility of causing fear, distrust, and disrespect between Koreans and foreigners. The more lines in the sand we draw, the harder it will be to reach the middle ground, where lies understanding, mutual respect, and unity.