I'm a black woman and I've been working in Korea for the past two years, and I was also stationed here for a year in 2001 when I was in the Army. Of course I do get the occasional long stares because I keep my hair mostly in long braids, but I have never experienced anything malicious or blatantly racist. One of my Korean co-workers asked me if she could touch my hair, and I told her of course! She was so sweet and genuinely curious. Racism exists all over the world, so please don't let that ever discourage you from traveling to new places. Korea and it's people are truly amazing.

I've lived in Korea and Japan for 2 years and yes there are racist in Korea and Japan just like there are racists everywhere else in the world. I'm from the South in the US so I grew up around many racists including some of my relatives. I know what real racism looks like. The difference is in Korea, there aren't any violent organized racists groups (i.e., KKK, Neo-Nazis, etc..) physically trying to harm people like there are in the US, Japan and Europe.

I had very memorable experience with a grandpa in a train to Nami island. I am from South East Asia country. I travelled there after my dad passed away a week before (my mom told me to still go there because I've bought ticket and she wanted me to cheer up) I was standing on the train, carrying my backpack. This old man (i thought he was about >75 years old) offered me his seat next to him, but i refused because i thought there would be more older people got in the train on the next station. So the train kept running and the empty seat next to him had been seated by another grandpa 😁 suddenly, he poke my shoulder and told me to have a seat with his seat, because he would get off in the next station (using body language). I felt uncomfortable but he said it was okay, so finally i sat there. I thought that grandpa really got off in the next station, but when i looked around, i found out he didn't get off yet, still standing a little bit far from me. He was watching me, too, from where he stood up, so when our eyes met, i helplessly tried to ask him to get his seat back witb body language because i felt guilty, but he tried to convince me that it was okay 😅 he really got off in the next station while waving at me before he departed. As someone who had her father just passed away a week before, i couldn't feel more touched than that 😢

I hope you can/did reassure the first lady that if ANY man is bothering or following you, its okay to say and do whatever is needed to make them stop. And not to feel bad about it, either.

인종차별 이라는게 그냥 모호한거임 그냥 쳐다봤는데도 인종차별이라고 느끼는 사람이 있고 안 쳐다봤다고 인종차별이라고 느끼는 사람도 있음 예를 들면 " 나를 동물원 원숭이를 보듯이 모두 다 쳐다봤다" 혹은 반대로 " 마치 나를 투명인간 취급 하듯이 쳐다보지도 않았다" 이런 경우들이 있지 심각한 인종 혐오범죄 단체가 나와서 서로 죽고 죽이는게 아닌이상 인종차별으로 그만 떠들어라 오히려 전혀 무관한 사람들만 서로 불편해진다 시간이 차차 해결해주겠찌

The "I have a black friend" excuse makes me laugh everytime 😂.

나는 한국에서 외국인한테 인종차별 당했다 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ한국인인데 ㅋㅋ

It's been improving steadily over the last decade. If anything I'm surprised that Korea isn't more racist with how homogenous it is. The most annoying thing I found in Korea has been systemic racism as the bureaucracy is slow to adapt to foreigners.

Keep up the good work jerry This is a topic that definitely needs to be discuss

I live in Sweden permanently, Filipino-born and takes buses at all time. The locals avoid sitting with foreigners on the bus. The elderlies here are often very prejudistic of immigrants. But let me tell you that many childless couples here adopts Korean babies.

0:31 yes some people avoid foreigners because they are not confident of their English skill, they can be very anxious about passerby hearing them speak English and get laugh at if they pronounced words wrong or their grammar was incorrect.

DO NOT JUDGE Koreans by comments here. if you have to, judge them by interacting them in person.

In 2023 Korea cannot use the “we’re a homogenous country so….” Too many different cultures are exposed and used in Korea and some are used and saturated in things (music, mannerism, verbiage, etc) Also the word “foreigner” is VERY vague. Each type of foreigner is treated different in Korea. Also there or preferences in Korea.

(Nothing to do with the topic) but the guy with the glasses is soo cute 😍💯Love from Scandinavia

I've experienced a lot of kindness and acceptance since my family moved to South Korea earlier this year. And learning the language has helped to an extent. Korea feels like home, especially for my kids. Yes, the bus experience happens often, but I sit with Koreans when I get a chance. I loved the honesty of every speaker. Nothing is black and white. People are different, and they have different reasons for how they treat other people. I love being in South Korea. Another great one, @KExplorer. 🎉🎉

And you Jerry, have you experienced any discrimination in 🇰🇷 ?

Short answer - of course they do. When practically 100% of people look like each other and you have little contact with others for centuries - you tend to have an elevated sense of your superiority.

Great discussion. I like the honest response of your guest. Good interview

It’s interesting how Koreans are constantly being criticized and stereotyped as if racism and xenophobia isn’t endemic in every single country around the world. There is almost a gleeful quality to demonizing Korean people, especially by certain insecure people who come from countries where colorism and xenophobia are deeply embedded in their own cultures.

Younger koreans are racist too. I've stayed in korea for several months, and many times I was treated as an idiot by people my age, whether it was in school or in shops. I could also 100% feel when koreans felt uncomfortable having to sit next to me in the bus (not everyone, but this is definitely something you can feel). My friends who travelled there also experienced racism by other young people in their 20s or 30s.

Maybe the older Koreans who haven’t been abroad or exposed to different cultures would, but the younger Koreans seem very accepting of foreigners and different cultures. Nowadays you see so many Koreans dating and marrying outside of their race and going abroad experiencing and embracing so many different cultures. It seems most of South Korea has really embraced diversity now.

해외경험이 거의 없는 사람들은 인종차별하는 것 같아요. 당연히 그것도 사람 나름이지만요. 저는 캐나다랑 호주에서 살면서 언어차별과 인종차별을 당해봐서 차별 당하는 사람들이 얼마나 화가 날지 이해합니다. 한국 돌아와서 한국에 사는 외국인들의 마음을 더 이해하게 되었어요. 한국에도 분명 인종차별이 있고 저는 해외에서 당했던 사람으로써 그런 사람들을 너무 싫어합니다. 저는 그래서 어느나라에서 왔건 잘 사던 못 살던 상관없이 잘 해주려는게 있는 것 같아요. 차별은 차별을 낳는 것 같은데 어느나라던 차별은 존재하지만 배운 사람들은 차별하지 않는다는 것이 팩트. 앞으로 다름의 아름다움을 아는 대한민국이 되기를 바랍니다.

As someone of Southeast Asian background, I'm sick and tired of Korean people admitting on camera that Americans, Europeans, or white people in general are more accepted than people of other nationalities or skin colors. Do they seriously not realize how discriminatory and unfair that is, and dare I say immature? Imagine Korean people experiencing that for themselves anywhere. When the shoe is on the other foot, now suddenly they're the ones complaining about how negatively they're treated. If you want respect, you must earn it, but this mindset is not the way, especially if they are the ones living abroad. Many Korean people are living in the Philippines (among many other foreigners) as KZfaqrs and they have admitted to the friendliness and hospitality of the locals. Imagine that changing one day because this is what they ACTUALLY think of us...as tempting as it is to give them a taste of their own medicine, we're better than that

This was a great episode 👏🏽

I have wanted to travel to Korea for so long and I've been terrified of the thought of sticking out like a sore thumb, stares or discrimination 😔 this was a good insightful video.

I’ve been to Seoul recently and some old ladies pulled their masks up when they saw me. I’m American but of Chinese descent so maybe they thought I was a COVID threat 😅😅. I also have a bald head so maybe people thought I was U.S. military and tried to avoid me. But I had some friendly experiences with old men for some reason. One time someone got up from their seat on the metro when they reached their stop. I was standing next to it but did not sit down and let the old man take it instead. When he got off at his stop he thanked me and offered me the seat. Another time, I went to JJimjilbang and an older man asked me to help take his bandaids off on his back from acupuncture I assume. He was also nice and thanked me.

OMG, you are such an elegant person! How classy! I am so impressed. 👏👏👏

I think ppl with common sense know the answer to this question in the title. Just don’t go there period & u don’t have to worry about it.

There's no racism, If you're beautiful, High knowledge, and rich

Love to see genuine Content, I have to start working on my Korean communication skills. Keep pushing good Concepts and local perspective information! Keep Going Up‼️

I like the hairstyle Jerry 😊

short answer : YEs long answer : Yesssss but more excute

I would argue that the title of this video is itself racist. A less horrible title would have been “does racism exist in Korea?” The whole all Koreans are racist is a hateful, ignorant headline that attracts the worst people to lie or embellish whatever perceived slights they either actually encountered or are just making up.

The Filipino Squid Game actor Player 276. Said in an interview on AsiaBoss that he experienced racism in the bus.

I was in KOrea for 12 years and have traveled 80 countries. Racism in Korea is very high. I was attacked by three Korean men and two of them went to jail. Koreans refused to believe it even when I showed the court papers. The newspaper refused to cover the story.

Discrimination is not exclusively racial, as we know a lot of times ha stop do with money, rich or poor.. No matter the color, no matter the country. So if you discriminate or if you are racist are different questions

한국사람들은 인종차별주의자냐고 묻고 다니는 것 자체가 인종차별적인 것 아님?

Come ask me what I think of Koreans

Regarding the story of the US immigration office. I’m not going to discredit her but that’s a universal experience. For some reason anyone who works for the DMV and immigration are just the most put out/ rude people there are. I think most Americans will agree . Idk if its just because they deal with unprepared ppl, long hours or argumentative people. I dread going into the DMV for this reason alone.

During covid I've seen these signs in shops, "no Chinese people allowed" "no foreigners allowed".

Yes, yes they are.

한국 사람들은 인종차별은 하지 않아요. 나라 차별은 합니다. 역사 및 지리적인 문제로 중국, 일본을 좋아하지 않아요. 2000년대 초반부터는 나이 많은 한국 남자에게 베트남과 캄보디아, 필리핀의 젊은 여자들이 돈을 받고 결혼을 하기 시작했어요. 그들은 한국에 와서도 다문화 가정이라 불리며 대체로 가난하게 사는 경우가 많고 한국말도 잘 못해서 아이들 사이에서는 차별을 당했어요. 슬슬 동남아시아를 무시하는 경향이 생깁니다. 그 나라에 대한 인식이 안좋은거지 막상 그 나라의 사람을 만나면 친절하게 대해줍니다. 지하철에서 외국인 옆에 앉지 않는 이유는.. 덩치가 너무커요. 옆에 앉으면 의자가 좁고 어깨가 너무 많이 넘어와 불편합니다. 또 한번은 옆에 앉을려고 봤는데 온몸에 땀을 너무 많이 흘리고 있었어요. 옆에 앉기 찝찝했지만 앉았습니다. 외국인이라서 앉지 않는건 아니에요. 사이즈가 작고, 땀을 흘리지 않고 있다면 옆에 잘 앉을거에요.

I think the host look best when he had his hair tied and showed his chisel check bone.

Why is there so many similarities between Japan and S.Korea when it comes to the treatment of foreigners? It's actually quite different in China.

I like this channel's videos because He dares to speak up about racism towards foreigners, in particular South East Asian foreigners. While other podcast channel has been trying to avoid this discussion.

Are there Koreans that are racist and discriminate on that basis? Certainly. Just as there are Koreans who aren't and don't. Korea, not unlike Japan, China, India and many other places in Asia, has a storied history with "colorism" and glorifying and romanticizing lighter, paler skin and features while shunning darker skin and features. Much of the descrimination black American people or darker skinned people from places like Cambodia, Sri Lanka or African countries have experienced in those countries can often be traced to inhibitions and beliefs linked to colorism.

yes, there is. place like japan and korea, where there's mostly just koreans and japanese. as country don't grow up with foriegners. still got lots of stereotype about other race peoples and stuff, for sure. or at least, korean has strong identity as a 'korean' it's not about they hate forgiener, it's just they have strong configurations so discrimination comes naturally after.

I'm italian living in Korea right now and this is my opinion, Koreans are really afraid about foreigner for example, when i seat in the bus N-O-B-A-D-Y seat near me and sometimes if they seat near me they say sorry to me... sorry for what?? Just seat and take a rest why sorry? Sorry because you are take a seat near me respect than korean? Really i don't understand, i'm normale human, even young students sometimes when the bus is full they don't seat near me and i heard conversation like (야 go to seat) and friend reply (no no near foreigner no) because yes i speak korean so i understand... really sad... in Korea is the truth even you speak korean and you try to do the best in the society you will never be inside the society is the truth, in every case i love south korea, i love the food and the culture😊

Stop placing blame on old Korean people. The reason why Koreans do not sit next to foreigners. Because they don't want to. Older Koreans have a designated area where they sit normally. I found the older Koreans to be fairly open-minded. The younger people were weird acting. Be honest.

I would love to know how Koreans feels about Puerto Ricans 😖❤️ I love Koreans so much I love there culture, food, music and fashion. My dream is to visit Korea at least once so that I can gain more knowledge and experience.

솔직히 아프리카대륙국가에 동아시아인이 가면 어떨까요..? 길거리에 대놓고 더 심한걸봅니다. 이제 슬슬 한국에 대한게 아닌 아프리카대륙, 다른아시아 사회구조 레이시즘 문제에도 다뤄보지그래요?

Being homogenous or ignorant is an excuse for racism. Korea is no longer a hermit country stuck in the 18th century. They pride themselves in being a globalized and advanced society when the opposite is true. Koreans have access to resources, free media that China doesn't, yet even the Chinese come across as less racist. Koreans need to be held accountable for their actions.

So if your reason to come to Korea is spend money by study or vacation you won’t feel discrimination but if you are looking for employment you’re screwed,🤣

The people saying there isn't discrimination and racism from koreans either pretend they don't know infront of the camera or they really don't know... Interesting.

They discriminate only South East Asia(except Singapore) especially if u look SEA I am from SEA and has Korean lover.. I know...

As Koreans, Koreans are very interested in social status, so they often discriminate among fellow Koreans based on educational background, wealth, etc. So, when dealing with foreigners, since there is not enough information to understand the background of the foreigner, it seems that they discriminate by finding out how well the foreigner's country is (per capita GDP, etc.)... The reason white people are treated well is because white people mainly live in developed countries. I think so. I think it is a bit different from discriminating based on race. However, this is also clear discrimination and many Koreans, including me, are alert to this and I think it is a problem that many people need to solve. It is true that this discrimination is especially severe among the elderly and is virtually disappearing among the younger generation. I believe it will continue to improve in the future. ㅠㅠ

When I was in highschool, I had a Korean friend. We had a new Indian classmate and our homeroom teacher tasked us to show her around. The 3 of us chatted and she left for another class. My Korean friend turned to me and said, "hey, do you notice these people have a certain foul stench?". I was shocked. It was another side of her I never expected, as she was a straight A student. She was giggling and meant every word. Since then I met hundreds of Koreans who were far more racist.

Yes. There are Korean government policies that discriminate against foreigners, especially children and babies. Long term permanent residents that have children born in South Korea under Korean law can not have Korean citizenship, the children or parents are not entitled to any government programs. Another example, Citibank took over a Korean bank (KorAm Bank) and was still operating under the lending policies of the Korean bank. Koram bank lending policy at the time was that loans could only be given to those of the Korean race. Citizenship was irrelevant, had to be of the Korean race.

theres a lot of Filipino Teachers there in Korea and they said its the old Korean People are more racist

I think one should differentiate between experiencing superficial racism like being assumed to be Chinese or getting some low level racist remarks thrown your way vs systemic racism. Yeah, it doesn't make you feel good to be the target of racism - and I've had that so much that it just rolls off my back now - but to have less rights, to have a glass ceiling, to actually be treated as second class citizen with less legal rights is a completely different issue. So while I feel for Koreans traveling abroad who experienced some racism, I would encourage them to explore how SK discriminates against foreigners on a systemic level; especially those from SEA who are brought into to do unskilled labour. They aren't refugees nor are they illegals. They fulfill an important part of Korea's economy.

The answer is yes. That’s the truth. However as a black American I would go so far as to say Americans and especially Europeans are far more so than Koreans.

Could you ask what exactly oppa means. I have a kr gf and she says the word is way different from what we foreigners know it as (from kdrama)

The Korean guy said he called his black friend in school, a black, older brother. 😅😅😅. The word he used for black means "DIRT."

I think this is one of those delicate subjects where a Korean interviewer should be used to get more candid answers.

That boy Explorer be fly 💪🏿

Black people treat Asian people differently because I been through racism working with black people. I’m not saying all but some of them treated me badly.

this topic will be endless. everyone got different experienced we cannot judge all of them are racist. if they do to you, you just ignore them

Korean black face shows ❕💡

Korea is for Koreans and if they don't like you, for whatever reason, you have no right to criticize.

My men I am a black dominican.. and most dominican don t sit besides foreigneers(Asian, Black or White). why? I think is a sign of respect or we feel uncomfortable.. I don t know..but, we love foreigneers

솔직히 피해망상.. 밥먹으려고 손 씻어도 인종차별이라 할 애들임

Hey Jerry, what about the Korean hip hop clubs that prohibit foreigners from entering? That would be a good topic.

I've been in Korea for 4 years and I haven't experienced the "Koreans don't want to sit next to you because you're a foreigner" situation yet. Maybe because I'm white, so as they said, I don't face as much backlash as people from South East Asia or other more melaninated ethnicities. Could it also be a size issue? Seats are quite narrow in Seoul and I have seen muscular foreigners not having anyone sit next to them (including me) because I didn't want to be squeezed. Or a smell issue? On several occasions, I had to move seats to escape some foreign guys who seemed to have emptied a can of deodorant on to their armpits. The discrimination I mostly encounter is administrative. A lot of things are forbidden for foreigners. Discriminating on the basis of ethnicity or nationality in the workplace is also not illegal in Korea. I love my job but my workplace explicitly states in black and white that foreigners will not be paid for some tasks while Koreans will. I did have racist encounters apart from that but they are not the majority.

Jerry... you showing them how it's done!!

Guys remember if it’s foreigners it can be anyone from even other Asian countries. Not just blacks and whites

There are racists in all countries. You want to talk about racism? In America, there are violent hate crimes everyday against Asians. Do such incidents happen to foreigners in Korea? Almost never. Koreans, look at the whole picture. Some people just go around and accuse everybody else of racism for the slightest offense. Look at the whole picture.

I’m so tired of idiots making money by interviewing random street Koreans just going about their day and asking them questions like “would you marry a foreigner” or “does racism exist in your country” like wtf?

we learned from history to not trust other races because they take advantage(japan ocupation,korean war), therefore many older generations understand this because of the past, so the suspicion is there, the new generations are more open because they cannot relate to the past due to american influence, interent, society etc. this new generation is evolving to compete w other societies because of that. Many older koreans do discriminate, younger gens dont. is it right? no. how can it be fixed? hard question to answer.

Wait! Will they avoid sit next to me in the subway??? 😰😰😰😓😓😓😭😭😭

Wow! They are putting the blame solely on the older generation. Older Koreans can be incredibly racist and xenophobic, but so can the younger generation. Living in Korea, you will meet good and bad people regardless of the generation. I just wish some would just mind their own business and stop harassing foreigners who are just existing.

한국인을 인종차별주의자로 몰아넣으면서 유튜브 광고로 돈을 벌어. 이 영상의 로직을 배운건가?😢 kzfaq.infoBcpOufqR0yo?si=8oJfl26-nmiVE5_i

Very astute observation. Bias based on the status of your country.

인종차별이란 기본적으로 우월주의에서 나오는거지 다름의 어색함으로 판단하면 끝도 없습니다

As a Korean, let me clarify something. 10-20 years ago, when media and the internet were not as developed, Koreans did not have many opportunities to encounter foreigners. So it wasn't just Black people, but foreigners in general were seen as fascinating. It wasn't discrimination; we simply lacked information about these cultures and hence approached them with caution. Black people were no exception. Now, in an era where the whole world is at our fingertips through our phones and we can access all kinds of information, whether Black or anyone else, they're just like anyone else to us - familiar and human. If Black individuals felt discriminated against, I believe it's because they initially put up an invisible defensive wall against us. So, we perceived them as being cautious. If you're a foreigner working in Korea, it's essential for you to be open-minded and approachable. Only then can we genuinely respect and work together. I can't speak for other countries, but at least that's how it is in mine.

7:49. he doesn't have foreigners friends, he just has white people's friends🤣🤣🤣

The camera quality is so crisp. 😦

they cant distinguish racism and discrimination or hatred.

I find that everyone he interview was not being 100 % true full. The reason they give for why they don’t sit by foreigner is just nonsense to me . Because sitting by someone on a bus or train is just that sitting u a not interacting with the person. They use the fact that they are afraid because they don’t speak English as an excuse for to long now. Let just call it what it is racism and saying it a Homogeneous country as a excuse it old now. Young Korean educated ur parents because they would like u to travel out to other countries and what they do to foreigners that come to ur country happen to u.

I don’t think it’s fair to just think Koreans are racist. They most likely just not used to having foreigners in their country. Some don’t want change and some just curious. A lot of other group in Middle East and religious groups can be very racist as not having inclusion. So we live in a racist world. I don’t think racism is a thing in the America and they definitely moved forward of not being racist. Europe, Asia, and Middle East not so much in progress.

한국은 인종차별 안합니다 한국은 그사람의 직업과 재산정도를 가지고 심하게 차별합니다 외국인이 이 차별을 받으면 인종차별처럼 느껴지는겁니다 국적 피부색깔에 상관없이 한국인이 선호하는 직업과 재산이 많으면 엄청 높게 대우해주고 그게아니라면 그냥 무시당합니다

Vietnamese and Filipinos are singled out --and they know it--so it must be true. this is sad.

It's sad that out of all the people interviewed, the last lady was the only truthful one. The others you could clearly tell that they were just saying the right things because of the camera on them.

Why would they look down on Southeast Asians? Seems strange. Cities like Bangkok, KL and Singapore seem pretty advanced to me.....

Don't come closer to me because... I cannot speak English!

니하오? 가 안녕하세요? 이랑 똑같은건데 왜 인종차별단어라고 생각하지? 한국인인지 중국인인지 몰라서 하는말인데~~ 중국인한테 "안녕하세요"하면 인종차별인가?

Just imagine if in Canada people discriminated immigrants from poor countries. Not even in your wildest dreams

actully s.korea is more less racisms then america and europe , did you head black person killed in korea 🤔well in America we head and watch everyday

Asia is a single race, so there's no racism. It's just that they refuse to interact because they're different languages, different cultures, and lower. It's not discrimination that originated from Western slavery.

just a good answer from the front of camera but in real life they're racism. how about real world oppa they're lame

yes, they are hella r@cist especially to SEA