Finally. I got around to writing the 2nd part of our Korean Men Misconceptions series. If you haven’t read the first part yet, well, please check it out first. As I mentioned last time, this is a joint project with the now certified musical actress, Ms. Cherish-Maningat Bae (so proud of my 친구!). You see, we’re kind of both on a mission to enlighten some girls who just blindly go “OMG UNNI I WANNA HAVE A KOREAN BOYFRIEND, TOO *flail flail*!!! *Bitchslaps* First, neither of us are Korean so don’t call me unni. Second, well, there’s no second. We just hope that by us sharing these info, it will somehow prevent another girl from getting impregnated by her Korean boyfriend who would up and leave her after his English studies here.
DISCLAIMER:
We do not in anyway mean to offend anyone, especially Korean men (the love of our lives are after all, one of them). These are all but based on our experiences, observations and other people’s testimonies. Our only objective is to make readers realize that guys from Korean dramas and movies are fictional characters. May this blog series enlighten readers, especially those younger girls who are easily swept off their feet.
Misconception About Korean Men #2: THEY ARE ALL GOOD-LOOKING
Ahahaha! THIS. THIS SO MUCH. Most people’s exposure to the Korean world is through K-dramas and Kpop and of course, almost all of the boys there are good looking - 멋있고 meo shi da, 우유 빛칼 uyu bit kal (white skin), 꽃미남 kot mi nam (flower boy) and all that jazz. If Pinays only knew, this is not the case in the real Korean world. Actually, you don’t have to go far to prove that you can only find dashing, breath-taking, makalaglag-panty Koreans on screen or on stage. Just look at the Korean men here. Or hell, just look at Jimmy Kim. WTF IS THAT?! (I love you, bebe! Tsuptsup mwahmwah~)
I believe you, Jo In Sung.
Perhaps you’d think that the Koreans here represent a small percentage of the Korean population. Well, in terms of number, you’re probably right. But as per Cherish, the Koreans in Philippines best represent the general Korean population – middle class, who can afford a bit more to study English abroad, or those who start businesses in Philippines because Korea is too saturated already. But honestly, if those Koreans would be given a choice, they’d choose to stay in their home country, much like the OFW’s who’d opt to live here if they had a better life.
My friend attended an art university in Korea and majored in stage directing. She got to work with the acting majors in her department, who pretty much all want to be actors. Oh, trust me. They’re really good looking. I’ve seen them. They’re K-drama-material and I’d date them if I was single *winks*. But once she steps out of the campus and goes out into the real world, like when she rides the subway, she’s brought back to reality.
According to her, you can actually categorize Korean men (since in Korea, you have to be like everyone else to be accepted by society). Let’s enumerate some:
1) The School Boy – Glasses, knapsack, earphones + playing with their smart phones, sneakers, skinny jeans.
2) The Employee - Old men who reek of samgyupsal + soju + cigarette combined; suit (usually gray) with necktie that’s normally colored purple or pink. Talks on the phone like there’s no one around them or like they’re always angry. This goes with really old men and those who are categorized as 회사원 hwisawon or company employee.
I’ve seen quite a number of drunk men in the streets. Drinking seems to be the national pastime.
3) The Fashionista - They dress up like they’re in a fashion show, although they’re just riding the subway. All of them have different styles, but once you spot one, you would automatically think “YOU ARE OVER THE TOP, BITCH!!!”
4) The 댄스 가수 aka Singer-Dancer – Not the the real singer/dancers, but those who are trying to be one. According to Cherish’s hubby, these guys would do everything to follow the footsteps of the real 댄스 가수들 singer-dancers. They would cut their hair and color it like their idols’; they would dress and move around like their fave boy bands. In short, copycats. But funny thing is, you’d see them taking the public transpo. Very similar to The Fashionista, although the former’s a bit more “high-end” than the 댄스 가수 singer-dancers.
5) The Hiker / Mountain climber 아저씨 Ahjussi – Matching windbreaker jacket and pants, hiking shoes, knapsack and hiking stick. Often times, you’ll see these men in the subway at around 6-9pm. They usually come in 3′s or in a group and sometimes you’ll see them drunk.
So some Filipinas would think “they may not be all good-looking but at least not many are ugly”. Which brings us to another point – they would do everything to be pleasing to the eye. Plastic surgery is biiiiig business in Korea and for a reason. They’re not just for women or celebrities. Real, normal, everyday people regularly go under the knife, too! Heck, Jimmy’s barkada has had multiple facial surgeries!!! Korean men also get double eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, jaw correction, cheekbone reduction, forehead implants, lip and botox injections, etc. and for one main reason – TO LOOK GOOD, to make a good 첫 인상 cheot insang or first impression – because in Korea, a person is almost always defined by other people’s first impression of him/her.
If you get plastic surgery, too, you’d most likely be hot as them.
Double Eyelid surgery – most common cosmetic surgery procedure in Asia. Count your blessings, Pinoys!
And that’s where the expensive designer bags, clothes and shoes come in, too. Korean guys would buy these expensive things and brag about it (Cherish’s husband, included. Jimmy Kim used to buy them, too but not since he started living here), so they would be accepted as part of the elite. The female version is called 된장녀 dwin jang nyeo – social climbing girls who always wear 명품 myeong pum (designer) items from head to toe, and they wear high heels no matter where they go. They also ONLY hang around really rich men and women, too.
Well, we can’t blame them. They are living in a society where physical appearance is much more important. It’s all about packaging and imaging and we all know Koreans are very good at that. I’m not saying it’s not important in the Philippines or whatever but guys who’d ride the MRT looking like they’re a member of an idol band will definitely get beaten up here. Hahaha. And I know for a fact that I’d probably punch my brother in the face if he asks to have plastic surgery.
Wow, this has been a very informative entry and even I learned a lot from Cherish. She sent this to me prior to our Korea trip so I really “observed” when I went there and man, she was spot on!!!! Of course, there are good looking Korean guys, don’t get us wrong. But to think that ALL, if not, most Korean guys are hot is like thinking all Filipino men are worth sleeping with just on the basis of Gerald, Sam, Piolo, Richard and John Lloyd.
I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. More misconceptions to be broken soon!
Pingback: Arirang Fantasy Korean Musical | Funny is the New Sexy