[남산 Ddalggakbari] Why Is 'Pengsoo' Not Discriminated Against in Korea?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] “I am a freelance journalist living in Seoul. I was born to a Bangladeshi father and a French mother, grew up in the UK, and am the second of triplets. I am a mixed-race foreigner, neither fully Asian nor Western, and have lived in Korea for ten years.”

This is the self-introduction of Raphael Rashid, author of “The Korea We Have Not Seen” (Minumsa). His arrival in Korea was decisively influenced by the so-called ‘bento’?the Korean lunchbox. As a child, he fondly remembered eating “sweetly seasoned beef and bright red pickled napa cabbage” with his father, who ran an accessory shop in central London. He was intrigued. Despite warnings from those around him not to visit a “poor and dangerous country with nuclear weapons,” unable to distinguish between North and South Korea, he traveled to Korea and later (semi-)settled here.

The author shares his impressions of Korean society through the eyes of a foreigner. Borrowing Jacques Lacan’s phrase, “Man desires the desire of the other,” he describes Korean society as one where everyone pursues the same or similar goals. Although people are born with different innate qualities, he found it strange that they engage in relentless competition chasing similar objectives. He was taken aback that even volunteer work is part of building one’s credentials, and in that sense, the term ‘taegyo’ (prenatal education) felt awkward, as if credential-building starts from the womb.

The wedding culture was also unfamiliar. Shortly after arriving in Korea, he was invited to a wedding. Being part of a close-knit few was considered “a great honor,” so he even bought a suit to attend. “I thought it would be a day to enjoy and celebrate together.” However, hundreds of people were already present at the venue. At the entrance, the collection of congratulatory money was in full swing, and the ceremony ended in 30 minutes. It was “a performance” and “the efficiency was truly impressive.”

Korean-style leveling in the workplace was also strange. He never imagined that English names would be followed by rank abbreviations to break hierarchy. After casually addressing his manager in an email, the “company messenger exploded.” That was not all. He was angered by a work order sent at 5:55 p.m. on a Friday, just when he expected to leave on time: “Please finish this by tonight.” He was also taken aback when his boss suggested “Let’s go somewhere nice,” and they ended up at a room salon. He never imagined that “somewhere nice” meant that place. This experience led him to quit and become a freelance journalist.

However, the media world was equally unfamiliar. Articles filled with “according to sources” rather than real names were rampant. The press stirred up controversies by reporting on unclear matters with headlines like “hot topic,” “conflict,” and “explosion of anger.” He was “astonished” by news covering a former lawmaker’s one-piece dress at work and by articles quoting insulting comments about the lawmaker in headlines using quotation marks.

He also found it hard to understand the popularity of Pengsoo from the perspective of a “foreign worker.” In a society that values self-management, Pengsoo is “overweight”; in a society with severe discrimination against sexual minorities, Pengsoo is “genderless”; and as a “foreign worker,” Pengsoo is “rude” and “lacking credentials.” The author details actual experiences and anecdotes to highlight the absurdities of Korean society as seen through foreign eyes.

Overall, much of the book points out problems already recognized socially. However, as the title suggests, it also addresses aspects of Korea “we have not seen.” Even familiar issues feel sharper when pointed out by an outsider. It is a good book for examining problems overlooked due to familiarity or neglected due to ignorance.

The Korea We Have Not Seen | Written by Raphael Rashid | Translated by Heo Wonmin | Minumsa | 164 pages | 15,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.