"South Korea, Crazy Levels of Racism and Appearance Discrimination"…A Sharp Critique from a Vietnamese Woman

Famous Vietnamese TikToker Nguyen
"Korea, visited by people worldwide,
must break free from racism"

TikToker Vivian Nguyen, who mainly covers Korean and Japanese culture, has sparked controversy by sharply criticizing Korea's racism and appearance-based discrimination.

TikToker Vivian Nguyen, who covers Korean and Japanese cultures, pointed out issues of racial discrimination and appearance-based prejudice in Korea.
Photo by phuongviviyam on TikTok

On the 19th, photos capturing videos posted by Nguyen on her TikTok account rapidly spread across multiple online communities.

In the video, Nguyen said, "When a Vietnamese idol debuts in Korea, people compliment them by saying, 'Wow, you look like a Korean,'" adding, "This basically means 'You are pretty because you look similar to us (Koreans).'"

She then pointed out Koreans' racial discrimination awareness, saying, "(This is) because Koreans perceive themselves as 'superior' in terms of appearance."

The girl group member Nguyen mentioned in this context is Hani from the group NewJeans. Hani was born in Melbourne, Australia, and holds dual citizenship in Vietnam and Australia. Her Vietnamese name is Pham Ngoc Han.

She also referred to another member, BLACKPINK's Lisa, saying, "She is the most famous worldwide (within the group), but not in Korea," and added subtitles stating, "That's because she looks Thai. She looks Southeast Asian (so she is not popular only in Korea)."

Nguyen then shared, "Having lived in Korea for two years, I felt that Koreans' racism is at a crazy level."

"Korea is no longer a closed, mono-ethnic nation... Must overcome racism"

As Nguyen's remarks were introduced both domestically and in foreign media, Nguyen claimed, "I am receiving a lot of attacks due to racist remarks." [Photo by TikTok phuongviviyam]

After Nguyen's remarks were introduced domestically and in foreign media, she posted a rebuttal video saying, "I am receiving many attacks for my statements on racism," and "Appearance-based discrimination is a big problem in Korea, and plastic surgery statistics show how important appearance is in Korea."

She added, "From the perspective of many Koreans' beauty standards, the physical features of Southeast Asians, such as dark skin and flat noses, are considered unattractive," and claimed, "Ugly people have a hard time in Korea."

Furthermore, she said, "If a Southeast Asian fits Korea's beauty standards, they will be treated better," and added, "Being told you 'look Southeast Asian' is an insult."

Nguyen also emphasized, "I always tell Koreans that they are also racist," and said, "Korea used to be a mono-ethnic nation, but it is no longer closed. Many people come and go in Korea, and tourism is a big part of the economy," urging to overcome racism and appearance-based discrimination.

Finally, she stated, "Many K-pop groups have promoted Korean culture and music while experiencing and overcoming racism," and clarified her view, "I know Koreans want to be respected and recognized as equal people. Racism definitely exists in Korea, and it exists in every country."

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