Korea prides itself of being homogeneous, although “progressive” researchers have been dismissing this claim.
Lee O-young, honorary chair professor of Ewha Academy for Advanced Studies and former culture minister, says Koreans have been a mixed people from the beginning and ethnocentrism could be dangerous to today’s multicultural society.
“We were originally a mix of marine people and equestrians because Korea is a peninsula. They coexisted and this is the power of Korea,” Lee told The Korea Times in an interview. “The perception of `ethnic’ actually didn’t exist for 19 centuries. However, under Japanese rule, we needed a strong national identity and started to stress that we are homogenous people. The division of the two Koreas has also driven us to emphasize we are analogous people.”
Source: Is Korea Homogeneous Country?
A few days ago, a reader sent me a link to an article pertaining to Korean singer Lee Hyo Ri clearing up rumors that she’s a Filipino illegal immigrant because of her darker skin. In an appearance-conscious society, having darker skin means one of two things: that of being non-Korean or coming from a provincial background. I’m pretty sure that Filipinos wouldn’t mind if Lee Hyo Ri really came from the Philippines. Having spent six years here, I wasn’t surprised at all that being different (or having a darker skin) would create such a rumor for the sexy singer.
Jeon Ji Hyun, the original “Sassy Girl”, has been rumored from time to time for the past years to be of Chinese descent. Her real family name is Wang and it’s said to be Chinese. I first heard this rumor about three years ago and it resurfaced once again a few weeks ago. Like the Filipinos, I bet the Chinese would love to adopt Jeon Ji Hyun as their own.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
lolol this one’s funny!
i see a lot of dark-skinned koreans around. who are they fooling? LOL… and what’s wrong with being dark-skinned?
wendy´s last blog ..“I Just Want to be a Boy”
“what’s wrong with being dark-skinned?”
nothing wrong actually. However, in a conference at UC Berkeley last Nov 2000, Nobel laureate James Watson (co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and pioneer of the Human Genome Project) suggested a link between skin color and sex drive. He stated that dark skinned people (non caucasians) have stronger libidos. Im not sure if i’ll be proud or what
Hi Mr Arvinsign! I am reading all your comments and they are very informative. However,
Can I ask: Is there something wrong having a strong libido?
Can you tell me if it’s an advantage or
disadvantage for us?
Does it really affect the nationality of an
individual?
I really don’t understand why they have to link the skin color to libido. It sounds unusual but somewhat true.
Wondering,
(*-*)
Hi Little Bee…thanks
to add more interest (and humor) to the topic..J Watson even said that “”That’s why you have Latin lovers. You’ve never heard of an English lover. Only an English patient.”. But it angered many of his audience that time.
Regarding your questions;
“Is there something wrong having a strong libido?”
- Seriously, i dont know how to answer that question
Nothing wrong i guess. The more the better….hehe
Can you tell me if it’s an advantage or
disadvantage for us?
- It depends i guess. Case to case basis
“Does it really affect the nationality of an
individual?”
- Do you mean if its really correlated with nationality? Nationality, certainly not. Ethnicity probably yes (probably). Genetics is a major factor that affects everything we do and everything we are capable of. The correlation about skin color and libido is just a theory, and very very controversial and highly politicized issue. Its like saying there is a genetic basis for homosexuality or stupidity or intelligence. People will not like it.
“I really don’t understand why they have to link the skin color to libido. It sounds unusual but somewhat true”
– The original basis for that correlation has something to do with melanin. The pigment on our skin. More melanin, means darker color and vice versa. According to some studies, melanin boost sex drive. There was even a drug called Melanotan to enhance passion for sex
and also dont forget that incessant sex drive retards decision making and logical thinking. so key here is control
cheers
Thanks,,+_+!!! You’re genius!
I’m a fan…
-and also dont forget that incessant sex drive retards decision making and logical thinking. so key here is control-
So,.. I have to control… (*_’)
Peace!
wendy: my brother-in-law is dark and even my hubby’s cousins are also dark….
cher´s last blog ..Another baby in the family……
i see nothing wrong in being darker skinned compared to the lighter skinned koreans. ginagawan lang siguro nila ng issue kasi wala na silang maisip i-chsimis about these ladies, ano?
marian´s last blog ..Jang Dong-gun for President?
all i can say is that morenas (tan colored) are really hot…strong libido or not, it doesnt matter…theyre attractive for me..
How the heck does Hyori look like a illegal Filipino immigrant because her skin’s darker? That’s ridiculous. There are pictures of her when she was a child, and clearly she doesn’t have a typical Filipino look or coloring. Ahem, let’s not forget plastic surgery and tanning. And, honestly, it almost seems like Filipino bashing. What image comes to mind when you think illegal Filipino immigrant? Dark and foreign. Grr. Sorry I’m venting, but this is so annoying how we as Filipinos are regarded by others.
who cares guy’s im korean and i could care less if shes Filipino
Hi I am a Filipina but I am not tan, I am whiter than lee hyori and For your information not all Filipino has a darker skin, because Filipina (pertaining to Filipino women) Is one of the beautiful faces in the world, the people in actress and actors in the country like korea, japan, and china is look like a natural person here and The actor and actresses here don’t spent their money to plastic surgery because we Filipino are natural beauty, If Lee hyori is a filipino I am glad because she is pretty.If I am in that country I could be an actress there. (sorry for saying this word but I did not say that koreans are ugly but they go to plastic surgery to become beautiful, Philippines is not a rich country but all people their don’t spend their money going to a cosmetic surgery we spend for what we want to have like laptops, cars and others)
HI..IF lee hyori filipino i’m so glad she’s really welcome…sometimes i also thought that yuri of snsd has a filipino blood because of her skin ….and her beauty…but no she’s a korean…
HI..IF lee hyori is a filipino i’m so glad she’s really welcome…sometimes i also thought that yuri of snsd has a filipino blood because of her skin ….and her beauty…but no she’s a korean…
HI..IF lee hyori is a filipino i’m so glad ,she’s really welcome…sometimes i also thought that yuri of snsd has a filipino blood because of her skin ….and her beauty…but no she’s a korean…
Filipinos are one of the most beautiful people in the world. We don’t NEED PLASTIC surgery JUST to be beautiful or sexy..we are beautiful NATURALLY.
Yes..Lee Hyo Ri looks fantastic..and she really looks like a Filipina..not because she is dark-skinned but because she’s talented and very beautiful. I like her so much!
Not all Filipinos are dark-skinned. I am a Filipina but I have a whiter skin…compared to some Korean actresses. The truth is I never met a beautiful Korean among my students…
Filipinos are one of the most beautiful people in the world. We don’t NEED PLASTIC surgery JUST to be beautiful or sexy..we are beautiful NATURALLY.
Yes..Lee Hyo Ri looks fantastic..and she really looks like a Filipina..not because she is dark-skinned but because she’s talented and very beautiful. I like her so much!
Not all Filipinos are dark-skinned. I am a Filipina but I have a whiter skin…compared to some Korean actresses. The truth is I never met a beautiful Korean among my students…
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Yeah right!