How did you feel about the second video? it seems that there is more of that human angle to it

But I guess the point is that Koreans are no different than the habits some teachers possess. But we aren’t equal guys, to them.

Being angry and being pissed off isn’t going to change anything.

The only way to change is to change yourself. This is their culture and follows a different set of rules.

If Koreans want to believe the Foreign men are after their women and that foreign women are whores than that is their own social disease. Don’t build a wall to throw stones from at them.

Instead warm up to the Koreans you do know and SHOW them that you have a family, friends and everything about you that makes you HUMAN.

Eh… really I don’t believe their views will change until we as a community come together and create media ourselves that shows us as humane. Other than that Koreans will just see their media and our drunk asses walking home at night.

English:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXfCrrjUdc8

Korean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIni_7VSwuY

I think that was the point. And I think it succeeded.

Personally, I would have preferred a different approach. I don’t like the video. I don’t agree with using it.

But Metro’s point stands just the same. It is a response.

The way to get rid of the “Foreign English teacher” stereotypes is not to complain about how you are mistreated, but to point out cases in which you are mistreated. Likewise, the target audience of this video should not be expats, but Koreans who _have not_ studied abroad. You need to convince them that the Korean media lies, that you are being treated unfairly, and that you’re not a monolingual, drug-dealing, over-confident asshole from Podunksville*.

Do you understand Korea’s culture and language? Then help work toward improving it. Translate your story into Korean. Make a manhwa about an English teacher. Show your Korean friends a good time — without whores and drugs. Ostracize and deal with those individuals who make all foreigners look bad. Meanwhile, fight for representation in the Korean press/government beaurocracy, for the enforcement of contracts and formal checking of diplomas, for the cleanup of Hongdae. If you haven’t already, learn Korean. Go further — Learn how to express political thoughts in Korean (but do be careful!)

And then, remember not to lose view of the forest. If you want to sway a Korean mind, it’s probably not a good idea to talk about Dokdo, to point out Korean sexual hypocricy, or to visit Hongdae. Better to agree on these small points, build friendships, and fix the major worldview so that you can walk the streets without fear.

Yes, it’s hard… probably too much for any one man. Which is why it needs to be a collective effort; why we need a reputable society and a foundation to represent the interests of all English-speaking and Korean-speaking foreigners.

It will be a long effort, requiring the contribution of hundreds, and maybe this video is a start. But it gets so much wrong : it isn’t in Korean, it is mostly incoherent (what’s with the punching stick figures?), it tries to fight the small battles, and it might even strengthen the Korean belief in the stereotype!

It’s a long battle, but if the sensible people will agree to it, it should be doable. 힘 내!

[*A note: This actually seems to be the stereotype of the bilingual Koreans I've talked to -- including that of a Korean-American fluent in Korean(!) Universally, they seem to accept the Korean media interpretation, and be unaware of the expat blog interpretation. This is not an attempt to troll.]