Netizens are at it again, this time the target is Tablo’s brother, David Lee (Lee Sun-min).
[Phase 1: The posting]
You may remember MBC’s “Infinity Challenge” went to New York City. The members set out to spread love of Korean food to the people of New York, but they spent a little less time sharing food and more time goofing around. Frankly, David Lee was a little more than upset about how the episode played out.
On the day of the episode’s airing, November 21, 2009, David Lee posted the following message on his Cyworld mini-homepage in a photo album titled “Thoughts”:
I had my worries when I heard that Infinity Challenge members would go to New York.. While watching, I felt like dying from embarrassment.
People are being crazy on the Internet, saying how ‘Our Korean humor worked in New York too.
ARE YOU F–KING SERIOUS?
They were ignored like dogs on the streets by New Yorkers, for mumbling jibberish and not even being able to speak a word. They were treated like retards at the pizza place by being thrown a random slice to eat.
Also, street casting?? Internet radio?? For someone who call himself the ‘Nation’s MC’ to dance like a grasshopper inside a crappy warehouse with a green screen those 20-year-old white boys call a ‘studio.’ Am I the only one who thinks this, or did those white boys make him into a complete fool? I wonder what those white boys were thinking. (Actually, nevermind. Even if they said it out loud, the Koreans wouldn’t have understood.) Perhaps they thought, ‘WHAT ARE THESE F–KING RETARDS DOING?’
I know you are being ‘real’ for entertainment, but keep the low-grade comedy in Korea. Please, okay? You make millions per year? Did you really have to go overseas, especially to the capital fo the world, New York City, just to be a bunch of jackasses? MBC sure knows how to put themselves on top.
To MBC, who produced of this piece of crap, and those crowd of reporters who publicized this shameful eent as if it were something to be proud of… Of course, this episode is perfect for Koreans who think this low-grade comedy is oh-so-funny.
Since when was it so humiliating to be a part of the Korean race?
Why don’t you get rid of the ‘food’ and just tell those New Yorkers with you gibberish that Dokdo is our land? You act like you can attack Japan any day when you are the ones who copy their mini cooper?”
This dude needs to take a chill pill.
[Phase 2: The Netizen Reaction]
Many netizens were, obviously, equally infuriated, but at David Lee, not at the broadcast. The distinction in how Koreans are viewed in America is usually a very touchy subject for Gyopos (Koreans living abroad), but not so much for Koreans who live in Korea.
Though the post is just ranting, David Lee is somewhat famous in Korea (Star English program, and being Tablo’s brother), so his ranting drew quite a bit of attention.
Korean netizens reacted coldly at first, “Why can’t Koreans speak Korean?” Even though Korea puts a lot of money into English education, there is an underlying distress that Koreans are losing culture by putting a large emphasis on learning a foreign language and culture. Next, the insults came, angered at his lack of Korean pride.
Soon, the media was all over the issue. Even though David Lee closed the album on his mini-homepage, screen captures of the posting were already spread in the Internet.
[Phase 3: David Lee's Answer]
The next day, instead of an apology, Tablo’s brother posted in his mini-homepage profile, a calmer explanation of his previous rant.
My writing on my annoyance watching Infinity Challenge New York episode, was it fun to read..?
Submit to those in power? A display of defeat? Because I absolutely cannot do these sort of things, all these calls to war are in vain, so if your planning on how to escalate matters, don’t waste your time.
For 16 years, while I lived in American society, I inherently experienced racism and prejudice. Yesterday, I was very uncomfortable watching the Americans’ attitude towards the Infinity Challenge MCs. In the press, it came out strongly, ‘Korea’s comedy is really funny!’ but it should’ve been something like ‘What are they doing?’ … something like that?
You saw the pizza guy throw a slice of pizza like he’s feeding a dog? I’m sorry I got offended, instead of breaking out into laughter, smiling.
If only by name, they are the best MCs. But in New York, they seem like they are just funny and awkward-looking Asians. In America, Asians get worse treatment than black or latino people, so why of all things was the concept the obvious, ‘Asian who can’t speak a word of English’…
If it was for the good cause of introducing Korean food, why not have one good English translator, for funnier and more interesting conversations? Wasn’t it possible to create the situation?
Because it was MBC, because it was Infinity Challenge, I am even more offended.
David Lee stuck by his words. A few netizens are in agreement with his views, but the louder majority are still angry at the rapper’s brother for being too outspoken, if not anti-Korean.
English-speaking, Kpop followers, what do you think of this situation?
The Infinity Challenge New York Special:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Part 6:
Part 7:
Part 8:
I think it’s just a clash of different cultures…
Some Koreans may feel offended by some of the action done by Westerners, whereas the Westerners might feel like they are not doing something wrong or inappropriate..(remember the incident where WG had to sign on sneakers?)
People from different country has their own cultures that they practice, so everyone look something in a different way…
As in David’s post… he has all the right to state anything he wants, but it’s just kinda harsh..maybe if he’s a dude who is not an artist in Korea, he’s post wouldn’t create chaos….
Netizens should chillex you know, they’re just to extreme…. -__-”
i kind of agree w/david lee but its true that his previous words were harsh. these words are a lot calmer.
“n America, Asians get worse treatment than black or latino people”
That’s a pretty ridiculous statement. As a white woman who’s lived in both rural areas and a major metropolitan area, I’ve lived with, worked with, dated, and interacted with every race imaginable. I even waitressed in a Chinese restaurant.
This clown thinks Asians are treated worse than black people, the people who were enslaved in the US and written into the Constitution as 3/5 human? Has he noticed the daily war the right wing in the US wages on Hispanics and Latinos? And I won’t even go into the discrimination Middle Easterners face since Sept. 11. If there’s a stereotype of Asians in America, it’s that they’re really smart, good at the violin, and run a lot of dry cleaning shops. And, well, maybe another, er, anatomical stereotype that’s inappropriate to mention. Sorry, but even that doesn’t compare to the discrimination and abject poverty that blacks and latinos disproportionately face (and I’m including WWII Japanese internment camps in this blanket statement).
“David” is digging himself a deeper hole and pandering to the people he offended by making himself the victim. He should just be quiet while he’s already far behind.
my sentiments exactly!
actually, maybe it’s because you’ve never lived in a place where Asians were treated worse than any other race. Maybe David Lee was a little too harsh, but he had a strong pride for Koreans. Growing up for him in America must have been tough. Americans, Latinos, and Blacks could have made fun of him because of his appearance as an asian, but David had a strong pride for Korea but those MC’s basically ruined it. Why couldn’t they bring someone who could actually speak in english?!
If asians are discriminated, they are just discriminated for being asian.I’ve lived in the east coast of America and MOST of the latinos and Blacks treated us as dirt. I agree with boohoo.
@Day, Thank you!
“In America, Asians get worse treatment than black or latino people”
One word . . . RIDICULOUS!
i can’t believe this turned into a “who has it worst” minority battle. this is why white ppl succeed in discriminating against us.
i think people are misunderstanding what David Lee is saying when he says asians are treated worse than blacks or hispanics…
while it is true that asians have not had historical atrocities occur to them (like slavery) in the u.s, in current society, asians are labeled the ‘forever foreigners’ and have less acceptance in the American psyche than other racial groups.
i remember a while ago, miley cyrus made some crude gesture that i thought was pretty racist. but no one really made a deal out of it. if she was doing that about another racial group, i’m pretty sure she would’ve gotten into a lot of trouble. could any public figure make a racist remark about blacks and get away with it? i doubt it…
i’m not trying to say asian-americans are super-oppressed in the u.s. or anything. nor am i trying to downplay the centuries of fight for civil rights. but i do think there are undercurrents of racism against asian-americans that exist but are never publicly reprimanded or even acknowledged
well said boohoo!
i kinda understand why everyone is getting so worked up about this issue…but in the end, its just someone’s opinion, we’ve all had those before correct?
@ Day
I don’t want this to be a who’s had it worst contest, but perhaps you forgot about the Japanese Internment and the Chinese Exclusion Act.
I’m a Korean-American and I thought the episode was somewhat embarrassing (though I think they had good intentions).
Also, I regularly see the Korean exchange students on my campus who stay in their own exclusive Korean groups and fail to really learn any English (though there are definitely exceptions).
But I do sympathize with a lot of the students. I don’t think I’m completely wrong in saying that Koreans can be reserved and uncomfortable about meeting new people. Imagine how hard it is when you can’t speak the language very well as well.
I watched the whole episode and there was nothing that was offensive. The pizza guy who happens to be Hispanic seems quite nice and since he couldn’t understand, just gave them the standard, pepperoni and cheese.
Btw, I live and work in Washington d.c. and I do not feel that Asians and Koreans in particular get discriminated.
You know….first off…..New York City is not the capital of the US…Washington DC is. get ur info straight. moving on, I’m Korean and I live in the US….but I have no idea what to say about Daniel Lee…I love Tablo and think he is amajing! But what about his brother? Maybe he was trying to have some fun. Maybe he did it to act like a fool for no reason…whatever it is. Many people have their own opinions. However, I think that they can be a comedian, in their reality, wherever they damn want to!
i think he is pissed that koreans do not understand discrimination on a larger global context. i think he has a right to be distressed, but i don’t think he has the right to publicize his distress, considering his fame! i think he has a really good point. most koreans seem to lack critical thinking skills, they would not know what is up until it hit them in the face. it’s sad, it’s pathetic, it’s embarrassing, but IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT. he is making a lot of money off the whole obsession over banking system of teaching.. mindless education.. he should be a little more mindful when he publicizes his thoughts!
Korean Netizens are crazy. These are the same people who said US Beef will kill you if you eat one bite. The same people that drove their famous actress Choi Jin Sil to suicide.
I totally support what Dave said, and I wish he didn’t apologize. Korean People are great. Korean Netizens are psycho. They are not the same. Netizens are the scum of Korean society.
….. Who cares?
He was embarrassed because he knows that Americans might have some prejudice against the way Asians act/their TV shows/their oddballness etc. Although you and I might like it, many other North Americans might find it out of the ordinary. There are different cultures, and what is acceptable/funny/normal in Korea might definitely not be in America. His words were hard and not sugar coated to please the IC people. That’s his personality, and Tablo also has the same kind of opinionated personality, although he knows better than to say it out loud.
But it’s his own personal opinion/rant. People are acting as if he is the president and his opinion matters so much. Okay if you don’t agree with him, but stop crying over it, especially from a guy who never claimed to be righteous.
Again: Tablo’s brother is suffering from embarrassment because he feels more connected to the American side, and thinks the IC guys were embarrassing his race. *shrug* It’s his prerogative.
Just my opinion.