Comments on: Korea, Calm Down. Stephen Colbert Doesn’t Hate Rain.

By: ExpatJane

ExpatJane — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 08:35:29 +0000

Nice work Javabeans. I linked this piece to the blog I wrote on Colbert spoofing Rain weeks ago, but I’m just now getting time to double back and comment.

Like others, I didn’t realize it had blown up. However, after living in Korea for awhile, I can’t say that I’m surprised it did get blown out of proportion.

It will probably happen again. However, hopefully on both sides reason will trump the silliness.

By: Alibut

Alibut — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:59:19 +0000

Hmm, I didn’t really think the Korean media took it offensively. Of course, there were some people who took it way out of proportion. I thought Stephen Colbert’s whole thing on Rain was actually good for his (Rain’s) publicity.

By: beechtree

beechtree — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:23:39 +0000

The korean media who took this the wrong way are basically idiots who deserve only ridicule. They are supremist scum with deep underlying insecurity complexes and its their job to shovel nationalistic shit at the mindless clones who read their moronic drivel.

By: Davep

Davep — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:33:57 +0000

Although I agree it was funny, it’s only funny here in America. It’s understandable for other countries to misinterpret as offensive not fun at all. There’s cultural barrier and for them to understand what satire is may never happen because of asian culture is by far more with respect and modest than US culture. I just thought the timing was bad for colbert to make fun of a korean star especially with anti-american sentiment going around the world right now. But then it only happens in America.

By: Figbash

Figbash — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:59:31 +0000

accusations of Korean “oversensitivity” on certain issues should perhaps be tempered with some understanding of their history, both recent and not. I’m not saying that the reactions such incidents provoke are always proper or positive, but they are understandable and comprehensible in context. And some of the matters are not inconsequential, especially to the parties involved.
besides, as the reaction (or in reality, non reaction) demonstrates, an initial surge of complaint turned into a trickle of discontent. And netizens are not exactly a representative group or majority opinion – simply a vocal set of internet users. Would you like the US judged on what its internet users say in chat forums? I’ve heard hardly any reaction at all from people here, and when I have it’s been mildly positive.
that said, humor is very culturally based, and what’s hilarious to Americans is incomprehensible to Koreans sometimes (and vice versa ) so while yes, the reaction reported in the Korean press seems inappropriate to us we should perhaps not be surprised that the exact meaning of a foreign comic utilizing a style of humor seldom seen in Korea could be misunderstood.
once again, not to say that the reported reaction was justified. And finally, Colbert was hilarious. And that’s no bulgogi!

By: bb

bb — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:39:28 +0000

i agree with you 100%, the media outcry was ridiculous but (hopefully) i think most koreans understood it as just a joke. Also, did you see colbert’s reply to the korean media? That was funny too, go check it out .

By: javabeans

javabeans — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 07:17:42 +0000

sorry “jonstewart,” i saw the colbert post above yours and assumed they were both yours. (you have to admit the timing and naming was suspicious.) but the ip addresses show otherwise. your post wasn’t racist.