Being Black in Korea

I spent 27 months in South Korea and loved every minute of it. Coming as a 21 year-old fresh out of college was the experience of a lifetime. Until this day, it remains as one of the best times in my life. I am often asked my experience being Black in Korea. While it is true that anti-blackness exists in Korea (as it does all over the world) it is not to the extent most people think. I recall very few instances of overt anti-blackness during my time here.

It is important to note that my experience as a Black person may have been different from others based on my Japanese heritage, which has given me lighter skin and less visible “African” features.

As a former educator in South Korea, I had the opportunity to interact with hundreds of students of all ages and the feedback was generally positive.

Being Black in Korea, you’ll see that many young people use the word heukheyong( 흑형) to refer to Black men, which means “Black Brother.” The Korean word “heug-in” means Black person, and “hyeong” means brother. “Hyeong” is used as a term by Koreans when referring to someone older than them and those they feel close to or respect. Interestingly enough, this term of endearment only exists for Black people and not for any other racial/ethnic group.

I remember my first day teaching, a 12-year-old student told me “Teacher, I like the Black people.” As time went on, I began to hear comments like this more and more often. Kids generally seemed thrilled at the thought of having a Black teacher.

Dating

Dating in Korea wasn’t difficult at all. I seemed to have fit the standard of beauty there. I cannot recall any instance in which I was discriminated against due to my race. Korean society places heavy emphasis on your looks and style, and I firmly believe that any good-looking person with style will fare well regardless of their race/ethnicity.

However, I did notice that Korean men were less likely to engage in with relationships with foreign women, especially Black women. The general consensus in Korea is that Korean men like Korean women. Korean women, however, seem to be more open to dating foreigners.

Everyday Life

Korean people as a whole were extremely courteous during my time there. Many of my adventures in Korea were with two other African-American men and the combination of us three was well received by the public. Our first month in Korea we traveled to Busan and went to a local club where we met some locals that told us they loved Black culture. A minute later, we were in VIP with free drinks and food. Talk about an introduction to Korea! Sometimes, old Korean men would even pay for our dinner at restaurants. I have no idea why, it just happened.

When I played basketball, Koreans often asked my friends and I to join them. Stepping onto the court, there was always about an 80% chance Koreans would want to play with us. From basketball alone, I was able to meet a lot of people.

Friendship

Older Koreans were also surprisingly very friendly. Sometimes, I would walk the streets through markets and older women would give me bags of tomatoes or nuts for free. Keep in mind, I resided in Daegu, a conservative city.

One of my acquaintances was an older gentleman in his upper 50’s. He took my friends and I under his wing early on and made sure our stay in Korea went smoothly. He even took us to his elementary school reunion party!

Black in Korea

Overall, I found Koreans to be very pleasant people. If I’m being honest, I believe anti-blackness is more prevalent amongst Korean-Americans rather than Koreans in Korea.

If you’re Black and looking to move to or visit South Korea, you have little to fear. Korea is rapidly becoming more globalized and many are used to seeing foreigners. With the introduction of Black celebrities such as Sam Okyere and mixed race (Korean-Nigerian) model, Han Hyun Min, South Korea is no longer the place it was in the 1970s. Sam Okyere, a Ghanian TV personality is arguably one of the most famous foreign celebrities. Not only is he popular with the ladies, but he has done a tremendous job in changing the way in which Koreans view Africa.

Yes, people might stare at you, or shout “Black people!” in Korean, but just know it’s nothing against you. Who wouldn’t stare at someone who looks different when 99% of the people they see look like them? Of course, not everyone will have the same experience as me. I know many that hated their experience in Korea and others that thought Korea was the best place on earth. I can only give my personal opinion based on my experiences.

What have your experiences in South Korea been like as a person of African descent? I’d love to hear your story.