What's Korean for 'Real Man?' Ask a Japanese Woman

[TuskCracker]

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-> Can someone explain this

-> Is this just middle-age craziness
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What's Korean for 'Real Man?' Ask a Japanese Woman
By NORIMITSU ONISHI
Published: December 23, 2004
TOKYO, Dec. 15 - Consider Yon-sama, the $2.3 Billion Man.

A 32-year-old South Korean actor past his prime in his homeland, he has become, thanks to a syrupy television series, the most popular man in Japan, the object of desire of countless middle-aged women, the stimulus behind an estimated $2.3 billion rise in economic activities between Japan and South Korea.

Widely known here for a year, his popularity may have peaked a few weeks ago when thousands of women in their 40's, 50's and older thronged the airport to greet him. A thousand of these same middle-aged Japanese women - a group not known for rowdiness like, say, English soccer fans - then ambushed him at his hotel here. They jostled one another for 10 minutes to get a glimpse of the actor; some threw themselves at his car.

In Japan, women have given their hearts to a South Korean actor known as Yon-sama, a striking fad in a country stuck in a pervasive malaise and pessimism about women who don't marry, don't have children, don't even have sex. The fad also evokes Japan's nostalgia for an imagined past and has generated $2.3 billion in ventures between the countries

What's Korean for 'Real Man?' Ask a Japanese Woman (Published 2004)
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[jerry4]

what a strange question....

 

[Vinylhoer]

Is this about Yong-jun Bae

 

[PopCulturePooka]

Yeap
Sure is.

Hahaha its crazy how popular he is.

 

[TuskCracker]

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Its about "Bae Yong Joon"

 

[Keiichi]

Man, this guy is like a god in Japan right now. You can't go anywhere without seeing his face plastered somewhere.

Keiichi

 

[TwistedMac]

I want to be him.

if you are a shaman and can transfer souls->bodies, plz priv me, plzkthx!

 

[Sally_Hawn]

They "just" want a man who will die for them!

No kidding! Korean men are in. All over East Asia!

Last Thursday night I went to a party and saw an old friend of mine (a 窶｢ﾅｸﾂ州 girl)who had swollen eyes. I asked her what'd happened and she told me she had cried all night from watching the final episode of the Korean drama ﾂ"Stairway to Heaven.ﾂ" She loved the cheesy script so much that she was forcing me and two other girls to go to her house and watched it again. (OMG! It was Christmas time. What the hell was she thinking? She wanted to cry herself to heaven? Her eye bags were already bigger than my handbags.) By the way, she is only 25.

According to her, ﾂ"Stairway to Heavenﾂ" is a must watch. It is a Cinderella-like story – really really mean stepmother, stepsisters fighting for the same guy, but Prince Charming falls for the poor nice sister et cetera and et ceteraﾂ….

ﾂ"Korean guys are the best. If a Korean man loves you, he will die for you.ﾂ" My friend added, eyes widened and voice intense.

I was looking at her facial expression and suddenly bursted into laughter. What era is this? I don't need and don't want anybody to die for me. Seriously, I would donate a kidney or something to my parents if it were necessary. But to die for them? Hmm ﾂ… that really depends ﾂ… Err ﾂ… so far the one person I love the most is always me me me ﾂ…

 

[Vinylhoer]

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Its about "Bae Yong Joon"

Yeah sorry, I just cut + pasted it from imdb, because I just can't seem to remember his name

I watched Winter sonata. What horror. If it wasn't for me wanting to get a bit more familiar with the Korean language I would've quit watching after 30 seconds

 

[stupidumboy]

The article seems like want to say that the reality of general Korean men is pretty much different from the sweet and caring image as this actor was potrayed on this drama so some Japanese women have fantasy and dreaming-thats what the write wanted to say at least as I read and found the main idea of the article.

Well I am going to have to agree although I am a Korean man.

By the way,Yon sama is just popular only amongst over middle aged Japanese women.
That is very good though because those middle aged women have more purchasing power than the younger ones. In other words its a good business chance for South Korean entertainment industry.

My gf only watched the drama and she said "I have no idea why he became suddenly popular amongst her mother aged women."
She told me the drama itself was just fine worth of watching.

She loves Korea because of me(she has a good eye to judge man ) and food especially that I make- Korean style pancake what Japanese usually call as 'Chichimi'-the local dialect word of "buchimge-the Korean pancake)

By the way,the original article written by NORIMITSU ONISHI -it went to much further and some are just picked for his intention.

The example of 17 years old Japanese girl posted a message that want to meet a Korean man-thats just one message out of hundreds messages on the referred website board there-"k-plaza" -great if nobody checked the board -the readers would just think thats very typical Japanese women's thought.

You know what ? before meeting me in the states ,my girl personally thought Korean men are violent,lazy,wife beaters etc etc only negative things reminded.

 

[quiet sunshine]

I watched Winter sonata. What horror. If it wasn't for me wanting to get a bit more familiar with the Korean language I would've quit watching after 30 seconds

I watched Winter sonata too and I liked it. Korean TV plays are very aesthetic, romantic and affecting. But I like Choi Ji Woo more than Bae Yong Jun.

You know what ? before meeting me in the states ,my girl personally thought Korean men are violent,lazy,wife beaters etc etc only negative things reminded.

Are Korean men really very androcentrism? :?

 

[budd]

i picked up this flyer saturday at the authentic resturant in town
毎日24時間放送の日本語チャンネル テレビジャパン
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/kaigai/sonata/chara/02.html
i rented the first two discs, got as far as the third episode
got mad at the female character and watched onsen e ikou instead
hotelier or sunshine better dramas than this
now those are some men's dramas!!!
this is like some romance in paris baloney

thing about korean dramas, know somebody is gonna get punched out several times
i ain't seen one yet without several fights interspersed
how is 32 past his prime? who wrote the article? a mouseketeer or something

"Its about "Bae Yong Joon"
what? either one works in google cause it ain't nothing but a romanization anyway? now correct some posted hangul and then we'll talk

 

[RinoaRita]

yeah, it is because they saw him cry (Which japanese men never do...not do korean men really, for that matter :/ ) but it is such a change from the touch exteriror that japanese men cover themselves up with. That is why there is a korea boom in japan.

I like kimchi too on an unrealted note.

 

[Dekamaster]

Kaori Shiji wrote an article on increasing rate of international marriage in the Jan 20 Japan Times.

In any case, the manuals seem to be working since statistics show that the number of marriages between Japanese women and foreign men has doubled (8,158 couples in 2003) over the past 20 years. For many women, foreign men represent everything naisu (nice) that Japanese just can't (or won't) provide. Top on everyone's list is the conviction that foreign men are sweeter and more romantic, that they will keep saying "I love you" well into middle age. And if the daalin is from the U.S. or Europe, he will of course, smilingly share the burden of kaji (household chores) and ikuji (child-raising) and be home by 8 p.m. -- at the latest. Chances are the daalin will take her back to his home country to live in luxury, and most importantly, their children will have the coveted daburu kokuseki (double nationalities). There it is, the scenario of the ultimate kachigumi (winning team).

And yep, she confirms that Japanese women do pick Koreans over any other nationality

Interestingly, Japanese women choose Korean men over any other nationality, followed by American. Experts say the Yonsama Ninki (Bae Yong Joon popularity) may have something to do with this. But according to my girlfriends, they've always suspected that Kankoku no otoko wa jyounetsuteki de ichizu (Korean men are passionate and faithful), much more so than the cold, distant, absent Japanese male.

 

[stupidumboy]

It should come with individual difference,but because I am a Korean man ,I think I don't completely deserve to answer for the questions asking about Korean men.

Maybe Korean women know about us very well in fair point of view and let me say their perspective about us. Many Korean women want general majority Korean men change to respect women better,grow up more mentally.

Usually Korean men are known to be agressive,male dominating impression to many countries as I exchanged conversations with many women.

If Japanese women judge Korean men from only drama characters,thats big mistake of course. I hope they do not.

Look at one persons himself carefully.

 

[Dekamaster]

If Japanese women judge Korean men from only drama characters,thats big mistake of course. I hope they do not.

Look at one persons himself carefully.

Drama characterization is most of the time, an idealistic view. But even so, there are some elements that are culled from everyday culture. So we see Japanese men are a bit more distant than foreigners when it comes to women . But don't let nationality stereotypes affect the decision. One should look closely. And as the Little prince said, 'what is essential is invisible to the eye'.

 

[budd]

ﾆ塚?停?懌?罵ﾅ辰窶ｰﾂｺ
ﾆ塚?停?懌?堋ｳ窶堙
yaplog!（ヤプログ！）byGMO yonsama
ヨン様靴下 - こばこのひとりごつ yonsama again
http://www.asahi.com/culture/update/0105/002.html?ref=rss and again

 

[Leroy_Brown]

Whatever happened to all the recent threads about how the Japanese hate the Koreans?

 

[Ma Cherie]

Whatever happened to all the recent threads about how the Japanese hate the Koreans?

I personally believe we could use a break from those kinds of threads. Japanese women pick Korean men over any other nationality. So, the question here is, is this Korean actor inadverdantly responsible for the recent trend in women wanting Korean men? Well, at least it's my question

 

[Leroy_Brown]

I personally believe we could use a break from those kinds of threads. Japanese women pick Korean men over any other nationality. So, the question here is, is this Korean actor inadverdantly responsible for the recent trend in women wanting Korean men? Well, at least it's my question

A break?!?! Avoid them all together.

I was implying that those threads were baseless. Sure, some Japanese will always be racist just like anyone else anywhere, but enough with the generalizations and stereotypes. We get enough of that in the U.S.

But long before the Korean TV drama became popular, the Japanese had been more interested in Korean things. They eat more Korean foods now. There are Koreans playing pro baseball. Korean Drama began to hit the Japanese airwaves as a result of the "Kankoku Boom." Then the "Boom" turned into an explosion with the popularity of Yon-Sama.

 

[taehyun]

I'm not Japanese, but I still vote with my both hands, and 100% would choose Korean men!! I don't like the way Japanese men like to be the cuddled and submissive part in the couple, and even look for stronger women to take care of them. And I definitely don't like the lack of disrespect the Japanese have towrads women. As if their women (and women in general, as I came to understand) are born only to serve and to entertain Japanese men.
Just an example:
Due to my physical condition, I was advised not to pick up and carry heavy objects, and to do some heavy exercises. Anyway, I had to bring some very heavy lugguage to the PO, in prder to send it with an insurance. I asked the only Japanese male friend I have for help, and he just disapperared. Elegant way of refusing in Japanese. He is aware of my poor health.
My Korean friend helped me every time, while he was in Japan, and even when we met in Korea, the first thing he did was to offer me to carry my heavy bag. He was so sick, that he nearly fainted later that day.
Now, shall I not prefer Koreans to Japanese!
Besides, I personally find Koreans much more masculine and sexy!

 

[caster51]

I asked the only Japanese male friend I have for help, and he just disapperared. Elegant way of refusing in Japanese

it is called " ﾂ渉ｬ窶堋ｳ窶堙按親ﾂ静伉、窶佚･窶堋ｫ窶堙遺?堋ｨﾂ青｢ﾋ彙"

 

[Fluffy]

the truth about Korean wave in japan

I think articles like that are really misleading. It's common knowledge that Japanese fans of Korean actors are mostly women in their mid-40s and up, and Japanese young women generally aren't interested in so called "Korean wave". This has been confirmed in a lot of polls by Japanese magazines and stuff.

It seems to me that many Koreans have a perception that their men are superior to their Japanese counterparts because they think they're more manly, due to army training, and ﾂ"superiorﾂ" genes. They are really proud of having mandatory military duty but it's so ironic that a lot of women choose to give birth to their child out of the country(so they can have non-Korean citizenship and thus not be drafted) and the men bribe the military so they can be exempt from military duty.

 

[Qutiepie]

Truth always prevails,your post shed light on the reality of superficially inflated Korean Wave in tabloidized entertainment news.


Yeah,it's middle-aged Japanese women romanticize those named S Korean actors.

 

[taehyun]

Mmmm, If you are right, I'd be very happy, but..
1. I'm a member of Cyworld (Japanese and US) and often browse around. Most Korean male members have more than 20 steady Cy-friends who are Japanese female and either in their 10's or in their early 20's, + daily comments in their message borads by just passing by young Japanese girls. I saw some of the photos -really nice young girls. If you don't believe me, why just don't go and see for yourselves jp.cyworld.com or www. cyworld.com
2. I'm an university student,and there are a lot of foreigners( including Koreans) around me.The girls literally jump on every Korean speaking male( some even not so attractive). I was harrassed by some Japanese and Chinese female students, when I came with miniskirt in the class, attended by one Korean student( no problem in any other class we attend, unless this guy is not around). But if you are not in this evironment, there is no way to understand how it is.
3. Every woman wants to be treated tenderly. To be given a flower once in her life, at least . I heard from Japanese this.I'm afraid, that bishounen or not, Japanese men don't treat their women with propper attention and tenderness.So no wonder they will look for this in men from different culture from theirs.Koreans do give flowers.They are still on the principle to help "the damsel in distress", because in the army they learn to protect the others.They learn to use their strenght not to show how kakkoii they are (just like the guy from my previous post), but to help.And I know this from my own experience. They still value the virtues in the women, which have lost their value even in Europe now:honesty, hygiene, purity, seriousness, faithfulness...
The fact that japanese women, and not only they, prefer Korean men, might have had some connection with the media, but not now. I think the major reason for women to prefer Korean men is not the media, but Japanese men