Regarding Mistranslations/Chanyeol/Baekhyun
I don’t usually do this sort of thing. But, I’ve been seeing a lot of inaccuracy/ misinformation going round Tumblr about the whole Chanyeol/Baekhyun/Kyungsoo ordeal.
My friend encouraged me to say something.
So, here I am.
Please note, however, that the purpose of this post is to not excuse the hurt that their comments might have caused some of you.
This post is in no way, at all, attempting to invalidate your own experiences regarding this sort of issue.
I haven’t lived the life you have. Nor you, mine.
This is coming from a native Korean, raised in both Korea and the UK, and my own perspective regarding this ongoing issue.
First of all, I need to emphasize that the members of EXO are all Korean. They were born in Korea, brought up and raised with Korean ideologies/ standards.
Korea is not the country that you reside in.
And just as how it would be unfair to compare your country to another’s, it is unreasonable to hold your country’s standards/cultural norms to Korea’s.
Growing up in the western hemisphere, we’ve grown up learning that pointing out even the smallest of ‘differences’ between people is a horrid and rather shitty thing to do. It’s been ingrained within our system as something that should be shunned and never allowed.
However, just how we were raised not to do this, Korea is a country filled with set ideals and specific mindsets pertaining to certain aspects of life, such as school grades, looks/appearances, etc.
As harsh as this might be to people of other cultures, being ‘different’ or even slightly deviating from what is considered as ‘the ideal’ in Korea isn’t necessarily something that would be celebrated. It will be called out upon.
However these are not acts of intentional malice. This has always been the norm of Korea.
When Koreans comment on people’s looks/ skin tones/ weight/ etc, unless there is an evident malevolent, hostile nuance behind their words, it is not meant to come across as such.
It’s pretty normal to hear people casually ask their friend if they’ve lost/gained weight. Or comment on someone’s tan. Basically, anything really.
And, I really do understand that it’s seriously shitty when someone comments on your appearance when they’ve really got no right to do so.
But, this is the norm in Korea.
This is one of the cultural differences between Korea and the rest of the world.
And, knowing this, I really have no right to enforce my ideologies gained from my time spent in the UK onto Korea.
I’ve seen so many people dragging Chanyeol in the past for commenting on Jongin’s darker skin.
But, the thing is, guys, Jongin’s a big boy.
If any of you have seen interviews, radio shows, etc, you know he can take care of himself.
If Jongin truly had an issue with being called dark and bronzed, he never would’ve given himself the nickname ‘kkamjong’ (which literally translates to dark+jong) nor would he introduce himself as ‘the member with the sexy, dark skin’ in several talk shows.
If he truly had a problem with the others saying things such as that, he would’ve brought it up and asked them not to do so.
They’re not heartless. They’re practically all brothers. They’re not going to intentionally hurt Jongin.
Please, please stop reading into what isn’t even being said.
The subtitles always leave out at least 20% of what is being said because either everyone is talking too quickly for screen to capture or some things just cannot be translated at all.
So, unless you are certain that you have the entire story down pat, please don’t jump the gun and declare that certain people are trash and deserve hell.
I’ve seen the specific part in the video that’s gotten loads of people riled up and I’m not exactly sure where everything’s gone wrong?
Koreans don’t exactly have a term for the word 'tan’ because not many people get them.
So, the term that’s used is burn (tan).
People say “너 많이 탔다”.
Which basically means “You’ve gotten really tanned(burned)”.
The meaning of 태워 is interchangeable between tanned and burned.
And, that is and has never been a racial/colorist slur at all.
So, when Chanyeol said “디오가 몸을 태워가지고 많이 섹시해졌어요”, he literally said “D.O’s body has gotten even more sexy since it’s gotten tanned.”
Might I also point out that Chanyeol- knowing Kyungsoo and knowing just how modest he is about himself- pointed out Kyungsoo’s changed appearance because he wanted everyone to appreciate his friend?
Like how does one disregard what was actually said and?
And, then Baekhyun, being as witty as ever- since they ARE entertainers of a sort and encouraged to make people laugh, does a pun on the word 태워 which means, as I explained earlier, tan/burn.
“디오한테 탄냄새 나요”
“I can smell D.O’s tan(burn).”
And, again the meaning of the word 태워 is interchangeable.
As much as I understand that some of EXO’s previous comments regarding certain things might have come across as insensitive and callous, please, please try to remember that they are from a completely different culture than your own.
Please don’t enforce your culture/standards onto Korea.
I hope this gave you a little bit more insight on what was said during the concert and the goings-on in Korea.
If I offended anyone during this wee soliloquy, it was truly not my intention and I do apologize.
Here is the link to the video with Chanyeol and Baekhyun. If you skip to round to the last 40 seconds, you can hear them speaking.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jcD1m55ywTg&t=2m55s
