Following National Team's Ra Gun-ah, Brown Also Reveals 'Racial Discrimination' Message

Racist messages received by Brandon Brown / Photo by Brandon Brown Instagram capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seong-yeol] Following professional basketball player Ra Gun-ah (31, Jeonju KCC), Brandon Brown (35, Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation) also revealed the racist messages he received.

On the 16th, Brown posted on his Instagram story an English message containing racial discrimination and insults.

The message included statements such as "Leave Korea. You are a disgusting XX," and "Do you think missing four free throws makes sense? I hope you die in a car accident."

This is the second case following Ra Gun-ah, who was born in the United States and naturalized in Korea, revealing racist messages the day before (the 15th).

Ra Gun-ah, who obtained Korean nationality in 2018 and represented South Korea in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Basketball World Cup, revealed an insulting message on his Instagram story on the 15th.

Post by Ra Geon-a on Instagram / Photo by Ra Geon-a

The message Ra Gun-ah revealed said in English, "You get paid too much but have no skills," and "Get out of Korea."

Afterwards, the sender directed insults at Ra Gun-ah's family, and when Ra Gun-ah responded with "Thank you" to ignore it, the sender made racist remarks.

Ra Gun-ah stated along with the message, "I receive messages like this from Koreans. I usually block them, but I have to endure it every day."

Brandon Brown also left words of comfort for Ra Gun-ah.

On October 30, 2019, at Ulsan Dongcheon Gymnasium, KGC Brown scored a layup against Hyundai Mobis' Ra Gun-ah during the game between Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Brown tagged Ra Gun-ah on his Instagram and said, "There are people who hide behind their phones pretending to be tough," and "But you still have to keep pushing forward."

He continued, "For your wife, daughter, family, and the basketball you love," and comforted him by saying, "Isn't there a saying that a few bad apples can't ruin the whole bunch?"

He also encouraged him by saying, "You are the first player to naturalize to play for the national team," and "Be someone respected by your daughter and other Korean children."

Meanwhile, the Korean Basketball League (KBL) announced on the 16th, "If foreign players experience racial discrimination on or off the court, the league will prepare legal measures."

They also plan to investigate the actual situation of foreign players' victimization.