"Want to Diet?" Directed at American Women
Netizens "Apologize on Their Behalf"
An elderly man was caught on video telling a foreign woman he had just met to "go on a diet," sparking public outrage.
On the 23rd, the travel YouTube channel 'Heecheolism,' which has 1.02 million subscribers, posted a video titled "A Korean-American dealing with rude Koreans." In the video, Mr. Yoon Heecheol visited Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with his acquaintance, an American woman named Jenna. After eating bindaetteok and yukhoe at the market, they explored the nearby area. During their walk, they encountered a group of elderly men gathered on the street. One of the men asked Jenna, "Which country are you from?"
When she replied, "America," the man joked, "I'm from LA."
Then, mixing English into his speech, he began promoting the items he was selling. The man said, "I take full responsibility for your health," and bluntly asked Jenna, "Diet want? You diet want?" When Jenna answered "No," he repeated, "You don't want to diet?" He continued, "Diet very easy," saying, "You can lose 5kg in a month. 5kg a month, 30kg out in 6 months."
As Jenna tried to leave, the man asked, "Hey, come on, you’re not going to lose weight?" Jenna replied, "No, I’m not." Then the man made a rude remark, saying, "The Earth is heavy."
Later, Mr. Yoon tried to smooth things over by saying, "Older people don’t think this is rude. They don’t realize it’s rude." Jenna responded, "I’m not upset either. If I want to lose weight, I’ll do it on my own. I understand he’s trying to make money." She added, "In America, if you tell a stranger to lose weight to their face, you’d get beaten up," but also said, "In Korea, you hear it so often... 'If you lose weight, you’d be really pretty' is said like a compliment without bad intentions." Mr. Yoon then apologized, saying, "I’m sorry."
Netizens who watched the video criticized the elderly man for his rude remarks. Comments included, "As a Korean, I’m sorry. You are lovely just the way you are," "Telling someone you just met to lose weight," "Ignorance is boldness?how can someone say that? I’m ashamed to be Korean," and "I’m embarrassed for him. I want to apologize on his behalf."
Jenna also commented on the video, saying, "Don’t worry, I’m not hurt, everyone," and "I have no intention of losing even 1g because of what others say."
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