Korean Like a Pro 3: Restaurant Talk

Filed as: Living in Korea // Responses: 100

BAM! Welcome back, Korean Like a Pro. We never forgot about this segment. Never! We just got sidetracked for a bit with other projects. But this segment has a special place in our hearts, and we plan on doing more in the future, maybe not as a regular weekly segment, but we’ll do it every so often. Or should we do it as a weekly segment? What do you think?

Anyhow, I think the Russian part of this video needs a bit of an explanation. This might be a sensitive topic, but it needs to be discussed. KOREAN MEN: if you are reading this, please, please stop asking foreigner women if they are Russian. We know what you mean when you are asking. You’re not kindly asking if we’re from Russia. You’re not curious about our background or trying to start a conversation. You’re asking if we’re prostitutes, and it’s exceptionally offensive.

#1 Not all Russian women are prostitutes, and just the insinuation is unbelievably racist.

#2 Not all pretty foreigners are prostitutes. Just you asking is exceptionally insulting as well. Imagine if foreigners started asking random Korean women if they’re prostitutes. I don’t even know where to begin with this.

#3 And this is important, just in case people try claiming the opposite – not all Korean men are dirty perverts, either. Not all of them ask if you’re Russian. In fact, not many of them do, but it happens regularly enough to get you angry about it. Notice how we don’t go up to old Korean guys and ask them if they’re dirty Johns, either. Just because a few of them are, it’s far from reasonable to ask a random Ajosshi if he like prostitutes.

Ah well. I doubt scuzzy Korean men will be reading this anyways. They’re not really our target demographic. But we got that off our chests! And so, if you’re a woman coming to Korea, and you find yourself being asked if you’re Russian…well, now you know why!

Back to the movie: this time we finally go to a restaurant! As you might have remembered from our last Korean Like a Pro, we left our two characters just after they decided where they should eat. It’s been many months since then, and now they’re back in the Spring time ready to eat again, and their decision is the same as before! Woohoo! Dwegi Galbi 4 lyfe!

At the end of the video the guy says something along the lines of “very well. We won’t eat ice cream then.” It was really difficult to pronounce, because it’s supposed to sound like “Ice Cream Anmotgettneh,” but the transition from the T to the N sound is really difficult, especially since Simon had a cold, and he can barely pronounce his Ns with a stuffed nose. Note: we never claimed to be fluent in Korean to begin with!

If there are other scenarios or situations you’d like to see our Aegyo girl and her Oppa go through, so that we can try enacting some basic Korean that you’re interested in learning, let us know. We can’t promise that we’ll know how to talk about it in Korean, but we can at least give it a shot!

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lg

i LOVE this segment!!!! please please pleeeease make them more often they’re amazing! im trying to learn korean and its so fun to watch you guys and figure out what you’re saying! and i always LOL at all your videos- tahnks for making them so awesome!! the whole oppa thing was really funny! haha it can honestly be used to mean about 20 different things. lollercoaster
ê³½ì§€í˜¸

Russian saram ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹
Grace

LOL I love how you guys do that thumbs up thing at the end of each Korean Like a Pro vid.

And, huh, this is the first time I’ve ever heard of the whole Russian person thing. I’m Korean, but our family doesn’t live in Korea. It’s been quite a while since any of us has visited Korea, and my parents’ knowledge of Korea is a bit… back in the days (lol)… so it’s cool watching all your vids and learning what contemporary Korea is like, especially from a foreigner’s point of view. :D

Thanks for making all these videos!

-First time commenter
GPE

Korean people don’t be offended by this! Most foreigners know Korean people don’t all assume we’re from America (although that’s usually the first guess made) or that we’re Russian prostitutes! However, in the course of nearly 2 years here, I’ve been asked, as have many of my friends on more than one occasion, by older gentlemen if we’re “Russia?”, pervy inuendos totally intended. We’re neither Russian nor prostitutes and it’s super sad that that’s the comparison made. ã… So for anyone who isn’t a foreign girl living here…. you wouldn’t have experienced it and it’s a valid point!
Anywaysssss, funny and cute vid! I agree–ë‹¤ìŒì‹œê°„ì— ë…¸ëž˜ë°©ì—ê°€ìš”! ^^
jazzyfish

Hey, Martina finally won rock paper scissors! Go martina!!!

And um… HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I love these videos…
Stephaniesky84

You guys speak korean very well !!! I’m impressed
Stephaniesky84

Hilarious !!!!
Katrina

i have a request prease – could you add the written romanized script somewhere in your future posts? thanx!

and yes i’d love to see these vids with greater quantity and frequency! =D

your blog is awesomeeeee!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Eunji-Jang/100000699771658 Eunji Jang

WOW!!!!!!!!!! I am sooooooo happy to see KOREAN LIKE A PRO again!!!!!!!!
i remember when i first watched it… it was really amazing..
I kept saying “Daebak” watching you!!
this time, i noticed this episode is kind of controversial but i think you pointed the truth exatly..
anyways, i will be looking forward to watching the next episode! C YA ;-D
http://twitter.com/strigoiaca1300 mary

oy that russian thing is creepy
Omnichelle

I want to download this as a podcast on iTunes but it’s not listed. :-( I’ve genuinely been wondering for a while how to say “I want this one” or “I want that one” in Korean. I’m going to take a quick trip to Seoul soon and eating is very important to me. So I need to communicate my neeeeeds (yeah, that sounds kiiiiinda dirty but whatevs) haha! :-)

Along those lines, you know what’d be great?? If you did some kind of top 10 Must Eat dishes, or top 10 street foods to gorge yourself on. I know this isn’t necessarily a food blog, but you know, I’d appreciate your personal recommendations! For real for real.
Woojin

lol! Russians and Eastern Europeans are generally recognised as prostitutes in south korea but that kind of things happen all the time. When ‘Australian’ prime minister visited south korea for G20 summit last year, they presented her with a doll dressed in a ‘Austrian’ traditional costume. haha!
Pazitiffik

Well. Aghh.
I stay in Korea for 6 months now, I am married girl. But all these questions ‘Russian saram?’ make me crazy and sometimes angry >.< throw I don't show my anger ^.^ Actually not only men are asking this, women too. And when they hear what I am from North Europe and have NO connection with Russia, they acting more kindly, more smiling and they try to ask some questions about Europe. I think Koreans don't know about this kind of situation, because they are not foreigner girl who stay in Korea. Anyway, Korea is awesome! And people too!!!
Keep strong Martina on this question!!!
Edwardmoon007

You guys are so cute, and your Korean is excellent. I am impressed.
Xkzpdncl

I think there is a misunderstanding here… You guys said that some Korean men asking if you are Russian means asking if you are Russian prostitutes. Koreans ask your nationality because they are really curious about it. They ask about it more often if you are Caucasian because they don’t see many Caucasians around them. They ask Caucasian females if they are from Russia because many Russian and Eastern European women come to Korea to work as a model, so they think that most of the Caucasian women are Russians or Eastern Europeans.

I am Korean leaving in Seoul for 21 years and I have never heard of Russian prostitutes. When Koreans ask nationality or hometown(especially adults ask about it) it means that they want to start a conversation and be friendly. Koreans ask each other’s hometown because they build strong bond with the person who is from the same hometown.

I hope nobody gets angry after reading this. I didn’t mean to make anyone feel bad. I just wanted to write my opinion.

Xkzpdncl

I forgot to write this…
I can’t be 100% sure because there are always exceptional people.
I recommend foreign travelers don’t go out alone when it gets dark outside.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Eunji-Choi/717322889 Eunji Choi

no.. I don’t think you know what Martina is talking about
I don’t want to offend you but I think its very naive of you think that way

There are actually many real Russian prostitutes in Korea,
the reason Korean Johns started to ask foreign girl such question is because there are actually such girls.
This is very offensive to Russians I think.. I am very sorry.. :(
Well now foreigner population has grown so much and people started to think of them being here more naturally but even just few years ago, foreigners were so few.. almost like 95% of them were US soldiers and as for young causian women population, most times they were Russian girls came here for inappropriate job! (of course its not the same now!)

A girl in your age not being familiar of this is understandable, its natural.
like Martina said in the video, a young girl(like you!) asking if you are russian would actually mean if she comes from Russia.
(I mean why ask such question if there were no such girls??)
But there’s more to the reality than you know

http://profiles.google.com/elmajkim Elma Kim

I love following you guys! Great stuff. Would rather watch your posts than anything on TV. I’m Korean-American, and your insights are spot on. Great Ttuck boki recipe BTW. xoxo
Dennis Yoo

I am a Korean, and I never knew that the word “ëŸ¬ì‹œì•„ ì‚¬ëžŒ” had such a connotation! Shame!98% of Koreans love Russia, America, and Canada. So bad that you met some ugly Koreans.
Vg12th

Hey guys, just stumbled across your channel. Very entertaining! I’m also trying to pick up a bit of Korean as I will be visiting in a few months. Your videos do help as you don’t say them too fast and like I said, entertaining to watch =) Please try to include a few more day-to-day phrases!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5IASVNKPM45DVB6NUSDAIVFJKM Michaelaleigh Green

I love your translations of Oppa. They are so funny. I’ve always wondered why girls would call their crushes their older brother? The idea in America is if you think of someone as your brother you wouldn’t want to date them, then again it is a different culture so hey.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Rivera/612699405 Anthony Rivera

lol this video always make me laugh *moves eyebrows* russian saram??? haha

giggity!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/í™ìš©ì¤€/100001806036197 í™ìš©ì¤€

you guys so funny!Â and martina,Â your Korean pronunciation isÂ goooooood! you so-ju lover~
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AQV23ULWCSF3W3N56SX25VJX7I Jenny

This should be a weekly segment or at least every other week segment.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jon-Wright/100002718459129 Jon Wright

I think Russian women are unsurpassed in beauty and brains and I love Kimchi too! Why isn’t there more brands of kimchi sold in the US ? We have a real opportunity here people! Whatsamatau? are you not interested in making money and furthering US- KOREAN trade? Have a russian woman be a spokesperson for the unique pickled wonder! ! mean the stuff gets better with age just like russian women do! And maybe KAL can serve it on long flights from the US and especially Japan and China!
Â We have a real chance to make a bundle of money!!!! HEAPS AND STACKS OF IT! HEAPS AND STACKS people!!!! PS I just adore Russian women!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Eunji-Choi/717322889 Eunji Choi

Oh that must have been so offensive..
I remember reading another foreign girl talked about it on the internet
She was american and went to the hospital, in emergency,
and instead of getting a fast and good care of her, she got lots of suspicious look from men and women and even a hospital staff assumed her as illegally staying russian girl,
and said “you need proper document (health insurance related I guess? comes from proper visa maybe?) to get treated”
and way he/she sounded was like I know you don’t have proper paper!
She was very upset and offended by it and left bad comment about Koreans being rude to her
*** for those who never been to Korea and reading this comment, this is not usual thing happening tho!

Problem like this should be more discussed so that inappropriate people start to realize it
In your case, since you already like other positive aspects of Korea, so you just put up with it,
but other girls can be very upset and get only bad memories I think..
especially if it happens early after they arrived..
and its a shame if that happens..
Anonymous

Ahaha you guys sound really good to me! XD