Well, Mr. Munny, or whatever your name is, you
certainly have successfully mischaracterized the bulk
of the Korean experience with your cynicism, sexism,
and hasty generalizations.  All of us over here still
grinding it out in Busan are quite sorry that America
has not dealt you an adequate new life.  But is it
necessary to blame expectations based on your past
life in Busan for your current lot?  Your fascination
with sex and drinking suggest some, funny you should
say, psychological problems.  Your article is a poorly
constructed syllogistic slap in the face to Korean
men, women, and the westerners that come here to teach
and befriend them.  It seems that the only people in
this world whom you like and respect are YOUR friends.
 So then, why did you leave them all behind and chase
your tail back to snobbish Americans and their
“pre-fabricated little lives” as viewed from
“socio-economically-tinted windows”? 

In offering explanations for why some misguided Korean
women found your irreverent bed, you describe Korean
men as obnoxious, drunken, womanizing and patriarchal.
 Sure, I’ve seen local men yell and yank the arms of
their sniveling dates.  Do you think that American men
don’t get drunk and beat the shit out of their women
sometimes too?  But it’s behind closed doors.  Do you
think that American men don’t womanize and act
obnoxious?  Have you seen GIs from other Korean cities
roll through town and treat Busan like one big
football field?  I’m not sure what constitutes
obnoxious.  But yelling obscenities, fighting, drunken
vandalism, and stumbling around the Hollywood Star
seem to fit the American GI bill.  

Sadly, the ease with which you suggest western male
teachers “meet” Korean women is a pathetic testament
to the plight of women in this society.  For you and
your friends to exploit this is reprehensible.   You
assert that “chicks” here meet with foreign men to
learn English for free.  What about the monogamous
western men here who have achieved proficiency in
Hangul thanks to free lessons from their Korean
girlfriends, fiancées or even wives?  Or maybe you
don’t hang out with expats of such high moral fiber. 
Some of MY despicable friends actually communicate
with their Korean girlfriends only in Hangul.  Mr.
Munny, it’s actually YOUR views of Korean women
(excuse me, chicks or chickens) which reek of
condescension, American male chauvinism and blatant
sexism.  

What does your discriminatory statement about the
physical similarities of Koreans have to do with
anything?  And then you go on to lustily mention the
Asian-looking girls at your local bar and denigrate
the patrons for being anti-cultural when they really
think that they’re being multicultural.  Isn’t that
what you too have done? 

FYI: Korean families don’t live with aunts, uncles,
cousins, and one grandmother, as you suggested.  In
fact, cohabiting families usually consist of one,
maybe two, extended family members or grandparents;
not several of them packed into a van. 

The lines about cartoon characters, telethons, and
injury lawyers are trite and futile attempts at humor
in an otherwise socio-cynical commentary about just
one side of life in Korea.  Your mention of crazy,
ugly Americans, and female, Korean, social castaways
is insulting and inaccurate.  My experience at an
English institute was rocky but mutually respectable,
perhaps because I know how to do more than just play
games.  

Your references to American English colloquialisms and
idioms illustrate the unconventionality, at best, and
ridiculousness, at worst, of YOUR native language. 
Why must you continuously attribute anomalistic
misunderstandings between cultures to the Koreans? 

And how is one a loser because one doesn’t exploit
twenty-four hour public consumption, drunkenness, and
the hunting of “petite, virginal women”?  Oh, yes,
only YOUR loser friends would do such a thing.  You’re
a drug-smoking burn-out, a motorcycle-riding maniac, a
lawless, drunk, womanizing, chauvinistic,
mono-cultural stub to the toe of all of us here trying
to expand our cultural horizons while sharing and
teaching the most widely spoken language in the world.
  And what’s worse, you seem proud of your disrespect
for the government’s laws, your exploitation of the
women and ridicule of the people here, both Koreans
and westerners.  So don’t give up your search for an
equally euphoric love-hate life back in Arizona.  Your
services (and disservice) are no longer required here.
 
Sincerely, 
Hyam R. Hope 

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