So, on Korea...

[fvny]

So I saw this somewhere and it made do a double take,  because it said Himaruya was racist towards Koreans because he did... something, they didn't go into detail. They also basically said fanon was much better than canon because canon was stupid

Comments

[fvny]

Oh, I had no idea. But then again Himaruya doesn't really tread too into the really really depressing stuff.

[lovelycudy]

I know. I'm no expert in Asian history so I'm just telling what I've been told.

[kanami_yuuta]

Well... Koreans and Japanese (and chinese) currently dont have good relation... there seems to be a lot of hatred towards japanese from some koreans (and the other way round too...). The annoying "Korea steals this and that" from hetalia comes from Japanese point of view. As well if you realize Japan's character has always had the chance to mock Korea (or rather Korea always seems to be source of laughter) at least during the first strips of Korea

Seeing how Himaruya hasnt been drawn Korea much lately, leaves a lot to misunderstanding of his character (the strip of "We're making an anime" made korea look much cooler than he originally or was or so I thought at least)

[fvny]

True, true. But they never have, have they? :/

But every nation is a punchline at some point so he'll have his strip one day hopefully.

[juandalyn]

Well... the relationship between Japan, Korea and China as well is very, very bad.
Koreans still see something offensive in everything Japanese people and media do. And looking at Korea's design before the anime was published he was someone who grabbed someone's, no, China's breasts (I don't know the relationship between China and Korea but I'm not sure if it's good...), being somewhat nerdy (there has been information about him liking online video games, etc.) and - to some Koreans - simply annoying.
And a Japanese depicting a Korean character as annoying seems to be highly offending.

(Though I think the Shinatty-chan thing much more offending).

[kanami_yuuta]

And looking at Korea's design before the anime was published he was someone who grabbed someone's, no, China's breasts you forgot about Japan's breats and he was enjoying it highly

being somewhat nerdy (there has been information about him liking online video games, etc.) and - to some Koreans - simply annoying.

I don't think this one was actually bad, I mean is a common stereotype around the world for Koreans to like online games (here in Peru even and it's not like we're that aware of Asia)

if anything I think Himaruya said he made a previous design of a female South Korea who was fashionable and enjoying travelling to America to study... I wonder if he actually had released that design, maybe the controversy would have been less?

[juandalyn]

*shrug* Well, since we don't live in this society we'll never know how much is offending for Koreans. I think there is no similar relationship in Europe, North or South America. Maybe it's because they always link being an online games nerd to being socially awkward, etc.

Funnily I think that's even less offending. Looking at Korean girlgroups they are really fashionable and studying abroad shouldn't be something to be ashamed of - especially in East Asian countries. I'm honest, I don't know as much about Korean society as I know about Japanese society, but I think it's reputable to study abroad. Especially in America, because they're said to have the best colleges and universities.

[fvny]

Oh no, the person wasn't Korean, I believe they were Swedish. Though they could be half Korean.

I don't think South Korea is annoying, but I guess to Japan and China he could be seen as sort of like an annoying little brother in the strips they appear in together.

[franceismyhomie]

Well, my South Korean friend [the one who got me into Hetalia in the first place] adores Yong Soo/SK. To her, he acts like a regular 15 year oldish kid and finds it rather amusing when he interacts with Japan and China. So I dunno. I guess it's Your Mileage May Vary?

[angstlich]

I'd just assume it's because of the bad relations and history of the two nations. As I'm not terribly familiar with Asian history, I could not say for certain, but it seems like there are certainly some unfortunate implications in the portrayal of Korea that many Westerners probably wouldn't pick up on.