5-4-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) In Australian woman has brought to light the appalling discriminatory treatment her Malaysian co-worker faced while working in South Korea. The story serves as a stark reminder of the insidious prejudices that continue to pervade certain societies, even in the modern era.
Jazmyn Jennings, the Australian woman in question, took to social media to share her eye-opening experiences of living and working in South Korea. Her accounts expose a stark contrast in how she and her Malaysian friend were treated, shedding light on the biases ingrained in parts of South Korean society.
According to Jennings, she and her Malaysian colleague worked together at a South Korean restaurant. Despite her own lack of fluency in the Korean language, locals exhibited a clear preference for her assistance over that of her Malaysian friend, who spoke Korean proficiently. This preferential treatment seemed to stem solely from their respective appearances and countries of origin.
The discrimination didn’t stop there. Jennings recounted the harrowing ordeal her Malaysian friend endured, recounting, “As soon as people found out that she was Malaysian, they instantly had a problem with her. They would refuse, they would just flat out refuse to speak to her.”
The prejudice manifested in blatant disrespect and verbal abuse. Jennings revealed, “That whole restaurant was just really f*cked up, she had tea towels thrown at her, she was sworn at, by the way for doing nothing. If anything, I stuffed up more than her but I was treated differently because I was white.”
The discrimination extended beyond the confines of their workplace. Even during a routine taxi ride, the Malaysian colleague faced ostracism from a South Korean driver who refused to acknowledge her presence or engage in conversation, despite her role as a translator.
Jennings attributes these disturbing experiences to a deep-rooted xenophobia prevalent in certain segments of South Korean society. Xenophobia, the fear and dislike of foreigners or unfamiliar cultures, manifests itself in preferential treatment for those with fair skin and conventionally attractive features, while individuals with darker complexions or hailing from specific countries face marginalization.
@jazmynjenningss I know having this conversation won’t win me many Korean friends but xenophobia and colourism are the two biggest downfalls of Korean society. People die because of this discrimination and there still aren’t any laws to protect anyone. #storytime #koreanstorytime #korea #southkorea #koreanworkingholiday #workingholiday #dewyskin #koreanskincare ♬ original sound – Jazmyn
Despite the disheartening accounts, Jennings discerns a glimmer of hope. She believes that discriminatory behaviour is more prevalent among older generations, while younger South Koreans tend to be more open-minded and accepting of diversity.
