Blackface on “Gag Concert”, racism or ignorance?
“Gag Concert” has used blackface on their most recent episode to the shock of many international viewers.
The corner “Nom Nom Nom” used it in their skit where comedian Yoo Insuk said he would buy coffee for Song Pilgeun’s girlfriend Ahn Somi. Song stated, “Our Somi only drinks Americano” in rebuttal and, to this, Yoo introduced a group of indigenous Africans from the coffee machine saying, “here is the highest quality coffee brought straight from the source.” Unfortunately, these “indigenous Africans” were represented by blackface.
The Korean media, however, focused on the fact that Hong Yeseul’s normally cute image could not be seen in this get-up as she was one of the comedians in blackface.
This was a different response from that of international viewers who were surprised, shocked, and some even offended by the nonchalant airing of what they considered racism.
As blackface has been used not uncommonly in Korean variety shows to represent those of African heritage, viewers are beginning to debate whether this is a case of blatant racism or simple ignorance.
Some past uses of blackface in Korean media include on “Saturday Night Live Korea” in December 2011 and most recently G-Dragon’s Instagram selca last year.
Source: ExSports News and The Korea Times
