Real talk from Godwoon's Papa

[modifeyes.livejournal.com]

While B2ST has been praised for their refusal to wear kimonos at a recent fashion show in Japan, member Dongwoon’s father has garnered attention after revealing his opposing opinion.

Earlier this week, B2ST walked the runway in Yumi Katsura’s fashion show in Tokyo, Japan. When they were asked to wear kimonos, they requested that they not wear them, saying, “Please consider the feelings of Korea.” Therefore, their request was accepted.

Korean netizens who heard of this news complimented B2ST. However, Dongwoon’s father, Son Il Rak, a professor of hotel management at Cheongju University, expressed his opinion on the matter through his minihompy under a post titled, “B2ST and kimono“.

Professor Son posted,

“Since B2ST was scheduled to participate in the fashion show, the problem regarding the kimonos should have been addressed by both parties prior to the event. How would it have worked out if the hosts considered the anti-Japanese sentiment, which has arose due to the issues surrounding Dokdo Island, and refrained from requesting the use of kimonos?

At the same time, I don’t think it is advisable for our nation’s fans to be ignorantly appaulding B2ST for refusing to wear kimonos. What would you have done if a Japanese celebrity strongly appealed against wearing a hanbok during a fashion show held in Korea? Strictly speaking, doesn’t the wearing of traditional costumes have nothing to do with the problem with Dokdo or other such matters? Honestly, are they not problems that should be thought of separately?

It is proper to believe that B2ST should have firmly refused to wear kimonos, but if you look at it from a broader perspective, it is also proper for B2ST to have worn the kimonos.“

Source: TV Report via Nate
cr: allkpop

Comments

[notyourgeisha.livejournal.com]

Future father-in-law, I want to learn from your wisdom!!!11

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

You need to bloody ask him to be the new Beast manager in order to be his awesome self near the boys.

[dalpaengi.livejournal.com]

Preach

[nightfrost75.livejournal.com]

First thought, Prof Son is very wise.
Second thought, I wonder if he's as hot as his son?

[myonbab.livejournal.com]

appropriate icon for appropriate comment.

[matineelove.livejournal.com]

seriously. its a fashion show. nothing political. they should've worn it...

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

ia.

[qrizta.livejournal.com]

That's one wise Daddy.
Seriously I'm fed up with this whole sentiment about food and traditional costumes between Korea and Japan.

[fabledlamb.livejournal.com]

He seems sort of sensible. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if his analogy of what it would've been like if a Japanese celebrity had refused to wear a hanbok is very fitting in this case. It was highly insensitive of the Japanese hosts to ask them, as a Korean group, to wear kimono in the first place because it made them face this dilemma: If they'd worn the kimono, the knetizens would've gone batshit crazy because, OMG, they wore traditional Japanese clothes. Now that they refused to wear them, people say it would've been more polite to grant the wish of the hosts. And the thing is, I do understand both sides.

The relationship between Korea and Japan is still a very sensitive one. Japan is not just any country to Korea. Japan is the country that colonized Korea from 1905/10-1945 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule) and in the late years of the annexation pursued a policy of colonial assimilation, especially when it came to the Korean culture. To put it into very simple terms, Japan wanted the Korean people to lose their history, their culture and their language which can be called a form of cultural genocide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule#Cultural_genocide). This was a very painful and memorable experience that Koreans even nowadays can't just completely forget.

While I know it's always good to move on (especially because we're talking about a Korean group trying to break into the Japanese music market), it might still be helpful to keep that historical experience in mind to understand what those Japan-related 'scandals' look like from a Korean perspective.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Same. The hell is that attitude? Imagine if we were like that irl with british or Germany? There would be no Europe which is sad because while people are bitchin now and then, it's still one of the bets thing ever.

[bamboolover.livejournal.com]

Preach it Professor Son! He's very wise and gave us Godwoon. Somebody give this man Noble Prize already!

[tyangs-icecream.livejournal.com]

THIS lol

[wintersol.livejournal.com]

~educate~ us Professor-nim.
I can understand why the BEAST boys didn't wear them, but the thought of more Japan/Korea tension makes me scurred.

[ueda-hyo.livejournal.com]

You go PapaSon! Four for you PapaSon!

Suddenly I have the strange urge to stan him.

[albondiga.livejournal.com]

should be easy since you already have one 40 year old in your icon =)

[yejun.livejournal.com]

Such a wise man.

I don't see why they couldn't have worn kimonos. You take the custom of wherever you go, right? -.-

tbh I'm surprised this hasn't turned into a big deal.

[unfinishedwing.livejournal.com]

I agree with the father. They should have worn the kimonos.

[x3sarang.livejournal.com]

While I understand the sentiments of those who supported them not wearing the kimono, I still believe that attitude in the end is what continues to elongate disputes and create tension between countries. Looking at it from an over-realist POV, anything, including sports, fashion, entertainment etc can be used as a battle between countries to determine who is the 'better nation' or promote a sense of patriotism. While patriotism is fine and healthy, when it starts to border zealous over-patriotism (the holier than thou attitude), which I tend to believe happens a lot in Asian countries, small things like this get out of hand.

Beast is not a political group. This was a fashion show. They were in Japan. Although yes, perhaps they wanted to think about the reactions of Korean citizens or preserve the honour of their country, but they could also have thought of it from the perspective of unifying the two countries through a display of acceptance and demonstrating respect through this fashion show, or even just simply experiencing and embracing another country's culture. But damn who knows what some crazy netizens would've done; they criticised Jaejoong for using 'Ramen' instead of 'Ramyeon'.

Either way, +1 Dongwoon's dad.

[x3sarang.livejournal.com]

Wait the Jaejoong thing was Kimuchi instead of Kimchi. Ramen/Ramyeon was JYP if I recall correctly. And don't forget the Udon/Galak thing in that Dongwoon + Minkyung duet.

[babybluedream.livejournal.com]

werds of wisdom indeed

[miumiu18.livejournal.com]

omg what is this, i will have nightmares!!!! It's hilarious though LOOOL

[albondiga.livejournal.com]

how disrespectful. this is probably why beast wasn't mentioned in any news report in japan.

i'm glad supernova had some class and wore japanese traditional clothes.

[doumyoujitsukas.livejournal.com]

oh my god common sense in my kpop my mind cannot take this

[djkenz.livejournal.com]

this~

[unreal.livejournal.com]

At the same time, I don’t think it is advisable for our nation’s fans to be ignorantly appaulding B2ST for refusing to wear kimonos. What would you have done if a Japanese celebrity strongly appealed against wearing a hanbok during a fashion show held in Korea?

Korean netizens would be pissed and said person would get hell for it.

[baeby-bloo-skys.livejournal.com]

keep it real Papa Son

[pumpkinskin.livejournal.com]

that's just really unprofessional especially as rookies
and they wanna have a japanese music career?
what a terrible way to start

[albondiga.livejournal.com]

exactly. japanese fans are already buzzing about this.
2chan's already bashing yoseob and that permanent line of acne he has on his cheek and wondering if junhyung didn't rap in japanese because of the same feelings.

[gabucha26.livejournal.com]

I agree 100% that the agencies should have discussed this ahead of time instead of pinning the boys against the wall at the last minute. However; it would have been nice/polite if they had wore the kimonos, after all they are guests and are trying to break into the japanese market.

And kudos to him for bringing up the double standards some knetizens seem to have. I'm sure if it had been a foreign celebrity refusing to wear a hanbok, they would have frowned upon.

[raspberryjaaam.livejournal.com]

This

[miumiu18.livejournal.com]

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

Tbh when I first heard of this, I was against B2ST...that's kinda culturally inconsiderate.

That might not be the right word but, I agree with Appa.

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

The professional thing would have been to wear those kimonos. If political issues are so important for Beast maybe they should just forget Japanese market altogether...

[toomanysides.livejournal.com]

Excellent way to start your attempt at a Japanese career.

[toomanysides.livejournal.com]

It's going to but shit like this that will "ruin" hallyu not kpop group's issues with their management companies.

[sweetshisus.livejournal.com]

Oh, boys. >:(

[porandojin.livejournal.com]

am not surprised, after the Udong controversy they must be so careful about anything connected to japan ...

still korean nationalism is so extreme and widespread ide ...