I wanted to share the following conversation between two celebrities in Korea. This conversation transcript was taken from a video footage "hacked" by someone. This clip was edited and cut (not meant to be aired or released). Many people in Korea are trying to interpret this conversation (based from the video) to judge who's at fault here. Celebrity A is the older actress and Celebrity B is the younger actress. Celebrity A was running late for the reality TV show, so the show staff invited Celebrity B; this made Celebrity A "angry." Prior to releasing this video, Celebrity A was criticized for having Celebrity B cry, according to a news article. People made comments and judged Celebrity A's poor personality. In response, Celebrity A apologized nationally and admitted that she was upset about having another female guest. However, a week later, this video footage was released and people's opinions were divided. Some people began to criticize Celebrity B's language and actions, claiming that this wouldn't had happened if Celebrity B was polite. It is important to note that in the Korean language, age matters a lot because language changes (or is expected to change to show respect). I'll differentiate that as "formal" vs. "informal" in the transcript. Below is the conversation that happened when the video was still rolling:
Celebrity A just came out from swimming in the ocean (that was part of her scene). Celebrity A approaches Celebrity B who's sitting down, sorting something (seaweed?)
Celebrity A just came out from swimming in the ocean (that was part of her scene). Celebrity A approaches Celebrity B who's sitting down, sorting something (seaweed?)
A : 안녕 ('Hello')
B : 추워요? (Looks up facing Celebrity A) ('Are you cold?')
A: 어. 야, 너무추워. 너 한번 갔다와봐라 ('Yeah. Hey, It's so cold. Why don't you try [going]?')
B: 안돼.. (Smiling, yet busy doing her sorting) ('I can't...')
A: 넌 싫어? 남이 하는 건 괜찮고 보는건 좋아? ('YOU don't want to? But it's okay for OTHERS to do it and to watch them do it?')
B: 아니 아니... ('No no...')
A: 지금 너 어디서 반말하니? ('Why are you talking to me impolitely?') or ('Why are you not using the formal language when talking to me?')
B : 아니.. 아니요. 추워가지고.. (not facing Celebrity A; silently; almost talking to self) ('No' [informal].. No [switch to formal]. I'm just cold [back to informal])
A: 지금 내가 우스워 보이니? (Literally: 'Do you think I'm funny?'; Actual: 'Are you looking down on me?')
B : 아니...아.. 언니 저 맘에 안들죠? ('No [informal].. Ah.. Oni (honorific to call a sister).. You don't like me, right?')
A : 눈깔을 왜 그렇게 떠? (angry tone; Literally: 'Why is your eyeball glaring at me like that?' Actual: 'Why are you giving me a dirty look?')
B: 네? ('What?' [formal])
A : 눈을 왜 그렇게 뜨냐고, 너 지금 아무것도 보이는게 없지 그치? xxx이 진짜 (Literally: 'Why are you glaring at me like that? You're blind to see anything right now? [then swear words]; Actual: 'Why are you staring at me like that? Can't you see I'm older than you, but you don't get that, don't you?')
Staff 1: 왜 그래? (facing Celebrity A) ('What's wrong?')
A : 반말 해대잖아 반말 ('She's using informal language to talk to me') or ('She's not using the honorific language')
Staff 1 : 어? 일단 나와 나와 ('What? Let's first go over there')
A : 너 쳐맞기 싫으면 눈 똑바로 떠 xxx야 (facing Celebrity B) ('If you don't want me to beat you up, make sure you look straight with your eyes, you b****').
(when Celebrity A leaves)
B : 아 저 xxx진짜 후우 (talking silently to self) ('Wow, that crazy b****')
It's so interesting to read people's conversation on the internet as a reply thread to the news article. People are discussing what is considered as "polite" nowadays. Some people are saying that Celebrity B was talking to herself, so she didn't really have to say things using honorifics. Also, they are saying that Celebrity B was not really glaring at her. The sunshine was bright, so when she was looking up to Celebrity A, it seemed like she was glaring. However, some people are arguing that Celebrity A is at total fault, since she's disrespecting her by not using honorifics. Also, people on other TV shows are discussing what Celebrity A really meant when saying , 'You don't like me, right?' (statement highlighted in yellow). I'm a Korean, but I really don't understand the culture fully, so at first, I was surprised by how people are reacting to what Celebrity A said. It seemed like an honest question to me. However, I guess in context and considering the Korean culture, in which you shouldn't really question or challenge people older than you (to show respect), the question, 'you don't like me, right?' was a huge attack and a sign of disrespect. I can kind of imagine myself asking that question with no bad intentions, but I guess I'll get in trouble if I say something like this.
[출처] 예원, 이태임 대화내용|작성자 요
