[INTERVIEW] '#MeToo not just about calling out sexual harassers'

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Sun, May 6, 2018 | 16:09

[INTERVIEW] '#MeToo not just about calling out sexual harassers'

Posted : 2018-03-21 17:29

Updated : 2018-03-22 10:42

Korean-American actress Jamie Chung backs silence breakers

By Lee Suh-yoon

Korean-American actress and blogger Jamie Chung says #MeToo goes far beyond a fight against sexual injustice, labeling it a collective action to end any unequal practices women face at home and in the workplace.

Korean-American actress Jamie Chung poses at the opening ceremony of Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

"I think the whole movement of #MeToo is not just calling out the sexual harassers, which is really important, but also crying out that we want equal pay, equal representation, equal opportunities and that we want to see more female directors and photographers," she said during a Korea Times interview on Tuesday.

"We want to see women in more power positions, not just in front of the screen but behind the screen as well."

Chung praised the #MeToo movement in Korea, which has taken several people in show business, literary circles and other industries down for their sexual misconduct.

She said she was surprised to hear that the Hollywood-born social media movement had hit Korea.

"It was very surprising to hear that it's a conversation that's reached Korea," she said.

Chung paid her fourth visit to Korea for Seoul Fashion Week, which opened on Monday and continues until Saturday.

Chung, who runs a popular fashion blog, said she hopes to support Korean designers.

She believes society has much to benefit from courageous women who break their silence and confront the perpetrators to prevent other victims.

"I think it is a very powerful movement and I think it is readjusting people in power," she said. "I think the right people are being taken down. So I stand behind it as long as they're proven guilty."

Though the actress acknowledged that #MeToo brought some positive changes, she believes what it has achieved so far is insufficient to fully empower women―especially women from minorities.

"The biggest change I see is people distancing themselves from people who are being accused of these crimes... Harvey Weinstein will probably go to jail and he should," she said. "But in terms of empowering minorities in the film business, I think that's something that is a slow burn. I haven't seen anything drastic yet."

She also hopes #MeToo can play a role in removing the barriers Asian-American actresses face in Hollywood.

According to Chung, limited roles and casting opportunities for Asian actresses restrict their career advancement in Hollywood. She admitted there are still negative stereotypes about Asian-Americans in Hollywood.

"We as Asian women are having this conversation on striving for roles that aren't just written for Asian-Americans... Instead of just complaining about the stereotypes, we're just really supporting each other and crying out injustices and improper casting," she said.

"The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by a white man."

Born to Korean immigrants, Chung grew up in San Francisco where her parents owned a restaurant. She started her acting career as a cast member of the reality show "The Real World: San Diego" in 2004 while she was still attending the University of California at Riverside as an economics major.

Since her debut, she has appeared in films and TV series like "Samurai Girl," "Hangover Part 2," and "Once Upon a Time."

Chung speaks some Korean, thanks to her parents, and hopes to improve it during her time here.

Her latest appearance was in the popular TV series "The Gifted." Season one ended recently. She played the role of Blink, a character with supernatural powers.

Chung said she was happy about her current part in the TV series as she is shooting season two.

"All the female characters in 'The Gifted' are stronger than the men," she said. "We're not waiting around to be saved but spearheading the missions."

The difficulty faced by Asian-American actresses in Hollywood has also led to unique bonds of solidarity, according to Chung.

"There are a group of us (Asian-American actors), especially the women, who really support each other because we do know how hard it is. We don't look at it as competition. It's a community of Asian women that are rooting for each other."

sylee@ktimes.com