TV shows featuring expats go popular

Daniel Lindemann, Alberto Mondi, and Robin Deiana, three foreigners who were in the first group of panelists for the popular JTBC program “Non-Summit,” pose in front of the camera. / Courtesy of Daniel Lindemann

Curiosity about aliens keeps Koreans tuning in

By Yun Suh-young

A poster of upcoming TV show "Alien Dispatch" to be aired on tvN starting this Saturday / Courtesy of tvN

A local TV program featuring foreign journalists, consultants and media experts will start airing this Saturday on cable channel tvN under the title "Woegye Tongshin" which translates to "Alien Dispatch."

It will be a mixed-language program in Korean and English, in which foreign participants share their thoughts on issues posed during the show.

"Panels will be discussing how other countries have dealt with similar concerns we face. The intention is to view our society's concerns from a different perspective," said Park Hee-baek, producer-director for the program.

"Alien Dispatch" will be the fourth addition to the recent relay of TV programs in Korea with foreigners as the main focus, started off by the widely popular talk show "Non-Summit" which aired for three and a half years on JTBC from 2014 to 2017 and is preparing to return this year. “Non-Summit” featured good-looking foreign men from 10 different countries, discussing various social topics in near-perfect Korean.

Since the success of JTBC's “Non-Summit,” many other programs featuring foreigners appeared one after another. Immediately came "Next-Door Charles" (2015) on KBS which was a program about how foreign nationals were adjusting to their lives in Korea, followed by "Yo! Welcome to Korea!" on MBC, a reality show about popular foreign TV personalities inviting friends from their home countries to visit Korea for the first time. After a pilot episode in June 2017, they aired the official program in July until March this year. Riding on its popularity, the program is preparing its second season.

What makes these shows with foreigners so attractive in Korea?

"I think it's a reflection of self-satisfaction and confidence," says Kwak Geum-ju, professor of psychology at Seoul National University.

"Before, foreigners didn't know about Korea. But recently with the rise of K-pop, Korean culture and food are becoming more popular overseas; I think Koreans are feeling satisfaction. If it had always been like that, then people wouldn't react this way. But Korea was once an overlooked aid recipient. But with rapid economic growth, it became known to the world. Fifteen years ago, if we'd go overseas, they would ask if we're from North Korea. I think Koreans are in an excited state right now with the rise of our reputation. They're feeling satisfied, confident and entertained by how foreigners view us."

A feeling of recognition is behind the psychology of Koreans, she says.

"Koreans are very aware of how other people view them. It's because we have a collective culture. Even if it's not coming from foreigners, even domestically, people want to be recognized. They care a lot about how others think of them. That's why social media is so popular. It's the desire to be recognized," Kwak said.

Programs like this tend to feed on people's desires.

"It's reassuring to see that, 'yes they like us, yes we're good.' If we were truly confident, there would be no need for that but I think there's still an inferiority complex. Since we're still weak, we feel happy with recognition. But I think it's a baby step to moving forward. It will fade away soon when people overcome that complex," she said.

"But who knows, just like Japan which was far ahead of us but now economically dwindling, we might lose confidence again when our growth takes a downturn."

Daniel Lindemann, a German TV personality who became famous after appearing in the first batch of panelists on “Non-Summit,” also thought the phenomenon had to do with social change.

"In 1987, for the first time Koreans had the opportunity to travel to other countries. I think there was an exotic feeling to it. Then foreigners started coming to Korea and speaking the language. That wasn't common 10, 20 years ago. It developed in the past couple of years and I think Koreans were not used to it," he said.

"For Germans this is not something new. For Koreans, I think it was something new and I think it will take some time until it gets really common for foreigners to speak Korean and considered as part of society."

Lindemann didn't think the phenomenon has to do with low self-regard.

"There are people who say Koreans have an inferiority complex and want to be acknowledged and respected, so for foreigners to say nice things about Korea, it's to overcome that. Even my Korean-American friend says they should have more self-confidence about their own culture. But I don't agree. Sure there's the historical background of war and colonization. But I think it's dangerous to generalize," he said.

"I think it's more about curiosity. People are curious about new things. Until recently, there haven't been many foreigners in Korea and it wasn't common to have foreigners on TV. When they did, they usually talked about easy topics like food, music, culture. But even that is changing quickly. Korea is changing so fast that if I say the same things I said four years ago, they're tired of it already. Foreigners coming on TV saying 'I like kimchi and Gangnam Style' is already over."

He feels Koreans are interested in what foreigners have to say because they long for feedback.

"The country is small, dense and rapidly changing. Koreans have a hard time defining their own country so I think they want feedback from foreigners as part of the desire to develop," Lindemann said.

"There are many people who criticize, saying I'm on TV because Koreans want to be recognized or complimented. But we don't just compliment. We also criticize a lot and when we do, many locals aren't happy. But a lot of Koreans still tell us to be neutral and to share our personal thoughts. They want foreigners to honestly tell them how we feel about their country. If the same program was to air in Germany or other countries, people will still be interested in how foreigners think about their country."

As one of the most-sought-after foreign personalities by broadcasters, Lindemann predicted this trend will fade soon.

"I think it's a question of mass media and time. Simply having good-looking foreigners speaking Korean will not last a year. Beyond that, it will be unique content that these foreigners can bring. So what I try to do with my work is to get deeper into it. I don't talk about kimchi and spicy food anymore but the independence fighters during the Japanese occupation period or the historical aspects. I think if this continues in the future, it won't matter if you're a foreigner or Korean."