Girls’ Generation Yuri is in quite a predicament at the moment because of a statement she said 4 months ago that Koreans deem as very wrong.
The incident happened in September 2007 when the group’s members were in Hanbok and filmed a video greeting for their fans on Chuseok. In the said video, Yuri said, “When I’m in Hanbok, I feel that I’m graceful. This Hanbok is my country’s tradition…”
After 4 months since it was made, a netizen, who is a member of the singer’s fan cafe, released it to the public and that was when Netizens got fiery.
For a non-Korean, her statement posed no problem but for Koreans, there was a big problem with it. Korea’s culture focus on the “we” and not on individualism. For example, non-Koreans express “My mom…” and “My family,” but for Koreans, those statements are said as “Our mom…” and “Our family…,” using the collective term “our.”
The comments on what Yuri said vary from “This girl group doesn’t think,” “She should study Korean again,” “Which country are you from?” However, there was one Netizen who did not make a big deal out of it and commented, “it was just a mistake.”
Source: Empas
aww give yuri a break, netizens!!
it was 4 months ago!!!! and everyone makes mistakes..
By: Eva on February 4, 2008
at 2:21 pm
Yuri is an stupid.
By: Sarit on February 4, 2008
at 3:06 pm
it’s a stupid mistake…but pp don’t have to take it soo hard…
Since when SNSD is intelligent to begin with????
By: Miun on February 4, 2008
at 3:45 pm
it was just a mistake….dont be so harsh on her!
By: kpoplover4everStaff on February 4, 2008
at 4:18 pm
koreans speech sounds like ayn rand’s worst nightmare lol
maybe koreans should read “the virtue of selfishness” xD
By: Jackie on February 4, 2008
at 4:51 pm
“Yuri is an stupid”
LOL i actually laughed out loud cause of that comment. xD
Wow…netizens nitpick at the smallest things. I’m curious what they’re going to pick on next.
By: Jj on February 4, 2008
at 7:39 pm
ugh netizens need to cut her some slack and get a grip i mean geeze she is non-korean and is maybe not used to referring to things like that with ‘our’ people make mistakes. they always gotta nitpick at every little thing. I wish they(sry to bring this up) nitpicked at seungri’s ignorant comment a few months ago….
By: BBlove17 on February 5, 2008
at 4:15 am
i dont know much about snsd…what country is yuri from…and yeah give her some break
By: jjhero on February 5, 2008
at 2:40 pm
She’s Korean. That question, I assume, was said in a sarcastic way.
By: krnloop on February 5, 2008
at 4:41 pm
“yuri is an stupid”
I find it funny that you’re here criticizing Yuri, when you can’t even get your own grammar correct. Anyway, GIVE YURI A BREAK! It’s not like she meant anything bad..just a mistake!
By: random900 on February 19, 2008
at 7:44 am
[...] Generation members Yoona, Sooyoung, Tiffany and Yuri guested in the MBC dramanet show “Three-Color Women Talk Show” and shared their [...]
By: Girls’ Generation’s audition experiences « krnloop on April 3, 2008
at 1:05 pm
okay.. who ever translated this article to English does NOT know Korean. Or did not understand the original Korean news article nor why Korean netizens were complaining she should study Korean agin.
Because what Yuri said was sooooo grammatically WRONG! like not even kindgardners make that grammar mistake. It’s like BASIC Korean 101.
“저희나라”? OMG… that sounds so OFF to any Koreans’ ears.
Although there’s emphasis in “our” in Korean language, but that’s how Korean language is. I think this goes more against her BASIC Korean error than the whole selfless “our” thing.
By: snsdfan on May 27, 2008
at 6:28 pm
[...] 14. When Nation Got Offended Yuri made a slip of tongue, saying “My country” instead of “Our country” when referring to Korea, causing a national outcry. (The news) [...]
By: SNSD + fans are idiots! « The Stalkers’ Melody on June 12, 2008
at 9:30 am
[...] “My country” instead of “Our country” when referring to Korea, causing a national outcry. (The news) CREDITS: [SHENYUEPOP] [...]
By: Crimes of SNSD. « ♥.슈퍼주니어.동방신기.슈퍼주니어.동방신기.♥ on June 12, 2008
at 11:59 am
[...] 14. When Nation Got Offended Yuri made a slip of tongue, saying “My country” instead of “Our country” when referring to Korea, causing a national outcry. (The news) [...]
By: WHY DID IT HAPPEN? « I Love Koreans on June 12, 2008
at 2:04 pm
[...] 14. When Nation Got Offended Yuri made a slip of tongue, saying “My country” instead of “Our country” when referring to Korea, causing a national outcry. (The news) [...]
By: SNSD Mistakes « Endless Chill on June 13, 2008
at 5:13 pm
although i don’t have a good impression of snsd, this is kinda stupid to make a big fuss about
By: lost1222 on June 14, 2008
at 3:27 pm
I don’t think this is a trivial thing. This kind of selfishness is a very serious issue in Korean culture.
Perhaps international fans do not understand the “fuss” made over this by netizens, but this slip of the tongue disrespects a very, very important concept in Korean culture. Although I respect the international fans’ opinions, I think they need a reminder that this is a Korean entertainment industry and, hence, this is where Korean rules and customs rule. In Korean culture, following the right way of doing things and being respectful for the community of “us” instead of “me’ is one of the biggest issue. [Well, besides the respect for the elders.] And the Korean culture is deeply embedded in the country’s history and such… not something you can overlook easily if you are a member of that nation.
And, as they said, if you are in Rome, you have to follow Rome’s rules. [Paraphrased.] If Yuri is in Korea, she should do the best to follow the Korean culture. And this kind of disrespect for the Korean culture seems to be an unisolated incident.
[Disclaimer: I'm not an expert in SNSD, or Korean Pop in general, but I've been fascinated with the issue around SNSD lately and have read the Shen Yuen Pop articles on SNSD. And I gotta say, that's a lot of mistakes they made. The individual group members' mistake weights on the group as a whole, and that particular weight isn't very light.]
By: DArtemis24 on July 7, 2008
at 9:41 am
[...] “My country” instead of “Our country” when referring to Korea, causing a national outcry. (The news) CREDITS: [...]
By: Crimes of SNSD « “uLtimate fangirL” on August 13, 2008
at 1:45 am
[...] “My country” instead of “Our country” when referring to Korea, causing a national outcry. (The news) CREDITS: [SHENYUEPOP] [...]
By: Crime Corner : SNSD « “ShOw Me yOuR LoVe” on September 11, 2008
at 7:10 pm
wht’s the big deal about it? eventhough im NOT a snsd fans. bt tht was just stupid? no offense for korean people. bt tht was a silly mistake of words.
By: shahera on September 30, 2008
at 4:19 pm
us international fans think this is STUPID
because it is stupid in HUMAN terms…
i dont care if its korea or albania or anywhere
causing a national outcry for this mistake…??
if korea thinks like this…WHATS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?
By: arxidi on October 9, 2008
at 12:30 am
This happened 4 months ago. Maybe she accidentally said it? HONESTLY, I, myself, happen to do that kind of mistake too. ^o^”
By: AL. on November 23, 2008
at 2:27 pm
Gosh.. that’s such a small stuff to fuss about..
By: Snow on March 1, 2009
at 3:10 am
Honestly, fans or not, no one can doubt that SNSD is a group of bimbotic girls. -.-” And how would you feel if someone who isn’t from your country insults your beliefs by posting thoughtless comments like “I don’t care”?
Seriously. -.-
By: -.- on April 18, 2009
at 10:40 pm
they’re airheads…what can u say?
By: haha on May 11, 2009
at 7:33 am
I dont really get Koreans after all…. At first I really and admire and like their culture, but of how they are after reading many articles… it makes me wonder…….
By: ReMi on June 1, 2009
at 9:13 am
I really dont think there is a need for a national outcry?… Its a mistake no doubt… but its not like she did it purposely…
I dont see the need to be so sensitive about all these…
By: x² on July 26, 2009
at 3:37 pm
good debate^__^;
so she said 나의 조국?
i want to see.. where i can watch itXD
By: hJs on August 17, 2009
at 8:38 pm