Actress Sunwoo Yongyeo shared her experiences of racism.
On the 27th, a video titled "Sunwoo Yongyeo's shocking coping method for racism experienced in the U.S. for 8 years (a resentful LA)" was uploaded to the 'Sunpoong Sunwoo Yongyeo' channel.
On this day, Sunwoo Yongyeo visited the first home she lived in when she emigrated to LA 40 years ago. She explained, "It was on the 9th floor here," and added, "But it was a hassle to go to the restaurant because you had to take the elevator down, and there were fights over the smell of kimchi."
Sunwoo Yongyeo recalled the situation at that time, saying, "When I got on the elevator, an American girl looked at me (plugging her nose) and went 'Ugh.' I thought to myself, 'Why is this crazy girl holding her nose at me?' But as we got off, she looked at me and did the finger gesture. That's supposed to be the worst insult. But I didn't even know back then that it was an insult."
She continued, "My daughter Yeonjae came home from school and told me, 'Mom, some girl went 'Ugh' and did a finger gesture at me.' I said, 'That's a serious insult. That's bad.' Later, I dropped the kids off and purposely waited in the elevator. I said, 'Come here,' and she came."
She confronted the American who made discriminatory remarks against her, saying, "(Raising her hand) I said, 'Goddamn.' I said, 'Cheese smell, bad smell. Same!' She was flustered and said, 'Ahhhh.' When I said, 'No, not like this, okay?' the next day she held her breath and went 'Ha~.' So I said, 'Hi!'"
Sunwoo Yongyeo shared a story from later, saying, "That's when I learned about perfume. I asked a waitress what kind of perfume I should buy and if I should wear it, and she said that it's the custom here. I went to Rodeo and bought perfume. I didn't know anything and just put it on everywhere. My husband freaked out, asking, 'What is this smell?' He said you can't wear perfume like that. Oh my gosh!"
She further remarked, "From that moment, I became aware of perfume. It seems like something that reminds me when something goes wrong. The way she was holding her nose and going 'smell' taught me something. Since I learned from it, I just feel thankful."
[Photo] Sunpoong Sunwoo Yongyeo
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