Half Koreans in Korea Reflect on Identity and Privilege

In the revealing video titled “I Had Pretty Privilege: Half Koreans in Korea,” mixed-race individuals open up about what it’s like growing up or living in Korea as biracial. Featuring participants with backgrounds like Korean-American, Korean-German, Korean-Pakistani, Korean-British, and Korean-New Zealander, the documentary-style content explores identity, belonging, and the double-edged nature of perceived privilege.

The Struggle for Cultural Identity

Across the board, interviewees echoed a feeling of cultural split—never fully belonging to either heritage. This often left them stuck in-between, always viewed as an outsider no matter where they went.

• Tyler (Korean-American): Felt more Korean in Pakistan, but more Pakistani in Korea.
• Joanna (Korean-German): Perceived as foreign in both Korea and Germany.
• Hart (Korean-British): Isolated in local schools, but felt at ease among international students.
• Stella (Korean-New Zealander): Seen as fully Asian in New Zealand, yet “too white” in Korea.

This tug-of-war resulted in what many described as a “perpetual foreigner” status.

The Complications of Pretty Privilege

Tyler brought attention to how “pretty privilege” plays out in Korea, particularly for half-white individuals. He described being treated more favorably for aligning with Korean beauty ideals and Western features. Others noted how kids of white-Korean parentage often received admiration, while those from Southeast or South Asian heritage, like Vietnamese or Pakistani roots, encountered subtle prejudice or were treated with condescension.

The accounts revealed an unspoken racial hierarchy, where being closer to whiteness came with advantages—something not exclusive to Korea, but sharply felt in its homogenous society.

Stereotypes and Social Pressures

Many spoke about being constantly stared at or exoticized. These included:

• Strangers addressing them in English despite Korean fluency.
• Surprise or disbelief when they claimed to be Korean.
• Being objectified or treated like a novelty.

Hart remembered being called “baby girl” by strangers simply due to his looks. Stella recalled being assumed fluent in English based solely on appearance, even though she couldn’t speak it well at the time.

Adapting to Korean Beauty Norms

Participants, especially the women, noted a growing self-consciousness after moving to or spending time in Korea. They adapted by:

• Obsessing more over weight and appearance.
• Dressing more formally to blend in.
• Changing skincare and makeup habits to fit Korean standards.

Even something like daily sunscreen usage became part of aligning with Korea’s ideal of fair, flawless skin.

Language and Cultural Gaps

Language learning varied dramatically:

• Tyler mainly spoke English and picked up Korean outside of home.
• Joanna absorbed Korean passively during visits with her mother.
• Stella didn’t learn English early on despite having a native-speaking parent.

Many reflected on how the effort to pass down Korean culture often depended on schooling, immersive travel, or consistency at home.

Long-Term Life in Korea

While some, like Tyler and the half-Pakistani speaker, deeply valued life in Korea—mentioning its reliable public systems and family ties—they also acknowledged potential future moves abroad. The motivation? Broader career prospects and more inclusive environments.

Final Thoughts from the Half Korean Experience

The video paints a layered portrait of how half Koreans in Korea navigate a culture that celebrates uniformity. From the weight of beauty standards to assumptions around language and behavior, their stories highlight the reality of being visibly “different.”

Participants emphasized that how one is treated often depends on what the “other half” is. Proximity to whiteness brought admiration. Non-Western Asian roots? More judgment.

Still, despite societal friction, the interviewees remained thoughtful and proud of their mixed identities—balancing multiple cultural worlds with resilience and self-awareness.