Nick needs to stop doubling down. I lived in SK for two years and, yes, people can say things like “you look fat” to your face without repercussion.
But.
SK has a serious weight-shaming problem as well as a general obsession with food and eating, not to mention a hard-core drinking culture. People often rely on convenience foods, like cup noodles and fried things from snack stalls. I read a study once that said something like 35% of Korean kids are obese and that 65% of adult women could be considered as having an eating disorder. People will absolutely bully and pressure each other over their weight. You won’t get into the best high school if you’re too fat. You won’t get X job. You’ll never be a pop star or an actress. Women are told they’ll never marry. It’s gross, it’s a problem, and everyone KNOWS it’s a problem.
Add to this the odd fact that Korean guys love chubby white chicks (note: Devin is nor chubby imho). Nick even brings it up in one of his first talking head interviews. I used to go drinking with a girlfriend who was 5’1 and maybe 200 pounds; she would pick up guys on the street, bang them at a love hotel, and come back to the bar 20 mins later. According to one of my male Korean friends, it’s called “riding the white horse.”
So here’s my conclusion:
- It IS affectionate
- It IS an expression of love
- He should stop because she said she didn’t like it.
- He’s doing that Korean male thing where he got told what to do and didn’t like it, so he’s decided to die on this hill and will keep doing it.
Why tf would you eat a garbage plate if you weren’t so drunk your face was sliding off?!