[Korean Culture & Language] Korean langauge in movies and shows

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Hundreds of millions of dollars on average are spent on producing shows and movies, but it doesn’t seem like a big deal when it comes to getting a foreign language right when they are portrayed. 

Below is a scene from one of the low-budget movies in 1977 that became famous in Korea. It became famous not because it was well made, but because what he says in the movie is completely out of context. 


The actor says “한국말로 무조건 말하라니 한심하군. 우리 한국사람이 들으면 정신 나갔다고 말할게 아니야. 아무튼 하라니 할 수 밖에 결과는 어떻든간에 말이야. 이런 미국에서 영화생활 하려니 한심하군 그래. 한심한 처지가 한두번이 아니야. 아무튼 한국 팬들에겐 실례가 되겠습니다. 한국말로 무조건 말하라니 한심하군. 아무튼 하라니 할 수 밖에 결과는 어떻든간에 말이야.”

It means: “How ridiculous is it that they are asking me to say just anything in Korean? If Korean audiences were to hear this, they would think I’m crazy. But what can I do? I should do what I’m told, regardless of how this will turn out. So pathetic to be an actor in the states. This is not the first time I’ve felt this way. Apologies to my Korean fans. It’s ridiculous of them to ask me to say just anything in Korean. But I should do what I’m told, regardless of how this will turn out”.

It’s funny how he actually spoke whatever comes to his mind and no one even checked what he meant before the movie is out.

Thankfully, actors and actresses speak Korean in the right context in some movies.


It is obvious that Jim Carrey put a lot of effort into learning Korean for Yes Man.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQFxrl3A71I (4:50)

At 4:50 of this video, Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) from How I Met Your Mother also speaks Korean. Even though what he says is in the right context, not many Koreans would understand what he is saying in this scene. He says “Miyonaeyo Gayodaeyo,” which sounds like Japanese to most Koreans. What he meant to say was probably “Mian haeyo, Gaya dweyo (미안해요, 가야돼요)”. It means, “I’m sorry, I have to go”.

It’s such an honor to hear Korean languages in different shows and movies. It would be best though if they are used appropriately. 

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