Why Do Koreans Like Cute Things?

Dear Korean,

Since I arrived in Korea, I have wondered about the national obsession for cute things. I know of no other place where grown men and women so enthusiastically pose for photos with cute robots, over-sized teddy bears, wear cute Mickey and Minnie Mouse paraphernalia, and... well, the list goes on. Cute cartoon cows on galbi signs? Cutesy police officers who look like puppies on road signs? What's the deal? Seriously, Teenie Weenie? (It's a clothing brand centered around globe-trotting teddy bears who look rather out of place in any location that isn't a child's story book)

- I'm Not Wearing A Shirt With That Damn Bear No Matter How Adorable It Makes Me


Dear INWASWTDBNMHAIMM,

You speak the truth. And in this case, pictures are worth a thousand words. So without further ado…

Cute robot assisting English education? Check

Time for NSET Luddite movement? (Source)

Grown man peddling teddy bears? Check.

Pro Gamer Yoon-Yeol Lee shows off teddy bears modeled after him. (Source)

Cannibalistic chicken peddling spicy chicken (dakkalbi)? Check.

My head is here. Now come taste my body! (Source)

Cutesy police officers who look like puppies? Double check.

At least it doesn't look like a pig. (Source)

Police characters, hard at work. (Source)

And horror of all horrors, Teenie Weenie.

Yes, an entire fashion chain built around a teddy bear theme!! (Source)

Pick up your jaws -- you are ruining the carpet.

Why is this happening? A society’s consumption pattern is a complex sociological issue, requiring many eggheads and inscrutable doctoral dissertations in order to uncover the multitudinous layers that create a sophisticated mosaic comprised of tastes, class identifications and ...

Heck, who is the Korean kidding? The answer is one word:  Japan.

In fact, when INWASWTDBNMHAIMM says he knows of "no other place" with obsession for cute things, he pretty much told the world that he has never been to Japan. Because if he did, he would have seen these:

One of the first things you see as you are stepping out of the Narita Airport near Tokyo. (Source)

 And these ladies, if you are lucky. (Source)

 The pinnacle of Japan's kawai-ness. (Source)

Although Korea is a major exporter of culture at this point (in the form of movies, TV dramas and pop music,) Korea had no significant pop culture to speak of as recently as 40 years ago as the country struggled to build their way out of the heap of rubble. As Korean pop culture grew into form, it was influenced by two major pop cultures close to Korea -- American and Japanese.

It is, then, no surprise that Korea is infected by Japan's love for cute cartoon characters. Let's face it -- people like cute things. There is no population of children in the world that rejected Pokemon, and that's not because of its compelling story line. It is perhaps the first cartoon whose only appeal was cuteness overload.

Even children of South Park love Poke--, ahem, Chinpokomon.

The only reason why American adults are inhibited from embracing their cuteness-loving nature is the years of Puritanical repression they suffered as children, only using yellow No. 2 pencil when they secretly desired colorful mechanical pencils with anime characters printed on them. So INWASWTDBNMHAIMM, you actually want Teenie Weenie deep down. Look at that bear smiling. He's smiling at you! Are you going to disappoint the cute bear? How dare you!

But the Korean understands that old habits die hard, and your revulsion will not subside easily. So next time when you are subject to the horrors of Teenie Weenie, do what all Koreans do when they hate something about Korea -- blame Japan.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email the Korean at askakorean@hotmail.com.