KOREAN PARTY
18 ••••••••• •
More than once I was contracted by a Foreign Ad agency to shoot projects in Korea.
On one particular occasion the agency CEO invited me to a special dinner party at a government center in the heart of Seoul. The room was filled with notables of all types, Even Korea’s most popular female movie star. The group had a wonderful way of putting everyone on a level playing field and eliminating any hierarchy. Everyone sat at a long table and lots of Makgeolli. ( sparkling but strong rice wine), was passed around. Once several toasts were made and people’s belly’s were filled with alcohol, the balancing of status began.
It started at one end of the table, were a member would stand up, state who they were, and then sing a song of their choice. The reason this would equalize people is because some of the attendees with the highest social status would be the worse singer. But others would clap, or cheer or thank them. Mainly because we were all intoxicated. But everyone had to do this before the real purpose of the meeting began.
Keep in mind, my assistant and I were total outsiders to this event. Most everyone knew who the others were. Few spoke English, I spoke no Korean. And let’s face it, we looked a lot different. But when the circle made it’s way to the movie star, (who I had no idea who she was), everything changed. The second she began to sing my heart was enlightened. She sang so beautifully. Her voice touched my soul. Even though I didn’t know the Korean words, her emotions and inflections made every word clear. I could tell it was a love sonnet. I knew it spoke of the love of a man for a woman. I knew the point the man lost that woman and his heart was broken forever, Tears welled up in my eyes for both the story the song told and the beauty of her voice. I couldn’t move, but everyone else did. First to applaud such an enchanting performance, and then to turn to me with a kind of intimate camaraderie. Those who spoke English said, You are Korean. Welcome. And I felt welcomed. It was wonderful.
But there is more to this story.
After all of the singing and feelings of brotherhood subsided, one of the participants turned to me and stated, rather aggressively, “you really think you are something special don’t you!”.
I was a bit taken back.
“yeah”, he said, “you think you are just cooler than the rest of us”.
Well, I am a photographer who got flown around the world to be here, and I have long hair and cowboy boots, so….
No, I didn’t say that.
I fumbled some words that tried to sound like an apology. But before I could finished he said, “I challenge you to an arm wrestling contest”.
What? I thought that this must be how they resolve conflicts in Korea. But before I could protest, the rest of the group had already moved tables around and began placing bets on who would win. Large bets. All of them against me. Save for one, my own assistant. Smart move on his part.
So there I was, in a foreign country, surrounded by people who, only a moment ago I thought I was in fellowship with, seemingly ganging up against me.
Arm in arm the match began. I tried hardily, but the other man won without even breaking sweat. After the chorus of laughter subsided, and several hard slaps on my back, I discovered that this was all a rouse. The entire evening was about collecting donations for an arts commission, and the arm wrestling bets were the donations. I was just the patsy for the night. My opponent was actually the Korean arm wrestling champion, so I never stood a chance.
Fun people.
I Wish I could go back.
