UN racism envoy puts South Korea's reputation for prejudice to test
Expert will examine nation's reputation for casual discrimination during week-long visit
South Korea's efforts to rid itself of a reputation for casual racial discrimination and overbearing ethnic nationalism will come under scrutiny this week from the UN's top expert on racism.
Tasked with assessing racism, xenophobia and related intolerance around the world, UN Special Rapporteur Mutuma Ruteere began a week-long mission to the country yesterday.
One of Asia's most ethnically homogenous societies, South Korea has a small but rising foreign population which has not always been made to feel welcome.
Some complaints focus on examples of racial insensitivity, such as performers "blacking up" on television, or recent advertising for a new cigarette brand, This Africa, which featured chimpanzees dressed as a news anchor and a reporter.
"I think that type of thing is largely down to a lack of knowledge," said Kim Ji-yoon, director of the Centre for Public Opinion and Quantitative Research at the Asan Institute for Policies Studies in Seoul.
"It comes from people who don't really recognise what racism is, or what you should or should not say. We haven't had that education yet," Kim said.