Choo Seong-hoon Reflects on Discrimination and Identity Struggles as a Korean in Japan: A Powerful Speech on Overcoming Adversity

Photo = Ten Asian DB Choo Seong-hoon admitted that he was discriminated against while growing up as a Korean in Japan.

On MBC‘s ‘Lecturers Make Your Heart Cry’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘Lecturers’) aired on the 3rd, Seong-Hoon Choo, a martial arts athlete turned Judo, gave his first speech in his life on the theme ‘When the world doesn’t do it’. go as I please.’

Choo Seong-hoon, who appeared on the podium, said, “This is the first time I have given a speech. My Korean pronunciation is poor and I don’t know difficult words yet. I wondered why I should talk about myself in front of people” He said, “After hearing my story, I thought, “Should I try too?” “It would be good to hear,” he said.

Photo = Taken from MBC’s ‘Lecturers’ Seong-Hoon Choo was born in Osaka, Japan, and is a fourth generation Cornish living in Japan.

Choo Seong-hoon admitted his experience of being discriminated against as a Cornish in Japan. Choo Seong-hoon said, “One day, my friend borrowed 100 yen and didn’t pay it back even though he had the money. A fight broke out, and my friend’s homeroom teacher called me to the gym and told me, ‘I didn’t hit Japanese people,’ and I only hit where I couldn’t see,” Choo Seong recalled. -hoon, who was beaten until his entire body was bruised at the age of 14, “I thought this was discrimination.”

Seong-Hoon Choo won first place in the Osaka Judo tournament and was scouted by a prestigious school with tuition support. Choo Seong-hoon said, “It was my father’s and I’s dream to represent the Korean national team. If I play for a Japanese business team, I can earn 3 million and help the family, but I chose my dream over money and joined Busan City Hall in Korea at the age of 24.”

However, even though Choo Seong-hoon ranked first on the international stage, he was reportedly excluded from national team selection due to a biased decision by the Judo Association. Choo Seong-hoon admitted, “No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it. ” Choo Sung-hoon decided to naturalize in Japan after 3 years and 7 months as a player in Korea.

Choo Sung-hoon was selected as a member of the Japanese national team a year later. When Korea and Japan played at the 2002 Busan Asian Games, Choo Seong-hoon won the gold medal. At the time, Choo Seong-hoon hung a Japanese flag on the roof and said, “It was strange to see the Taegeukgi next to each other down the side.”

Choo Seong-hoon said the reason he naturalized in Japan was simply because he wanted to practice judo. He recalled, “I wanted to hear people say that I was a ‘good player’ because I won the game between Korea and Japan.” Choo Seong-hoon, who received negative comments in both Korea and Japan, said, “I thought about where I was from. “

After retiring from judo, Choo Seong-hoon took up mixed martial arts and had Korean and Japanese flags engraved on each arm of his uniform. He said he didn’t want the first game to be held in Korea because of the previous Busan trauma, and couldn’t hide his surprise, saying, “Fans were Korea cheering me on.

Choo Seong-hoon said, “The name Choo Seong-hoon disappeared due to naturalization in Japan, but when I come to Korea, I call him Choo Seong-hoon. Sometimes, people there I say ‘Love is Dad,'” and he emphasized, “The blood and the heart in my body are Korean.”

Choo Seong-hoon taught his daughter Sarangi Korean culture, including Hangul and the national anthem, from an early age. Choo Seong-hoon admitted, “I was worried that Sarang would see the malicious comments because the level of malicious comments was strong. Especially, when I saw posts that said, ‘Be careful with your daughter. I know where she lives,’ I felt nervous while appearing on a parenting variety show. ” Choo Seong-hoon also guarded his daughter’s way to and from school in case a dangerous situation might occur. When Sarang asked about his younger brother’s plans, Choo Sung-hoon replied, “Absolutely nothing.”

Choo Sung-hoon lost his father last April. Seong-Hoon Choo’s father died when his heart stopped with 6 holes left while playing golf. It is said that Choo Seong-hoon wore a judo uniform as a linen at his father’s funeral.

Choo Seong-hoon said, “My father advised me, ‘Every moment in my life is a choice. Always take the hard way.’ This is not an easy path, but a shortcut to help and success in the end.” He said, “Will you accept the challenge of me He ended his speech by saying, “?”

Kim Ji-won, reporter of Ten Asia won bella@tenasia.co.kr