The Oppa Zone.
One of the nice things about marrying someone of a different ethnicity (she's Korean, I'm Superhero) is that you get to learn aspects of your SO's culture that you otherwise would be none the wiser about. But along with the good (duk bossam!) comes the bad (alcohol propensity) and, of course, the weird. And by weird, I'm talking about...
THE OPPA ZONE.
In the Korean language, the word
oppa translates into older brother. Simple enough, huh? That term is also applied to non-relatives, which is understandable, and BFs/husbands, which is not. I don't call my wife, "younger sister," why should she call me
oppa? It weirds me out a little. Then again, with 98.3% of South Koreans sharing the surname of Kim, perhaps some of them actually married relatives. (Okay, nevermind what I just wrote.) So, thankfully, instead of
oppa my wife calls me by more appropriate names, like her biyatch or ATM.
But to get back to the non-relative use, some guys earn that oppa title, while others actively seek it. You know, those guys who run around to all the wahines, begging, "call me oppa, I'll take care of you, I'll watch over you." Not infrequently, it's accompanied by a little too much grease, whether on the hair, character or both.
As an aging married man, I find it amusing and endearing that
some friends often
call me oppa. It's as if I'm some older father figure that they respect and trust enough to come to for advice, whether relationship or medical. (No, PT, that rash is not infectious. Ha! Just kidding! Kidding!) So for me, I don't mind being in the
oppa zone. But if I was single? Double decka hecka no. I want to ask all those
oppa wannabes why in the world would they want to be placed in the
oppa zone where not only are you rendered asexual, but also turned into a money pit?
I guess it's the whole if-you-can't-get-the-girl-try-and-be-close-in-case-of-BF-emergency, or perhaps it's some inherent need of Korean men to feel like hunter-gatherer cavemen. Either way, be careful what you wish for, homies, because you just might get it...and get broke and still be lonely.
As for me? You can call me
oppa, but only if YOU deserve it.
Franksabunch™...out like the San Francisco Bay Bridge! Have a great rest of the week!
Comments (16)
puhahahaha, you jerk!
I can relate. My husband is a different culture to mine. In his culture a man ten years older than you should be called Oom (uncle). It is very similar to the way they use it in South Korea.
I wonder if "Aniki" in japanese classifies in the same category...
Friend-zoned...but worse!
jk!
Never understood why being older in age was a valid reason to demand respect. No one is automatically entitled to respect, no matter whether you're an older brother or a parent. You earn it.
shit! i called someone in school "kimchi-ajusshi" and often replace "whatever" with "kimchi sushi wasabi". i must have been blacklisted.
lol i used to get called hyungboo by the ex's friends... now thats just wrong... the pressure, the responsibility, and its worse than the friends zone..
Haha. The Bay Bridge was only opened an hour and a half past it's due time! I was watching it on the news. ^_^ And I don't get the oppa thing either. I'd never call my boyfriend "Kuya." That's what we use on guys who are actually our kuyas and for those who we'd never date.
i think it's only if you deserve it...
You ain't agin'! You're as fresh as the day I met you
oh yeah i heard that too, i am learning Korean....when younger female calling an older male...is that right?
Yeah I thought that was kinda weird too. But I guess if you're not a family member, the term is affectionate in the romantic way.
that's like men who want to be called daddy. i dated a couple guys once who were like "you should call me daddy. i'm like your daddy, i buy you things" and i'm like "uhh i have a dad. i don't call anyone else but my actual dad, daddy."
(and yes as an adult i do call my parents mommy and daddy. that's what i've always called them. it's not trying to be cute or relive my childhood. mom and dad or mother and father is a reference to my being irritated with them.)
oh the dreaded oppa zone. All I can do is nod my head in agreement.
lol i call u oppa
lol great post, I'm sending this to my friend who always get oppa zoned!
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