My honest thoughts as a Korean Spurs fan...

#손흥민 #sonheungmin #tottenham #토트넘
In today's video, Jason gives his honest thoughts on the rising tension between local and Korean Spurs fans.
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[@2apur]

As an American who speaks Korean, I've observed the tension from both sides. It's coming from a place of xenophobia rather than racism. I hope Koreans realize that. Not that it makes it any better, but they're not singling out Koreans cus they're Korean, but because they're not English. All Non-English fans face the same criticism, it's just that Koreans are much more easily spotted, yes because they're Asian, but also the flag, Son jersey, etc. I get called a plastic fan all the time because I'm American. It's just a sinful amount of pride, that's all I think.

[@roboi2241]

As a Spurs who ceased going to games in the 1980s, any hostility you might experience is probably just a passing phase. As a mixed-race British citizen my first game was a north London derby in winter 1976 when I was 13 years old and one of the first remarks I heard walking up in Tottenham High St darkness was "there's an awful lot of (racist term) round Tottenham these days" coming casually from the mouth of a passing Spurs fan. It wasn't the nicest greeting to get for my first game though it wasn't aimed directly at me as the wider Tottenham area had a sizeable Caribbean presence since around the 1950/60s and the racist probably was from outside the area. Anyway it probably happened to jewish people at one time in the 50s or whenever. It even happened in the 1970s when younger people started to make up more of the support and the traditional older folk who attended games bemoaned the amount of unruly teenagers spoiling their Saturday's with foul language and hooliganism. I personally love the Korean input to Spurs, it brings a vibrancy and freshness to the club and though I don't want to disparage the older grey haired folk who make up a fair portion of the crowd it's great to see from my tv screen a nd youtube clips smiling vibrant young Koreans adding to the visual and atmosphere at the stadium. Keep it up and don't let the curmudgeons bother you, some of them will find anything to moan about, I guess it goes with the territory.

[@yooj11]

It’s ridiculous, no way that many Korean or Asian fans make much of an impact on a match day atmosphere. Watching tv, other than see the Korean flag, it’s barely noticeable to see any “asian impact.” Spurs fans should just be happy that it’s another revenue maker, instead of whining on social media, don’t they want the recognition of being a “global” club?

[@LilSoul55]

Even as an Arsenal fan, this video was a good watch to make sure others who don't experience this kind of behaviour or don't have an open mindset, can try to understand some of the small or big struggles that international fans can experience. Sadly, there is a small minority of so-called "fans" that direct their dissatisfaction with the rise of ticket prices and availability towards Korean fans, which is not fair but continues to happen.

[@yeonlee5]

Glad you're speaking up about this. Goes unnoticed, but I've been a Spurs fan since 2015 (when Son first signed), and it's not a minority of fans. In fact, it's a good number of local fans calling Korean and international fans plastic, but do they know that if we stop supporting Spurs (which we never will because we love the club so much even though it's been painful over the years), then the club's finance will be absolutely in the mud. Most of us fans are just happy to get access to watch the prem, so call us plastic if you want, but at the end of the day, just know, number one, if we stop supporting your club, your club is actually going to be ruined financially. Second, is being born halfway across the world and supporting a club really plastic?

[@highlandersteve9953]

I have never seen hate for a Korean Spurs fan. I have, however, seen hate for a Korean Son fan. I can understand why some people might be annoyed that one player can do no wrong and everybody else gets either ignored or treated like dirt, while understanding that it's not okay to hate on them for it. To be clear, there are many people who will stop following the club when Son leaves. This lends itself to the "plastic fans" narrative that I personally couldn't care less about, but I recognise that it will happen regardless. That's just the end result of having a national legend at the club.

[@highlandersteve9953]

In case it wasn't obvious, you are clearly clickbaiting and I think that's just pathetic. You can do better.

[@KD-uw1qk]

If I may ask, how was the VIP experience? Interested in trying it out. Enjoy your content and Albert's, keep up the good work.

[@JC-kz3ut]

I don't want to dismiss others' experiences, but I think for the most part, this is nonsense. I am ethnically Korean, but I am first and foremost, a native North Londoner, and very few locals have issues with the Korean fanbase. If you ask me if I had any hardships growing up in London during a time where there weren't many Koreans, especially in football, the answer is a resounding no. I will also bet you my house that "Paul" is not a local. Please don't project that nonsense onto saying there is tension between Korean and local fans. There is not. Also, if there *is* any tension with local fans, again, first, it will be from the overwhelming minority. But second, it won't be because of tourist fans just being tourist fans. Overseas fans have to understand that football in English and European clubs is tribal. You don't get to just choose and buy into a club. Spurs have been around for almost 150 years, and the core fanbase (until commercialisation) have been generational. The vast majority of us support the club because either it's where we're from or because generations before us supported it, not because we chose it. I don't think so, but some of the hardcore tribalists might find it disrespectful that new fans just import a foreign fan culture into something that is more than just a club to them. And we all know that Asian fan culture has a VERY distinct taste to it (which I, and a lot of native Tottenham fans, think is good). I think this discussion arises from over-sensitivity from Koreans because of lack of cultural understanding, which then gets overblown.

[@flipsmc8647]

As an Aussie Spurs fan, I've never noticed this. Son is my favourite player, as he reps the AFC well, and clearly loves the game. I've personally only noticed Spurs fans happy the brand is doing well in Korea. Sucks if you've experienced hate. Maybe it's different with the locals.

[@Jaykmane]

I think for the most part everyone would agree with you including me but I can also see why the criticism is happening. Im not gonna lie but the Korean online fans can get pretty toxic. At first it didn’t bother me but I began noticing it once i saw how they treated Lee kang in after the AFC cup. Talk about loyalty..

[@richardedwards141]

Speaking as an Australian Spurs fan. Much of Son's criticism comes from racial stereotyping. When he's playing well he's industrious and clinical but when he's playing badly he's soft and a crybaby. The same can be observed for the South American players (hard hitting and technicians vs hot headed and lazy) and even Ange himself as an Australian (down to earth straight talker vs simple and tactically unsophisticated). Cultural differences are inevitable but they are not grounds for unjust criticism - Son is a club legend and supporters should support their team. As for criticism of Korean fans, I agree that it comes from xenophobia rather than racism. The Korean fans are easy targets: they stand out and have a perceived lack of knowledge/interest in the club as they largely come to see their countryman or experience English culture (which, ironically, includes a little xenophobia). Having lived in Korea, this national pride and "from the inside looking out" perspective on all things foreign is evident to see. Tickets should, at least in theory, be accessible to everyone. Korean fans have every right to watch one of their greatest-ever players or experience English football whether they are fans or not. International fans should be treated with respect and the revenue they generate should be welcomed. But despite its growing global profile it's important to remember that this is ENGLISH football. We should feel privileged to be able to support or visit the club and be aware of where it all began.

[@fernandomustachioso9737]

The security guy's behavior is inexcusable. There's multiple facets to this. I'm a fellow foreign spurs fan who interacts with people from the UK every day. This tourist fan tension exists at some other clubs too. At spurs there's also a huge waiting list for season tickets, so every fan who's there is kind of blocking an another one from being there.. very much including the regular season ticket holders. I agree with @2apur's comment, English/British xenophobia is nothing new - there's been comedians joking about it for ages. Spurs fans have also historically supported Jewish fans against antisemitism so the track record is a bit all over the place. In terms of the longer time frame, some of us remember Lee Young-Pyo too, who had a solid if unremarkable stint at the club too :'D

[@marinajari]

1. All big PL teams have "tourist" fans. It just that you cannot spot those, whereas Korean fans when carrying their flags are more visible. 2. In my opinion, social media comments do not reflect the average fan, so, when you generalise based on a biased sample, your conclusions will be biased as well 3. Why buy at a higher price from resellers (which I think is not legal?) and not buy a Tottenham membership? Is a membership not available to overseas fans? 4. I am very sorry about the treatment you received during the Tottenham match. I think you should raise an offical complaint or at least make the Tottenham club, or whoever sold you the hospitality ticket, aware via a letter/ email. In the UK they take complaints/letters seriously 5. Spurs are making big money from the Korean fans. I dont think that Son would have been able to leave if he ever wanted to in the past

[@MoTHFC]

Nobody hates korean fans or any other international fan. The problem is that daniel levy is using the korean fans to make koads of money in matchday revenue. Its very deceiving from daniel and its very sad hes milking out tourist who are genuinely good people and passionate fans who come once or so in their life. Ofcourse there are idiots online who abuse sonny when we lose but those are just kids or just grown manchilds😅 the internet is a dark place sometimes... But inside the stadium nobody bothers any korean or say anything abusive. We can Ofcourse critize sonny for his lack of consistency and his lack of 'taking others under their wing' during games and take the lead but nevertheless we acknowledge that sonny is the best player at tottenham atm ❤ Youre always welcome mate!

[@user-dv4rh2my1x]

It's easy to see through Korean fans waving their national flags and talking only about Sonny Sonny Sonny. Once Son retires and we sign a say Japanese player, these fans are gone.

[@parryoyakhire6568]

Are you son fan or spurs fan?

[@baliDOTid]

be logical, every non local fans of the club start out by being a fan of a player. otherwise why choose spurs at all?

[@DjSlut]

Did you actually watch the video?

[@Goldenchild9304]

Well from that question it is clear you are one of the people this video is talking about.

[@DjSlut]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Unfortunately a certain contingent are entitled enough to think it's "their" club. Those people are present in every club and society. Think of them as people claiming to be Tottenham fans. They are not actual fans. I hope you get to come back and see a win😊