Am I Korean Now? Growing up in the Muslim World but Serving in the Korean Army

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  • Опубліковано 25 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 132

  • @TheHalfieProject
    @TheHalfieProject  4 роки тому +51

    Meet Ayman Lee. After 20 years of growing up in Egypt, he came to Korea where almost immediately he was mandatorily sent to the Korean Army, spending two years in a very specific, hierarchical lifestyle all while not speaking Korean fluently. He shares what it was like to grow up in an Islamic state as mixed Korean, the struggles of the Korean army, what it means to be 'Korean,' and the hint of a love story to come... stay tuned ;)
    Do you think you could survive the Korean military? Let us know below!

    • @ElRioCruz
      @ElRioCruz 4 роки тому +3

      I love what you are doing and the cultural thrust of the program. It's been really eye-opening for me on many different levels. The interviews are great and the wide range of topics deeply interesting..
      I would ask, however, that you either stop the continual background "music" or reduce the volume to near zero. It really interferes with trying to hear and understand what is being said. It's truly quite annoying. Thank you!

    • @koreanpeninsula2116
      @koreanpeninsula2116 4 роки тому +2

      Haha I am a dual citizen. U.S. and South Korea. Luckily I dont have to go because I am too old! Lucky me

    • @khaiophirgrad7717
      @khaiophirgrad7717 4 роки тому

      Egypt = Al Qibať = Mesir

    • @mennamostafa
      @mennamostafa 4 роки тому

      I'm Egyptian!!❤❤ And I wish him all good luck in life !! Inshallah ❤💐👌

  • @believeinyourself5351
    @believeinyourself5351 4 роки тому +48

    I am just an African American but addicted to this channel. Great contents and conversations

    • @darrenroberts637
      @darrenroberts637 4 роки тому +2

      believeinyourself me .. I’m black and PR ..,love Becky and they show

  • @CAMCAM413
    @CAMCAM413 4 роки тому +23

    Love his story. He completed his military duties and stayed for the girl ❤️. Thanks Becky and Cedric (I know your back there😊)

  • @midnightdreams8136
    @midnightdreams8136 3 роки тому +10

    This guy is hands down the most handsome of all the guests on this channel! Interesting story as well!

  • @acejs6558
    @acejs6558 4 роки тому +16

    Loved this interview, loved the honesty and respect you both have for each other! Great content and conversation! Please do more and keep producing more fantastic interviews:) Fan from Sydney, Australia

  • @RenCurrymusicalseoul
    @RenCurrymusicalseoul 4 роки тому +18

    That's cute! All that hardship you went through, but in the end you ended up finding love. How wonderful ~

  • @favmovieclassics2156
    @favmovieclassics2156 3 роки тому +3

    2021 and this is the first time viewing this channel. AMAZING!!! Becky is a great interviewer, she seems to put everyone at ease and asks insightful but respectful questions. Even though she's interviewing Mr. Lee this couple appears to be very honest, open and balanced. Grateful to them and this channel where they're able to tell their story. Thank you. I'm African American and we have learned to acclimate to all cultures.

  • @nadz8911
    @nadz8911 4 роки тому +21

    I can relate being Syrian/ Korean, Arab culture is very dominant mans culture, in Arab cultures views, they say you follow what your father is not your mother.

    • @koreanpeninsula2116
      @koreanpeninsula2116 4 роки тому +9

      Same in korea. You follow your fathers side

    • @tw3ist
      @tw3ist 4 роки тому +2

      literally every culture, smartass

    • @Miguelrirez-ne6kq
      @Miguelrirez-ne6kq 4 роки тому +4

      archduke
      Nah, definitely not every culture you rude dick.

    • @Feliz831
      @Feliz831 4 роки тому +4

      No, definitaly not as Jews. When your mother is Jewish the children are also. The mother can marry none Jews and the Kids will be Jews anyway.

    • @nadz8911
      @nadz8911 4 роки тому

      archduke wrong !!! Aussies don’t care about who is who? In those cultures it’s very important to them the fathers roots.. give you example my dad wasn’t born in Syria and he went to Syria for a holiday to visit his relatives the Syrian army went looking for my dad to forcefully put him in the army there when he never grew up their at all only because his fathers roots are Syrian and my dad is born in Beirut by the way!! You clueless of cultures how they work!

  • @darrenroberts637
    @darrenroberts637 4 роки тому +5

    Wow excellent story... great insight . Love it

  • @nadinehesham3407
    @nadinehesham3407 2 роки тому

    I'm Egyptian and I enjoyed watching the interview - thanks!

  • @afraidsari
    @afraidsari 4 роки тому +7

    love this interview. love this channel.

  • @mennamostafa
    @mennamostafa 4 роки тому +8

    4:59 real true
    I understand what he mean 😭
    But also the same happen in Korea 😭😭
    Koreans don't know much about Egypt
    But I hope in the future inshallah ❤ it change and Korea and Egypt become good together and know about each others more !!👌🌻

    • @TheHalfieProject
      @TheHalfieProject  4 роки тому +1

      Thank you for the kind message! We hope the same

  • @turkeygirl92
    @turkeygirl92 4 роки тому +10

    I love your content! Keep up the good work 😊

    • @MsErynn8
      @MsErynn8 4 роки тому

      Second that!Good job guys!

  • @ivyd5485
    @ivyd5485 4 роки тому +2

    Another great interview from the THPP. Thank you!. I love these stories. Please do more of them,

  • @trayas50
    @trayas50 4 роки тому +14

    Surely, you can not be a part of Korean boys club without having done military service. You are a really Korean man. I did my duty 35 years ago and have been living in Europe for 33 years. Quite interesting to watch Halfie project. By the way, I could have made but we did not. Greeting

  • @kunal.9587
    @kunal.9587 2 роки тому +1

    I am glad that Korea has progressed so much. Now nobody dares to look down on Korea.l.

  •  3 роки тому

    Very interesting video. I resonate with the things he said about being targeted BC u r not one or the other culture fully.
    I'm half Egyptian and half Uzbek
    People are cliquish and it caused me to go through an identity crisis and self loathing. U feel like u don't belong anywhere even though being mixed is a blessing.

  • @galeemamoyce6551
    @galeemamoyce6551 4 роки тому +2

    Really cool open discussion♥️

  • @MariaAya
    @MariaAya 3 роки тому +1

    Love your channel, I'm greek egyptian and understand so much of what Ayman is saying.

  • @AbdulAli-ku9he
    @AbdulAli-ku9he 3 роки тому +2

    Ayman Lee is very eloquent gentleman.

  • @meenobk5847
    @meenobk5847 3 роки тому +3

    Same, in my country all Asian looks will be called chines.
    However, I feel what this guy says, I hazara ethnicity isn't accepted in Afghanistan too, bcz they have chines, Japanese, Korean look and they are minority, so basically in the past they moved from other Asian countries like Korea, China..... To Afghanistan and settled, and other groups doesn't accept them bcz how they look.

    • @pyracurse
      @pyracurse 2 роки тому +2

      Hazara are descended from Mongols and Turkic tribes from central Asia

  • @mennamostafa
    @mennamostafa 4 роки тому +5

    Love you and always support you from Egypt ❤
    Come to Egypt when corona goes away inshallah ❤🌻
    Countine your good videos 🌞
    And always be safe 🌻 inshallah ❤ and take care of your health 💐🎁🌻

    • @TheHalfieProject
      @TheHalfieProject  4 роки тому +2

      Thank you for the blessings. We hope to visit Egypt one day. Take care~

  • @XojiAkaVlogs
    @XojiAkaVlogs 4 роки тому +2

    Great video! 👍

  • @갑니다-d6e
    @갑니다-d6e 2 роки тому +1

    한글자막 진심으로 감사합니다!!

  • @misterboot6682
    @misterboot6682 2 роки тому +1

    So Basically a half Korean half Egyptian looks like a strong muscular Korean. He looks tall too.

  • @kareemaafteraddiction8965
    @kareemaafteraddiction8965 4 роки тому +4

    When we were searching for names for our son Ayman was the other big name we loved - we eventually chose Adam tho. Xo

  • @밥이야-k5s
    @밥이야-k5s 3 роки тому +1

    군대을 자진해서 다녀왔대서 처음에 아이고 했네요... 얻으신게 있다니 참 다행입니다

  • @lv16jismij
    @lv16jismij 2 роки тому

    Firstly met Egyptian colleague at Chicago, where it was my historic, three days before my birthday, he looks like 33, but older than I expected, still I can be friends regardless of age. On top of that, I always think Moment Musicaux, when I meet any people, this time was in c-sharp minor, (four sharps, relative in E major, where I'm musical), I enjoyed lots of people where I love internationally, especially I'm biggest fan of international football soccer matches.

  • @masuprod4526
    @masuprod4526 3 роки тому

    good interview!

  • @seti6272
    @seti6272 2 роки тому

    I randomly looked up half Asian half Middle Eastern and dang .... this guys good looking 😯

  • @ycaceres3357
    @ycaceres3357 2 роки тому +4

    True Egyptians are not Arabs Egyptians existed before Arabs came into being...

  • @abeermikh
    @abeermikh 4 роки тому +6

    Isn't it also necessary to do military service in Egypt?

    • @TheHalfieProject
      @TheHalfieProject  4 роки тому +3

      As I can see, it is exempt for those with certain conditions, including dual citizenship :)

    • @mohamedahmedgalal3987
      @mohamedahmedgalal3987 4 роки тому +4

      Only son is spared and there are conditions that you get spared from the army

    • @mohamedahmedgalal3987
      @mohamedahmedgalal3987 3 роки тому

      @Ayousha Ahmed If he has foreign nationality he don't enter

  • @jacer5677
    @jacer5677 4 роки тому +9

    near the place where arab spring started" ???
    "Egypt was developed compared to Korea" ???
    "the arab culture is closed" ???
    "Arab countries have their bad people but egyptians are the kindest" ???
    "i advice anyone who has the choice to do not go to military" and then he says those 2 years were the best in my life

    • @omniamohamed404
      @omniamohamed404 4 роки тому +9

      1-Well, the first sentence is not actually true, the Arab spring started in Tunisia, but I think he meant where the Egyptian revolution happened.
      2-The second sentence, it used to be, not anymore unfortunately. People used to be sent to Egypt to study and get a high-quality education. Japanese used to be sent to study how developed Egypt became.
      3- the Arab culture is some how closed, nothing to do with the religion
      4- don't know what to say, but it is completely wrong. If I have to choose one country to be the kindest, I would say Sudan. I am not Sudanese BTW🙈

    • @kevinhuxley9252
      @kevinhuxley9252 3 роки тому +1

      Korea inferior/poor compared to Egypt when their parent met? Assuming he is around 30 years old, Per Capita GDP for South Korea in 1990 was US$6,610. Per Capita GDP for Egypt in 1990 was US$766. That is a difference of almost 10 times! In 2020, its US$31,489 vs US$3,548. Korea was already ahead of Egypt by 1960's, only a decade after the Korean War.

    • @spilledmilk2991
      @spilledmilk2991 2 роки тому +1

      @@kevinhuxley9252 copying and pasting comments kevin?

    • @official-hb4mr
      @official-hb4mr 2 роки тому

      @@omniamohamed404 Don't make me laugh. Even now in Thailand there is still Korean students,does it mean Thailand more advanced than Korea? What kind of high technology you guys have? Your country is so poooor and full of cheaters and you look down upon asians? Stop being hilarious

    • @MESSI-fx1ob
      @MESSI-fx1ob Рік тому +1

      @@omniamohamed404 I'm not Sudani but Sudani are the nicest Arabs also Libyans too and Yemenis

  • @thenobleone-3384
    @thenobleone-3384 3 роки тому

    I have been to Egypt and Egyptian men are very open to marrying women who are from different backgrounds. In other countries in the Middle East it's sort of taboo.

  • @ELEKTRARE
    @ELEKTRARE 3 роки тому

    This young man is very handsome ooooohhhh woooooow what a combination of cultures really !!!!

  • @langtoronto
    @langtoronto 4 роки тому +1

    Korean military makes Korean men tough..not wimpy!

  • @thenobleone-3384
    @thenobleone-3384 3 роки тому

    I can speak for myself I look more South Asian but a part of me feels Italian. The guy in the video looks more Korean but he probably feels connected to his Egyptian half

  • @NightEast
    @NightEast 3 роки тому +3

    어디 이씹니까?
    이집트 이씹니다
    허어 유서깊은 명문집안이시네
    ...
    ㅈㅅ합니다 아재개그 ㅠㅠ

  • @harrye9105
    @harrye9105 4 роки тому +4

    U know when you're in the states, if you speak English too fluently ppl might be much more harsh on you bc they regard you as an immigrant so they expect better output.
    I think the reason the interviewee had to go through such hard time was he looks 99.9999% Asian. So many 조교s(military instructor) might think his performance was poor not bc he had some language barrier but bc he was not listening to them or being deligent. I feel bad for him in that time😖
    But fyi after 2000, Korean Army is MUCH MUCH better in terms of sensitiveness towards each soldier's human rights.
    15:47 I think it's not about Korean hierachy. let's say if you finshed your duty well that proves you have at least fundamental social interacting skills and some guts(or grits). Bc you'd gone through those harsh times and survived. Many many older folks around me said ' Every boy should enter the military so he can make a real adult(성인 means achieve being human)'.

    • @TheHalfieProject
      @TheHalfieProject  4 роки тому +1

      Harry E yes it’s a fair point! And for sure, the military has taken great strides forward to becoming more fair and open :)

  • @마파람-g7p
    @마파람-g7p 2 роки тому +1

    군대를 갔다왔으면 진짜 한국남자가 된거죠 전쟁이 난다면 믿고 등뒤를 맡길수 있는 전우는 외국인이 아니라 진정한 친구이고 형제나 다름 없습니다.

  • @عبداللههشام-ك6ث

    In Egypt we also have military service

  • @thenobleone-3384
    @thenobleone-3384 3 роки тому

    This is interesting in Afghanistan there is an Asian influence regarding Buddhism.

  • @kevinhuxley9252
    @kevinhuxley9252 3 роки тому +2

    Korea inferior/poor compared to Egypt when their parent met? What are you talking about? Assuming he is around 30 years old, Per Capita GDP for South Korea in 1990 was US$6,610. Per Capita GDP for Egypt in 1990 was US$766. That is a difference of almost 10 times! In 2020, its US$31,489 vs US$3,548. Korea was already ahead of Egypt by 1960's, only a decade after the Korean War. He clearly knows very little about history, or just talks whatever comes into his head without thinking.

    • @spilledmilk2991
      @spilledmilk2991 2 роки тому +1

      Hes the one that went through it and he's the one that knows what happened so im gonna trust what he said ok kevin? So don't pull up with the numbers acting like you were there

    • @yamazaki9366
      @yamazaki9366 Рік тому

      Well I don’t think his KOREAN mother lied to him, cuz why would she do so lol

  • @mennamostafa
    @mennamostafa 4 роки тому +6

    2:47 true Egyptian👌👌👌😂❤

  • @elisathompson3380
    @elisathompson3380 4 роки тому +7

    Great beginning of this story. I'm most confused as to how cultural hospitality doesn't often translate to acceptance when one dates or marries out of that culture, race or ethnicity. SMH 😑
    Looking forward to part 2

  • @슬아-z4n
    @슬아-z4n 3 роки тому +4

    당신은 누가 뭐래도 한국인입니다

  • @flav7758
    @flav7758 3 роки тому

    Half Arabic and half Asians are looking good. Arabic have bigger eyes than Asians. Since Ayman is half Arabic, his eyes are wide enough. He shouldn't feel ashamed of himself. His looks are okay. People are rejecting him just because he is a half Asian.

    • @reiner.m3525
      @reiner.m3525 3 роки тому

      Hey We dont need Arabish eyes. Wow so wonderful and beautiful :( well educated! Bravo

    • @badpharaoh463
      @badpharaoh463 Рік тому

      Egyptians aren’t Arabs

  • @yeslll
    @yeslll 4 роки тому +1

    Mashallah

  • @parhutahian
    @parhutahian 3 роки тому +4

    How can parents forbid their children to learn their roots?

    • @hihi-qd8uo
      @hihi-qd8uo 3 роки тому +2

      Arab is highly patriarchal regardless, even if both parents are Arab, everything goes through the father, as you carry the names of your father, and his father's father, and his father's father. For ex if a kid was half saudi half moroccan which there are alot, and their dad is saudi.They lose all their Moroccan culture and roots, and adopt their saudi lineage, this concept is called nasb or nasab. People are all arab because of their father never their mother. If their mother is arab and their father is not then the kid is not Arab. Being arab is because of the father only, that's why arab people dont like to marry their girls to non-arab people; which in of itself is forbidden to do in Islam. The funny thing is that being arab, all that requires of you is to know arabic, as that's how the majority of the arabian people have become arabs, like the prophet muhammad himself who was Adnanite (Arabized-Arabs). The rest, which the majority lie in yemen are called Qahtanites (Arabizing-Arabs) Adnani and Qahtani. It's also one of the reason you'll find arabs ranging from white to black in color.

    • @yamazaki9366
      @yamazaki9366 Рік тому

      @@hihi-qd8uoit is not forbidden for Arab women to marry non Arab what are you talking about? It is only forbidden to marry a non muslim that’s it. Race has nothing to do to marriage in Islam.

    • @hihi-qd8uo
      @hihi-qd8uo Рік тому

      @@yamazaki9366 huh that's exactly what I said, the act of forbidding a marriage on the basis of race is Haram/forbidden.

  • @middlepath4458
    @middlepath4458 4 роки тому +6

    In 1988, Korea held the Olympic games which poor countrie could not hold . Korea was not a poor country in 1980s ~1990s. Korea was poor in 1950s~1960s.-----------Korea GNP 1985: 2,309 USD, 1986: 2,643 USD, 1987: 3,321 USD, 1988: 4,435 USD 1989: 5,418 USD, 1990: 6,147 USD

    • @mdmurad1892
      @mdmurad1892 4 роки тому

      Right

    • @kevinhuxley9252
      @kevinhuxley9252 3 роки тому +3

      Korea inferior/poor compared to Egypt when their parent met? Assuming he is around 30 years old, Per Capita GDP for South Korea in 1990 was US$6,610. Per Capita GDP for Egypt in 1990 was US$766. That is a difference of almost 10 times! In 2020, its US$31,489 vs US$3,548. Korea was already ahead of Egypt by 1960's, only a decade after the Korean War.

  • @aguntrimmta2858
    @aguntrimmta2858 4 роки тому +18

    Its not about korean or Egyptian u got bullied, maybe if u look like arabic and live and grown up on Korea u will got bullied too, it just a neighborhoods and human nature to ignore and bullied other people who look different

  • @meenobk5847
    @meenobk5847 3 роки тому

    I would love to be half one culture, half other, but I'm full.

  • @OmarZitoun123
    @OmarZitoun123 3 роки тому

    I mean if he didn’t went to the military in Korea he will be forced to join the military in Egypt so Military service won’t go a way from you

  • @majdoulineelaasemi79
    @majdoulineelaasemi79 4 роки тому +6

    Very beautiful story but I would like to emphasis that its more the egyptian mentality that has been decribed.
    In some arabic country ( Tunisia) it is fine for a woman to get married to a non muslim.
    Regardless Aymen story is very touching :)

    • @Sooopa_Doopa
      @Sooopa_Doopa 4 роки тому +8

      I thought Islam states that it is acceptable for a Muslim man to marry a woman "of the Book" (Muslim, Jew or Christian) but a Muslim woman can only marry a Muslim man

    • @majdoulineelaasemi79
      @majdoulineelaasemi79 4 роки тому +6

      @@Sooopa_Doopa Hi a religion is always subject to interpretation. Therefore no matter the religion there is always different movement within it. Same goes to people or any muslim country ( in saudi , women could not drive , in Tunisia they can married a non muslim as an example, both are muslim countries) They will interprete religion based on their history, culture etc..The arabic world or even the muslims world is full of differences and nuances'Like any region or religion in the world .:).
      Hope that helps!

    • @Sooopa_Doopa
      @Sooopa_Doopa 4 роки тому +1

      @@majdoulineelaasemi79 Oh I understand that local customs invariably affect religious practices. I have a friend whose Muslim mother married a Hindu man in Asia (they were from Singapore). People will do what they do

    • @TheHalfieProject
      @TheHalfieProject  4 роки тому +2

      Majdouline El Aasemi thanks for the comment :) we are always learning and open to feedback!

    • @kajimakami5805
      @kajimakami5805 4 роки тому

      @@Sooopa_Doopa It for that era..Sahabah times 1500 years ago..Cause that time woman still follow the original religion of Ibrahim..But not now where the rules and book is change (BIBLE)...It everyone think married a non muslim Ok...that not represent a muslim life...If every Muslim said i can marry anyone..That so wrong...

  • @MESSI-fx1ob
    @MESSI-fx1ob Рік тому

    Egypt is not an Islamic state change your description and comments The Halfie Project

  • @슬아-z4n
    @슬아-z4n 3 роки тому +2

    Ignorance of Egyptian culture.. I hope he will be free from all negative views in Korea.

  • @amani1532
    @amani1532 4 роки тому +5

    I think the title is wrong. most things he said are not at all true and do not apply to me. i think it should be egypt, not muslim world.

    • @fatimazadam05
      @fatimazadam05 4 роки тому +3

      Not a hater or anything, as I really enjoy the content. However, I agree with you, it's not correct to define Egypt as an Islamic State, in the description.
      He is sharing his experience, which I understand, however I just want to ensure the viewer understands that not all of us in the Arab world live like that and not all Arab are Muslims.

    • @amani1532
      @amani1532 4 роки тому

      @@fatimazadam05 right, also, not all muslims are arab.

  • @AbdoAbdo-bc2xu
    @AbdoAbdo-bc2xu 4 роки тому +5

    I think he does not even know who he is because he abandoned his culture in which he was raised only in order to make other people admit that he is Korean at the same time we see a lot of people move from one country to another and live in them and never reject their culture only to be appreciated by other people in fact I feel Sorry for him

    • @Miguelrirez-ne6kq
      @Miguelrirez-ne6kq 4 роки тому +4

      he’s both, he’s not rejecting it and him even happily speaking about it shows that he’s no ashamed

  • @biancaamged5337
    @biancaamged5337 4 роки тому +5

    You don't have to convert to islam to mary a muslim guy you can be cristian .jewis or anything

    • @haize9960
      @haize9960 4 роки тому

      😂😂

    • @reiner.m3525
      @reiner.m3525 3 роки тому

      why?

    • @biancaamged5337
      @biancaamged5337 3 роки тому

      Because in our religion a muslim man can marry a christian/jew/atheist/... girl but their children will be raised as muslims, my mother is Hungarian and atheist she married an egyptian muslim guy(my father) and after 10years she converted to islam by herself

    • @seti6272
      @seti6272 2 роки тому +2

      I would advice against marrying someone that isn't from your religious background. You will be severely unequally yoked and that causes tons of problems. Your kids will also be confused and could get hurt.

    • @biancaamged5337
      @biancaamged5337 2 роки тому

      @@seti6272 i don’t agree with you my father is a muslim and my mother is an atheist/non believer and i don’t think that we have a problem with that specially tons of problems as you said lol i mean we’re just living our normal lives there’s no confusion or anything like that and i almost forgot to say that my mother converted to islam 10 years after marrying my father

  • @ajsuflena156
    @ajsuflena156 3 роки тому +1

    um you can be christian or any other abrahamic faith to marry a muslim man. not necessarily needing to convert to islam if you are a woman marrying a man

  • @loserchoi
    @loserchoi 3 роки тому +1

    팩트: 30년 전에도 비교할 수 없을 정도로 이집트보다 한국이 잘살았다. 이집트에 기술 인력이 없어서 외국에서 간호사 같은 인력들 데려다 쓴거다. 이집트가 우수?ㅋㅋㅋ

  • @ruqaiaalabdalla1285
    @ruqaiaalabdalla1285 4 роки тому

    Not All Arabs country like that

    • @TheHalfieProject
      @TheHalfieProject  4 роки тому +1

      and this video is not a comprehensive description of what all Arab countries think or are like :) Thanks for watching

  • @husam3846
    @husam3846 3 роки тому

    His opinion aside, you need to do some fact-checking!! Wth!