I noticed this story on another site and thought I would post it here.

It was my g.f's b-day, and I was throwing her a surprise party - I had invited all of our close friends, including her cousin. Among our friends, there were 3 guys from Nigeria. Shortly after we arrived, an argument struck up between our Nigerian friends and the bartender. I asked why and they explained to me that the bar security was asking for their ID and they won't sell them any drinks because they are from Nigeria and they are black. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, so I asked to speak to the manager. I met up with him and I told him that the 3 Nigerian gentlemen were my friends, and that we (a group of about 25 people) were celebrating my gf's birthday. I invited them to my g.f's bday party so please DO NOT F@$K UP our party . He said that they would have to leave the bar, because they don't serve Nigerian and black people. I told him not to be such a racist . He said "we do not serve black people in this bar". I honestly couldn't believe this was happening, and so I said that if they have to leave, we all will. He said that was fine. So I asked him one last time if he would serve my friends. He said no again, so I told him that I was going to post something on the internet to let everyone know how racist he was and not to go to his bar again. He said to go ahead, and that he didn't care.

The short Korean guy who said he was a supervisor and the other one who wears glasses appologized us, but wouldn't satand up for us. It was too late anyway. The damage had been done and almost everyone was leaving the bar.

Now here I am to let all of you know that (name ommitted) bar in ITAEWON asked my 3 black friends to leave so we all left the bar. We had a great night at another bar. But I just want to let you know that I really wish I had a my camcorder to film that racist shit. Since that night we are telling everyone about what happened. Also, I appreciate those people that were not our friends but left the bar anyways after hearing all the racist commotion. We do not want to support that UTTERLY RACIST attitude from the bar's security guard , manager and the bartenders.

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That story is old. And there's always two sides to the same story.

By the way, the owner of the bar is a white guy. Several months back he was explaining his position - that he didn't ask the 3 guys because they were black. The racism allegation was made by the Nigerian who was sitting there in the bar without hardly ordering anything and sexually harassing women who complained to the bar. So they asked them to leave. That's when the racism shit hit the fan.

Cmann,

Thanks for the inputs! That explains a lot. What I will do is edit out the bar's name to keep it from getting any unwanted attention.

Mike

I e-mailed the guy who posted this story and maybe we can clear things up if he comes on and posts. It would not surprise me is Cmann's version is right. People do use race as a weapon.

Mike

I heard that it was because the bar owner was dating one of the Nigerians daughter's, and the Nigerian didn't approve of the relationship. At least that's what Susy told me she heard from Bob.

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"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. " -E. B. White

That story, true or not, just reminded me of the Korean night clubs in the college areas (Hong-Dae, for example) where they have a sign posted up in front of their entrance that reads: "No G.I.'s allowed!"

It makes me wonder how they can tell if one is a GI or not. Will they card you? Just because you have short hair? Because you speak English? ...or is the sign really stating no race outside Korean is allowed? I wonder how they'll stop a Korean/American US Soldier. What if you're an Officer?

I guess they make you produce the ID, I suppose? Other then that, if you have short hair and you may look like a GI. That reminds me, there was another bar owned by an ex-GI American. He put out the sign "no GI's". Interestingly he wasn't apologetic about it. Even many of the foreign patrons were glad that GI's were banned. Their reasoning? There's been too many brawlings and trouble with GI's so why not just ban them. GI's and English teachers just don't mix, I suppose. Can you imagine what would happen if this kind of discrimination happened back home? When you're in Korea, political correctness goes out the window.

If you can't speak Korean and convince them you're not a GI than you're SOL. I've got short hair and was lucky enough to have a Korean freind with me to convince a bouncer in Hong Dae I was his half brother on vacation (heheh).

For some reason though, I don't seem to have any problem getting into the "hip-hop black music" clubs. Imagine seeing clubs called that in the US. You're right cMann, nothing PC to American standards here.

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"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. " -E. B. White

OK guys and gals, lets not populate rumors like the one that happend in the tragic coal mine incident in WV.
This is Korea. DO NOT expect equal treatment, and DO NOT think the law cares. Unlike the U.S[b]., Bar owners and business owners here still have freedom, and can CHOOSE who they wish to serve! It is that simple.
If you want to have a party, discuss any possible integration and explain mixed couples may be attending ahead of time with the owners.
Nigerians have a very bad reputation in Seoul Bars, and the ones who misbehave, fight and use stolen credit cards have made it hard on ALL others who just happen to be of the black persuasion. Sad but true. Understand that. Causing any "punitive" action against a business because they exercise THEIR civil rights looks EXACTLY like discrimination on our/your part! Put yourself in their shoes.

Very good points by all!

I am still curious to get the facts of this story.

Yes, bar owners have the choice who to server, but customers also have a choice of where to go drink. If a bar is known to discriminate against a certain group, that certain group has the right to spread the word and help reduce the customer base of that bar.

It is tough being a bar owner! As a GI I am ashamed of how some of my fellow GIs act in Korea and around the world. It is the few idiots that ruin it for the rest of is! Young kids go o Korea and thing it is only about drinking and chasing women. At least town patrol is around to clean up the bad seeds or it could be much worse.

Mike

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