thread explaining hyunjin's costume:

first off, I want to preface with saying that everyone has the right to be offended, and I only wish to give you a Korean person's knowledge on this character/stereotype to help you understand!

this character represents the typical Korean old woman, or "ahjumma" and our country's stereotype for ahjummas is a short curly "perm" that looks like this:

while an afro is cultural, an ahjumma's perm is a hairstyle to make aging women's hair look to have more volume and fight hair loss

to address the big lips, her character is described to be very talkative and gossipy (signified by her lips as well), and another ahjumma stereotype is that they tend to gossip a lot with each other and talk loudly amongst one another

again, I respect that everyone has the right to be hurt regardless what anyone else says. I stand with the black community and I recognize that they have been subject to unfair and inhumane treatment, discrimination, and appropriation for decades.

I truly believe it is right and even necessary to call out acts of racism, big or small, at any and all times. However, I hope that this thread will help non-Koreans understand what hyunjin's true intention of this character was.

You always have the right to be hurt, but I thank you for reaching the end of this thread and opening your heart to multiple perspectives. I too will continue educating myself about racism to become a more informed person, and I make plently mistakes as well.

If you see me make a mistake that is offensive to a community please feel free to politely let me know, and I'd love to improve myself. Thank you!