Indian-born broadcaster '30 years living in Korea' Lucky was shocked by the extreme hardships of 'senior foreigner in Korea' Hamel from 400 years ago.
The MBC entertainment program 'Crossing the Line Class', aired on the 5th, was themed 'A Journey Through Joseon Since Birth'. The show depicted Seol Min-seok, Jeon Hyun-moo, and Yoo Byung-jae being invited to Lucky's gathering of foreign friends, 'Oewae Party (Party of Lonely Foreigners)', to give tailored lectures.
Lucky, who directly requested a lecture from his 'true friend' Jeon Hyun-moo, expressed his interest in Korean history, provoking Jeon Hyun-moo and Yoo Byung-jae by saying, "Many Koreans would lose their passports if they took the naturalization test." Yoo Byung-jae challenged the notoriously difficult naturalization test questions. He answered 'Seollal', 'Chuseok', and 'Dano' as the 'four major Korean holidays', but failed to mention 'Hansik' as the last one. Jeon Hyun-moo humorously told Yoo Byung-jae, "Bring your passport," causing everyone to burst into laughter.
Jeon Hyun-moo also faced humiliation when he incorrectly answered Lucky's question, "Where is King Sejong's tomb located?" Lucky revealed it to be 'Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do', showcasing Korean knowledge that even Koreans might not know, which drew laughter. Lucky's friends from various nationalities, including Rwanda, Turkey, Italy, and Egypt, also expressed their unique love for Korea, exuding a desire to become Koreans to the core.
In response, Seol Min-seok began his lecture by mentioning that there were foreigners who lived in Joseon about 400 years ago. He explained the geography and historical background of Joseon tailored for foreigners, enhancing their understanding, and Lucky and his friends became engrossed in the fascinating stories of the 'original foreign residents' of Korea.
The Dutchman Belthebrey, who drifted to Joseon while heading to Japan, was the 'first Westerner to naturalize in Joseon'. The record of him living under the name 'Park Yeon' and passing the military examination to obtain an official position surprised everyone. Seol Min-seok explained that King Injo prevented Park Yeon from returning to his homeland to acquire Western military technology, allowing him to continue living in Joseon.
The story continued with Hamel, who drifted to Jeju and escaped Joseon after a staggering 13 years. Hamel faced various hardships, including epidemics and famines, and even experienced exile under the threat of execution, leaving Lucky and his friends in awe of his 'extreme life in Joseon'. The escape plan of Hamel and his group unfolded in a variety of ways, reminiscent of 'Mission Impossible', and Lucky and his friends reacted with a mix of laughter and sadness as they became deeply engaged. Seol Min-seok also revealed the real reason behind the extraordinary 'Hamel's Drift'. It was not merely to record adventures or history; it was a kind of 'industrial accident claim' that Hamel sought to file with his company after drifting to Joseon while on a work trip, which surprised everyone.
Lucky and his friends expressed satisfaction as they leveled up their knowledge of Korean history through Seol Min-seok's entertaining lecture. They shared their thoughts, saying, "We hope to be remembered in Korean history like Park Yeon," expressing their love for Korea.
Meanwhile, MBC's 'Crossing the Line Class' is a historical lecture program held in unexpected locations, airing every Wednesday at 9 PM. Applications for lectures can be submitted through the official website and Instagram of 'Crossing the Line Class'.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
