"When I registered my marriage, my wife asked me, 'Why don't you marry a Korean?"

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SEOUL (Reuters) - Singer Jeon So-mis father, Canadian-born Matthew Dauma, has recalled the discrimination he faced in his international marriage to his Korean wife.In a video on YouTube channel Sunpung Sunwoo Yongyeo on March 3, the broadcaster revealed his family story, marriage, and anecdotes from his past international marriages.On that day, Sun met Matthew Dauma in Busan, South Korea, and they had a meal and talked about various things, including the fact that he currently runs a restaurant specializing in smoked salmon in South Korea and his educational philosophy for his two daughters.I try to let them make their own decisions rather than forcing them to do things, he says, Even when brushing their teeth, I tell them to only brush the teeth they want to keep. I tell them to brush only the teeth they want to keep, he explains.My wife had a really hard time with me, Matthew said, recalling the time he registered his marriage.Back then, we had to register our marriage in person at the Seoul City Hall, he said, and before the official stamped it, he asked her, Why didnt you marry a Korean man?If you think about it now, it would be newsworthy, he says, and it could be a big deal. But at the time, such perceptions were common and there were many similar incidents, he recalls.Sun Woo Yong-yeo was surprised and said, Marriage is their choice, so why are you saying that? Its hard to imagine in the U.S. and became angry, saying, Why are you interfering in their lives?Thats just one of many things, Matthew said, I complicated a lot of things for her, and there were a lot of things she had to deal with. Its much better now.In the past, my wife went through a lot of hard things, so Im always grateful to her, he said, adding, When people look at me, they think Im a foreigner, but I dont divide people into Koreans and foreigners. I just see them as people, he said.Meanwhile, Dutch-Canadian Matthew Dauma is married to a Korean wife and has another daughter with singer Jeon So-mi.
SEOUL (Reuters) - Singer Jeon So-mis father, Canadian-born Matthew Dauma, has recalled the discrimination he faced in his international marriage to his Korean wife.In a video on YouTube channel Sunpung Sunwoo Yongyeo on March 3, the broadcaster revealed his family story, marriage, and anecdotes from his past international marriages.On that day, Sun met Matthew Dauma in Busan, South Korea, and they had a meal and talked about various things, including the fact that he currently runs a restaurant specializing in smoked salmon in South Korea and his educational philosophy for his two daughters.I try to let them make their own decisions rather than forcing them to do things, he says, Even when brushing their teeth, I tell them to only brush the teeth they want to keep. I tell them to brush only the teeth they want to keep, he explains.My wife had a really hard time with me, Matthew said, recalling the time he registered his marriage.Back then, we had to register our marriage in person at the Seoul City Hall, he said, and before the official stamped it, he asked her, Why didnt you marry a Korean man?If you think about it now, it would be newsworthy, he says, and it could be a big deal. But at the time, such perceptions were common and there were many similar incidents, he recalls.Sun Woo Yong-yeo was surprised and said, Marriage is their choice, so why are you saying that? Its hard to imagine in the U.S. and became angry, saying, Why are you interfering in their lives?Thats just one of many things, Matthew said, I complicated a lot of things for her, and there were a lot of things she had to deal with. Its much better now.In the past, my wife went through a lot of hard things, so Im always grateful to her, he said, adding, When people look at me, they think Im a foreigner, but I dont divide people into Koreans and foreigners. I just see them as people, he said.Meanwhile, Dutch-Canadian Matthew Dauma is married to a Korean wife and has another daughter with singer Jeon So-mi.

SEOUL (Reuters) - Singer Jeon So-mi's father, Canadian-born Matthew Dauma, has recalled the discrimination he faced in his international marriage to his Korean wife.

In a video on YouTube channel 'Sunpung Sunwoo Yongyeo' on March 3, the broadcaster revealed his family story, marriage, and anecdotes from his past international marriages.

On that day, Sun met Matthew Dauma in Busan, South Korea, and they had a meal and talked about various things, including the fact that he currently runs a restaurant specializing in smoked salmon in South Korea and his educational philosophy for his two daughters.

"I try to let them make their own decisions rather than forcing them to do things," he says, "Even when brushing their teeth, I tell them to only brush the teeth they want to keep. "I tell them to brush only the teeth they want to keep," he explains.

"My wife had a really hard time with me," Matthew said, recalling the time he registered his marriage.

"Back then, we had to register our marriage in person at the Seoul City Hall," he said, "and before the official stamped it, he asked her, 'Why didn't you marry a Korean man?

"If you think about it now, it would be newsworthy," he says, "and it could be a big deal. But at the time, such perceptions were common and there were many similar incidents," he recalls.

Sun Woo Yong-yeo was surprised and said, "Marriage is their choice, so why are you saying that? It's hard to imagine in the U.S." and became angry, saying, "Why are you interfering in their lives?"

"That's just one of many things," Matthew said, "I complicated a lot of things for her, and there were a lot of things she had to deal with. It's much better now."

"In the past, my wife went through a lot of hard things, so I'm always grateful to her," he said, adding, "When people look at me, they think I'm a foreigner, but I don't divide people into Koreans and foreigners. I just see them as people," he said.

Meanwhile, Dutch-Canadian Matthew Dauma is married to a Korean wife and has another daughter with singer Jeon So-mi.

About JEON SOMI

Ennik Somi Douma, known professionally by her Korean name Jeon Somi, is a Canadian and Korean singer, rapper and dancer signed under The Black Label.