This is the launch of the “Dear Johnny” Dating Column for Korean Beacon.  Each Friday, I will post some thoughts and insights on the dating life of Korean Americans so that when 5pm hits every Friday, you’ll either be inspired or just know better.

Every Korean guy should mark September 24th 2009 as the start of a new beginning, especially when it comes to their dating career.  From John Cho to Tim Kang to Brian Tee and even Ken Jeong, the sex appeal and marketability of Korean men has reached a new plateau thanks to the roles played by Korean Americans on major Primetime TV shows.  Korean American men are portrayed as funny, sorta bad ass, smart, tough, and at times even kinda sexy.  Why is this important to point out?  Because ever since I can remember, the number of Korean guys dating non-Korean girls is dwarfed by the number of Korean girls dating non-Korean guys.  And to be honest, for a long time, it felt as though despite being raised with solid family values, obtaining a world class education, and even picking up some manners along the way, Korean guys were an unwanted species by the female population.  Sure we may not be the most gifted physically, but we are loyal, caring, and believe it or not, super charming!  And big props (no pun intended) to Hollywood to finally acknowledge it!

As I was browsing through the multitude of Koreans on TV on Thursday night, I noticed Ken Jeong playing a rather funny teacher in the NBC series Community.  But, in the box office hit, The Hangover, Ken pulls of a full nude frontal that probably didn’t leave the ladies drooling for more, but I guess you gotta start somewhere.  I’m sure Megan Fox would have made a special appearance in the movie had it been Rain pulling off the exhibition.

Next, I noticed Brian Tee ,who is half Korean and half Japanese, in the season premiere of C.S.I.  He’s been known to play the badass in many movies including Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.  In the episode, Brian plays a wealthy guy who tragically lost his white girlfriend, played by Tahnya Tozzi, of almost 1 year, to a homicide.  Even though he didn’t get major airtime showing the relationship develop, I was convinced he loved her, especially when the cops came to interrogate him at the craps table and he pulled out a bling bling engagement ring and said something like “I was going to give this to her.”

Last but certainly not least, you’ve got John Cho, aka Harold, from Harold and Kumar go to White Castle.  He’s an FBI agent in the new ABC series FlashForward with a pretty major role.  I guess after his sword fighting scene in Star Trek, Hollywood was convinced he could fight more than Romulans.  However, the reason I saved John for last is because of his break through role he can potentially play as the fiancé of the character played by Gabrielle Union. Yes, you read that correctly, the Gabrielle Union from the movies Bad Boys II and Deliver Us From Eva.

Pairing a Korean-American and a Black woman as a romantic couple on TV? I hope trends like this continue so that if I ever do fall in love with the likes of Halle Berry or even Beyonce, my parents will appreciate that in America, it’s all good. More importantly, I hope everyone can embrace that if you’re attracted to someone and get along with someone, nobody should care what the norm is and what others might think, just do it.

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