Korean Air: Sorry for 'primitive' Kenyans

[Jefferson Airplane]

Nairobi - A notice on Korean Air's website announcing the start of three, weekly non-stop flights from Korea to Kenya is causing anger among Kenyans on social media sites because of the description of Kenyans as indigenous people full of "primitive energy."

Muthui Kariuki, who is handling public relations for Korean Air in Kenya, said on Monday that the notice has been removed from the website and that the word "primitive" came as a result of a mistake in translation from Korean to English.

Kariuki says the airline, which is supposed to launch the flights this Thursday, will post an apology. Kenyans on Twitter and Facebook were angry about the use of the word.
- AP

[Papa Lima Sierra]

Lame excuse!

[Shrike200]

Orientals are CONSTANTLY making a total hash of things when translating to english. This one isn't actually all that bad. I'm certain they didn't mean it like the oversensitives received it.

Engrish.com (http://www.engrish.com/)

[chuks]

It's not the primary definition, but if you look 'primitive' up in a dictionary you can see that it's not necessarily an insult to speak of something as not derived from anything else; that's sort of like speaking of something as 'original."

It's still a mistake to use that word, but at least the Koreans didn't get red-carded for being 'racist.'

[Lamyna Flo]

Haha. Racists calling racists racists? Seriously?

Every nationality has an element of it. Some are more xenophobic than others.

As others have said; truth hurts, doesn't it?

[Fuzzy Lager]

I think use of the word "energy" is the more inappropriate and outrageous word. Perhaps 'dormant' or the old east African favourite 'corrupt' would be more fitting.

[odericko2000]

@ truth hurts, totally agree, like it hurts to call the white man racist:}