How to make people laugh,in any language

Ida Daussy

Having lived for 24 years as a French citizen and 15 years as a Korean, Ida Daussy knows better than most how the two countries connect.

Daussy, a well-known broadcaster on local television, was naturalized after marrying a Korean in 1993. Her Korean name is also Ida Daussy, but with Ida as her surname.

Her insider knowledge is behind her popularity at events where the two communities mingle, such as the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry gala. She has served as M.C. for seven years at the annual event, the biggest Korean-French get-together of the year.

At the gala last Saturday, Daussy shared some tips on how she bridges the two different worlds.

While having a sense of humor is great, understanding that it oftentimes doesn’t translate is essential in making people from different backgrounds feel they are on the same page, she said.

“When I say something funny, I refer to something in the French culture that makes people laugh, but if I translate it into Korean, I have to explain why it’s funny, and it is not funny anymore,” Daussy said in an interview conducted in English. “So then I squeeze that kind of joke and make another one instead in Korean later on.”

With her cheerful speaking manner and flamboyant gestures, Daussy succeeded in lightening up the mood of the 750 people gathered at the gala, in Korean and French in turn. Daussy said common traits shared by Koreans and the French also help her job. They are both passionate in the way they behave, she said.

“They [Koreans] are called the Italians of Asia. They are very hot, short-tempered, like Latin people, and they love loudly, cry loudly and fight loudly,” she said.

“So for the French, that is such a nice point for them to come to Asia and to have friends in Korea.”

By Moon Gwang-lip Staff Reporter [joe@joongang.co.kr]