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Things back home that would annoy Koreans/foreigners
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Not being able to buy liquor past 6 PM.
Not being able to buy alcohol on sundays.


Is that just in the bible belt, or everywhere? That would annoy the hell out of me too.
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mnjetter



Joined: 21 Feb 2012
Location: Seoul, S. Korea

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steelrails, I wonder if you even read some of the previous posts before you posted your own?

newbie wrote:
I live in Canada now with my Korean wife and have a constant in flux of visitors from Korea, and meet/socialize with lots of Koreans living here. Below are some things that have been mentioned as being bothersome/annoying/troubling:


Does this sound like someone is simply trying to "empathize" with potential sentiments and doesn't actually have experience in the matter?

Is it so impossible that Koreans you haven't met might have different opinions from Koreans that you know?
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newb



Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Korea is not the best country in the world.
Korea is not on the map (Korea is where? Isn't your dear leader, Kim Jung Un?)
Dong Hae is Sea of Japan.
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madoka



Joined: 27 Mar 2008

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Newbie wrote:

Random things that are insanely expensive here compared to Korea (Batteries, for example)


Hmmm. . . I've had the opposite response from the Koreans I've met. It's much more of a 'holy crap!' everything is so much cheaper here response. The Hyundai Equus is $40,000 less to their own Samsung/LG big screen TVs being half the cost to $10 all-you-can-eat Korean BBQs - it's mind blowing to Korean tourists. The repeat visitors bring a ton of cash to go on shopping sprees at outlets. The only things I've found significantly cheaper in Korea was photo processing and Korean fast foods.
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newb



Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

madoka wrote:
Newbie wrote:

Random things that are insanely expensive here compared to Korea (Batteries, for example)


Hmmm. . . I've had the opposite response from the Koreans I've met. It's much more of a 'holy crap!' everything is so much cheaper here response. The Hyundai Equus is $40,000 less to their own Samsung/LG big screen TVs being half the cost to $10 all-you-can-eat Korean BBQs - it's mind blowing to Korean tourists. The repeat visitors bring a ton of cash to go on shopping sprees at outlets. The only things I've found significantly cheaper in Korea was photo processing and Korean fast foods.


+1.

Food/necessities and luxury stuff are much much much cheaper in the states.
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SenorNegroGato, let me first say that I in no way, shape or form endorse the validity of their complaints, only that that's what I've heard and experienced.

First things first, I was 100% buzzed.

I'll respond to the ones and go further in depth...

Quote:
And Korean culture isn't passive aggressive? Maybe in different ways, not so public?


I agree. They just find the bumper sticker thing bizarre, especially the aggressiveness of the political bumper stickers. Other bumper stickers are just funny though.

Quote:
I see dozens of ajoshis everyday that would like to disagree, if they can pull themselves away from spitting at my feet, budding in line and giving me the death stare.


I agree. But they find the culture of being "dissed" and the combativeness and touchiness about personal space a little odd and overly-hostile. When I mentioned that the last time I ever cried was in like the 1st grade they were shocked and found it unhealthy. I thought they were a bunch of sissies.

Quote:
This goes to perception, I think. Just because we move out when we're adults and can relocate overseas doesn't mean we hate our families. In fact, I hear Koreans complain about their parents and families more than my foreign friends. This might also be because foreigners can easily talk about the faults of our loved ones and ourselves without losing 'face'. But if anyone else tried to say the same things about my mom I'd punch them to the moon.


That's true too. But they hear a lot of "Yo Momma jokes" and collegians especially who speak really hatefully and disrespectfully towards their parents as well as people who rarely call home and such.

Now I've heard plenty of Koreans who call their parents everyday and then moan about them.

Quote:
You're joking, right? In a society that gives passing marks to students who don't speak a word during English speaking tests and University students get at least a B for showing up? There are definitely problems with the North American education system, but thinking Korea has us beat on this point is laughable. Koreans try to send their kids to international schools here. No one back home is lining up to send their kids to Korean schools. How many Koreans go to foreign universities? Now, how many foreigners move to Korea to study?


In this case they are referring to kids who fail school in America and then complain about working at McDonald's and being broke. They are amazed that they never attempt to place the blame on their lack of education and the general attitude of anti-intellectualism in the country (FYI this is America I'm talking about, everybody rags on America for its anti-intellectualism).

They don't have any complaints about the university system (aside from minor bureaucratic gripes and not being to earn as much money working while on a student visa), so they support the top end of American education, but they don't appreciate what is happening at the bottom end.

Quote:
Wait, is this performance art?


Yeah, they experience racism too. Shocker!

And remember the ones that move over to America are disproportionately more likely to be tolerant and open-minded about race as opposed to screaming nationalists, they are also more likely to be well-educated, wealthier, and many of them have lived in other countries as well.

Quote:
Is this really only a Korean complaint?


No, but they complain, and I don't always agree that this is valid, that in group projects people tend to dump everything on the international, especially Asian, students because they know they will do the work regardless of whether everyone else participates. It's sort of a Group-Work Prisoner's Dilemma.

Now, I would offer suggestions like "Don't take that crap" or "Just tell your professor" but many didn't want to do it and were stunned that someone would actually think like that in a University environment.

Quote:
I don't doubt that it's strange to Koreans, but I'd rather live 35 years with cheese and bacon on everything than live 100 years without it.


I love my cheese, but ask vegans and vegetarians how ridiculously over-cheesed and meated American food is these days.

Like sweet corn and honey mustard, it can get to be a bit much.

Quote:
You mean not treating staff like serfs?


The constant attempts to get discounts and to complain to the manager. The heckling with 50 different requests, some of which are impossible to perform and the inability of the customer to accept that "While we can try to give you what you want, we can only give you what we have to offer".

They can accept 'Korean' complaints (Faster! Bring me more water!) They don't like how someone tries to customize something to the nth degree and then complains when told that it can't be done (sounds pretty lordly to me).

Quote:
Honestly, I mean it, honestly have you ever been inside a school here?


Like I said, I'm not saying they're right, just that that's what they feel. As I said, they tend to be disproportionately wealthy so they probably got o better schools. Also they all went to elementary school back in the 80s-90s, not now and they often say things like "We were bad, but never THAT bad" when they hear about a horror story in Korean schools.

And yes, in American public schools and Community Colleges, there are teachers who run their classes that year thanks to being burnt out. And coming out to the student parking lot only to find that someone has broken into your car and stolen your stereo and seeing constant drug use can have a chilling effect on one's enthusiasm towards their new country.

Quote:
Yeah, having opinions and ideas about how to better do things SUCKS. Look at the examples: Microsoft, Apple, Ford, NASA, Facebook, modern science, Nobel Prize winner after Nobel Prize winner. Yeah, much better for everyone to agree with the oldest male than to have new and innovative ideas, especially if they conflict with how things are usually done!


Koreans will argue, debate, and use democratic ballots. I've been in various Korean organizations and all those methods work, and guess what, the oldest male is not always seen as number 1.

What they object to is when the arguing gets taken to a point that things break down and no progress is made and no decision is reached. They are used to things moving forward at some point, not the wheel spinning over procedure that they sometimes experience.

Ironically, some express admiration for how direct and straight-forward things can be in America.

Quote:
but many things are worded to suggest one is better than the other when in fact it can go both ways.


And when people make lists about Koreans that doesn't happen? Sounds like you're an American apologist. Wink

Yeah, I'll agree that some of their complaints are eye-rollers. It really goes to show how similar things are between here and home, the complaints may be in a different key, but its still the same tune.

But I really object to the caricatures of "No Kimchi Pizza, No Soju everywhere, I hate blacks", and many of the others.

A lot of people's posts are by people who clearly have zero experience actually dealing with Koreans in their home country and are just basing things on their stereotypes here.

It does not bode well for inter-cultural relations when one assumes what one's attitudes are towards a country, especially in the manner some people have done here, without actually talking and dealing with the people in question.
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
But I really object to the caricatures of "No Kimchi Pizza, No Soju everywhere, I hate blacks", and many of the others.


Don't know about the racist stuff but the food observation is spot on. Ask any Korean what they would miss most if they had to live in another country and I can 100% guarantee that, after family and friends, the most common answer will be Korean food.
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Leon



Joined: 31 May 2010

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

edwardcatflap wrote:
Quote:
But I really object to the caricatures of "No Kimchi Pizza, No Soju everywhere, I hate blacks", and many of the others.


Don't know about the racist stuff but the food observation is spot on. Ask any Korean what they would miss most if they had to live in another country and I can 100% guarantee that, after family and friends, the most common answer will be Korean food.


I think this is the same for anyone, no matter where they are from.
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hiamnotcool



Joined: 06 Feb 2012

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steelrails wrote:
The responses on this board are pathetic and demonstrate a serious inability to empathize and conceptualize what other human beings would feel. It is based on stereotype and bigotry, two things people here are allegedly offended by, of course only when it happens to them.


They are actually a pretty accurate reflection of what I have been told by Koreans I have met in the USA and Koreans I have met in Korea that have traveled to the USA. I've seen my school pack up kimchi before taking a field trip somewhere for a week, I've had Korean friends tell me they traveled hours when living in the USA to find a place that has good kimchi or other items they need to make Korean food. Korean people racist against black people? Oh no....never right? Are you serious with that? It's not all Koreans, right, but I've talked to plenty that felt threatened by all the black people they saw in the USA when they were there. In my opinion that is the result of the way our media has chosen to represent black people in movies and music (as well as our consumers eating it up) but it is still not a stretch. Tell a black person or southeast asian that lives in Korea that there is no racism against them. I won't answer on their behalf because it isn't my place, but I feel like that is a discussion you should have. Yes, Koreans miss soju and makolee when they aren't in Korea. Drinking culture is big here, that is a no brainer. I too missed soju and makolee and drinking when I was in the USA.

Whether you agree with the other posters or not, most of them have experience with Korea and Korean people. There is no reason their observations would be any more or less accurate than yours. These are opinions and speculation. If someone asked what people from France miss when they are in the USA, someone might say wine and cheese. Actually, French people I have talked to in the USA do miss the wine (not sure about the cheese). I think you have the right intention but you are being too sensitive about some things that are kind of frivolous. When I'm in Korea I miss the unhealthy over-cheesed food, it's an accurate observation and it doesn't offend me. There is a reason when I find a good western restaurant here there happen to be other westerners that frequent it as well. Korean people do the same type of thing when they travel.

My things that Koreans don't like:

The USA is very spread out, it isn't nearly as convenient. You can't walk 5-10 minutes at 12 am and buy some chips or a drink unless you live in a big city.

You can't travel without a car.

Wetern girls don't hang out with Korean girls, most Korean girls have told me they usually hung out with western guys...which led to awkward situations because sometimes they just wanted a friend.

Americans aren't as good looking as the actors in our movies.

We don't care what certifications or experience someone may have in a given field. We can argue about anything with anybody.
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I think this is the same for anyone, no matter where they are from.


Don't agree. I think some countries have less of a strong food identity than others. I think most British people, for example, would say other things like the local pub for example or sport or TV. The last one was definitely the thing I missed most about my country when I was living abroad before you could get it all on the internet. Actually what I miss most about the UK living in Korea now is the general environment - historical buildings, pretty countryside etc...
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newb



Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 11:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

^^ I think Korea has more beautiful country sides than the UK. Not to mention better weather.
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Privateer



Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.

PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

newb wrote:
^^ I think Korea has more beautiful country sides than the UK. Not to mention better weather.


^^ I think my country is better than your country. Teeheehee.
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alongway



Joined: 02 Jan 2012

PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
-Control your kid in public!

Are you somehow claiming that north Americans control their kids in public? Have you been there since the 50s?
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fermentation



Joined: 22 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bros. Bros would really annoy me. Hell, they already annoy me by advertising their existence on the internet.
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Bros. Bros would really annoy me. Hell, they already annoy me by advertising their existence on the internet.


What are you talking about? The British boy band from the eighties?
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