Job Discussion Forums

[JoeJ]

Each is, no doubt, more so than the other in different aspects, but give your first instict, off the bat answer.

[Stumptown]

I would have to say Korea, because Korea has a victim mentality where they seem to blame everyone else but themselves for the problems of their nation. Korea blames foreigners for the rampant prostitution as well as AIDS in the country. Never mind the fact that so many middle aged men are travelling in droves to Thailand for "bare-backed" sex with prostitutes. All Koreans I meet always ask me about whose country I think Dokdo/Takeshim belongs to. I always say "Korea" because I don't want to listen to a bunch of shiiit. I just think that Koreans are jealous of Japan because of how advanced and aesthetic Japan is. If they hate Japan so much why do they travel there in such large numbers?

[Tamago86]

I really don't think there's much of a contest here. Korea is improving (arguably) in it's acceptance of other cultures, but Japan has it beat by a long shot. Is it because Korea was just opened to other countries in 1988? Is it because hate is justified towards other countries in the form of nationalism in the Korean education system? I don't know, but if you're looking for the less xenophobic one it would be Japan by a long shot, or even China. Korea has this reputation for a reason. And as pointed out above some of these Korean ideals are laced with hypocrisy; the same Korean youth that would burn a US flag at the drop of a hat are lining up for a visa to study in America, and the #1 largest population of foreigners in Japan are Koreans (excluding 在日). Of course xenophobia exists in Japan too, especially towards people like SE Asians, but not to the extent that it does in Korea.

If you're interested in Korean culture or want some Korean friends try going to Canada or Southern California, most gyopos (Koreans raised abroad) are needless to say a much more warm-hearted and great bunch of people.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[Tamago86]

^The problem is it largely depends where you live in China because it's huge and pseudo-diverse. In Korea, they have about 1 billion or so less people and you'll find the majority of foreigners in only a few places like Seoul, Itaewon, Busan etc, so the mindset of people involving the outside world and foreigners theoretically won't be far off. Someone who finds someplace like Taiwan not to his liking can go to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Dalian etc for a pretty large change in atmosphere, ie the advantages of areas being isolated for decades.

Overall I find Chinese people much more accepting of outside ideas and people, they don't have much as a viction mentality or crazy nationalistic/napolean compex like alot of the Koreans do. Except when it comes to the Japanese of course Korean people are alot more mature in general when it comes to things like that, but they have their moments...But I don't see as much "Yankee go home!" in China as I do Korea.

[guangho]

Depends. In China they spit at you in the streets. In Korea they stare at you and laugh in your face. In Japan, they stand up and move to another seat on the subway when you sit by them.

Bottom line: In China and Korea you'll be pestered, harassed, degraded and humiliated daily. In Japan the locals wouldn't say boo to you if your hair was on fire.