Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Fish&Rice]

I know and can understand that all societies and cultures have levels of conformity but I've noticed that there seems to be a lot more of it going on in Korea than in other countries.

Most Koreans tend to follow the crowd and do as everyone else does. They aren't very individualistic. One could argue that this is because of the way that they were brought up and educated. They were mainly taught what to think and not how to think for themselves. Confucianism?

Anyway not to generalize but some examples of conformity and trends that I have noticed in Korea are:

A lot of people dress alike and have the same sense in fashion and styles.

If I am a young woman between the ages of 18~30 I have long straight hair.

If I am a woman between the ages of 30~40 I have shorter straight or wavy hair.

If I'm an ajuma or halmoni over the age of 40 I must have a short curly perm of hair.

If I'm an ajoshi I must never wear jeans.

If I'm an ajoshi I must drink Soju and smoke "This" cigarettes or "Dunhill".

If I'm a halmoni I must wear an ugly flower printed shirt with unmatching ugly flower printed pants.

If I'm a haraboji and I have thinning hair I must wear a hat.

If I'm an ajuma, ajoshi, halmoni, or haraboji and I'm going hiking we must all wear the same hiking outfits, visors, backpacks, and carry the same cane. Also we must all swing and pump our arms the same way while we hike.

I must have the latest new cute pink hand phone with camera, MP3, internet, blue tooth, DMB(digital media broadcasting), GPS satellite navigation, portable stove, and can iron your clothes. Why? Because everyone else has it and if I don't have it I'm not as good.

I must watch and be a fan of soccer/football even though I don't like it and don't know the rules. I was never a fan, never even watched or cared for football before the 2002 World Cup but now I must pretend to like it and watch. Why?? Because everyone else does.

[Gamecock]

Huh? Is this deja vu? I assumed this thread was deleted by the mods for some reason. It got kinda ugly...Why are you resurrecting it?

[Ya-ta Boy]