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jo-z
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
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 Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: Cultural Diversity in Korea |
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| Just out of curiosity, how multicultural is South Korea? I suppose that it is common enough to meet people of Japanese, Chinese, or Russian origin due to geographical proximity as well as a number of English-speaking teachers from all over. But are any other cultural or national communities well represented in South Korea? (I hear that there is a fair Latino population in Japan.) And, besides Seoul and Busan, are large communities found in other cities as well? |
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Zoidberg
Joined: 29 Mar 2006
Location: Somewhere too hot for my delicate marine constitution
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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There are a number of groups, but they are all VERY small. The total foreign population is somwhere in the 100000 to 200000 range. And half that is Chinese.
(At least, that's what I remember off the top of my head, anyone feel free to correct me)
So, to answer your question, Korea is not very multicultural. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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Foreigners make up less than 1 % of the population but there are pockets of Philipinos, Russians, etc.
Take it for what it is. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Just out of curiosity, how multicultural is South Korea? |
Not very.
There is something like a million foreigners living here, but you don't run into them very often if you live outside Seoul/Busan.
More than half the foreigners are South Asians (Vietnam, Sri Lanka...) who are here doing the 3 D jobs. They are spread out over the countryside working in small factories.
The next largest contingent are the soldiers in the US military and their families. They are concentrated around the army bases.
I'm not sure which group is next in size. It might be the Russian prostitutes, mafia guys and engineers or it might be English teachers, with Canadians making up the largest segment. Teachers are also spread out around the country. Don't be too surprised if you run into one or two in very small towns.
Then there are the Japanese tourists. You might see (hear) them in the department stores where they go to shop.
All Korean cities have Korean, Chinese and Japanese restaurants. Some Korean cities have western fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Pizza Hut. Many, many do not.
One example: Several years ago I went to the Kyoungju International Festival. The only food available was Korean. I've heard it has more variety now though. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Zoidberg wrote: |
There are a number of groups, but they are all VERY small. The total foreign population is somwhere in the 100000 to 200000 range. And half that is Chinese.
(At least, that's what I remember off the top of my head, anyone feel free to correct me)
So, to answer your question, Korea is not very multicultural. |
And most of the Chinese population is ethnically Korean. They moved to China to escape one of the calamities over the last century (Japanese imperialism, Korean War, police dictatorship), found themselves unwelcome in China, and moved back to Korea, only to find they were now unwelcome here. |
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MissSeoul
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere in America
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Zoidberg wrote: |
There are a number of groups, but they are all VERY small. The total foreign population is somwhere in the 100000 to 200000 range. And half that is Chinese.
(At least, that's what I remember off the top of my head, anyone feel free to correct me)
So, to answer your question, Korea is not very multicultural. |
Foreign population in Korea is about 1 million, one of every 40 people.
One of the biggest is American including 36,000 Armed Force.
The Chinese population is small considering Chinese in another East/South Asian countries.
Korea has many migrant workers from 3rd world countries. |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
One example: Several years ago I went to the Kyoungju International Festival. The only food available was Korean. I've heard it has more variety now though. |
That's funny. I would've been a bit disappointed, though, cuz int'l food is a pretty big attraction at those kinds of festivals, IMO.
I was just at immi on Wed. I've always noticed the Chinese have their own window (same at Incheon immi), as do SOFA ppl, F4s... No special window for EFL teachers, though, so I guess we are quite a minority. I also noticed that "invertors" have their own window, too. My husband was surprised that there would be such a spelling mistake at Seoul immi. I wasn't surprised one bit.  |
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PimpofKorea
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Location: Dealing in high quality imported English
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| It's about as multicultural as a small town in southern united states. You're a non-person here...so use it to your advantage |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| periwinkle wrote: |
I was just at immi on Wed. I've always noticed the Chinese have their own window (same at Incheon immi), as do SOFA ppl, F4s... No special window for EFL teachers, though, so I guess we are quite a minority. |
The Chinese window in immigration is for immigration officers when they're menstruating. Count yourself lucky you don't have to go past their window. |
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4 months left
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| MissSeoul wrote: |
| Zoidberg wrote: |
There are a number of groups, but they are all VERY small. The total foreign population is somwhere in the 100000 to 200000 range. And half that is Chinese.
(At least, that's what I remember off the top of my head, anyone feel free to correct me)
So, to answer your question, Korea is not very multicultural. |
Foreign population in Korea is about 1 million, one of every 40 people.
One of the biggest is American including 36,000 Armed Force.
The Chinese population is small considering Chinese in another East/South Asian countries.
Korea has many migrant workers from 3rd world countries. |
If the foreign population is 1% and the population is 50,000,000 - 1% of 50,000,000 is 500,000, that would be 1 out of every 100 people. |
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MissSeoul
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere in America
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| 4 months left wrote: |
| MissSeoul wrote: |
| Zoidberg wrote: |
There are a number of groups, but they are all VERY small. The total foreign population is somwhere in the 100000 to 200000 range. And half that is Chinese.
(At least, that's what I remember off the top of my head, anyone feel free to correct me)
So, to answer your question, Korea is not very multicultural. |
Foreign population in Korea is about 1 million, one of every 40 people.
One of the biggest is American including 36,000 Armed Force.
The Chinese population is small considering Chinese in another East/South Asian countries.
Korea has many migrant workers from 3rd world countries. |
If the foreign population is 1% and the population is 50,000,000 - 1% of 50,000,000 is 500,000, that would be 1 out of every 100 people. |
No, I count differently.
Population of South Korea is about 48 million and if foreign population in Korea is 1 million, that means one of every 48 people is foreign.
That means foreign population is about 2 % of total population. |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm.. how can so many Korean citizens be counted as 'foreign residents'?
The answer to that question may also touch on the question of how average Koreans view the benefits of cultural diversity. |
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MissSeoul
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Somewhere in America
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:04 am Post subject: |
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So, it's 1.1 % of total population. |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:06 am Post subject: |
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| Zoidberg wrote: |
There are a number of groups, but they are all VERY small. The total foreign population is somwhere in the 100000 to 200000 range. And half that is Chinese.
(At least, that's what I remember off the top of my head, anyone feel free to correct me)
So, to answer your question, Korea is not very multicultural. |
it's actually closer to 700.000 |
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