Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mexican-american-in-korea]

Hey Everyone,

My name is Angelo, I'm an English teacher in a small town called Hamyang (near Jinju). I've only been here for less than a month so I haven't experienced much discrimination in Korea. I've spent time in Seoul, Busan, Jinju and Daegu. But last night, an Australian friend and I were in Daegu last night and we stumbled upon a Karaoke bar that looked like it would be worth checking out.

As we waited by the entrance to be seated, immediately one of the employees ran up to us. More people who were sitting and enjoying there drinks stared in our direction. The young Korean employee handed me a sign. I grabbed it from him curiously. In big black letters the sign stated "KOREAN PEOPLE ONLY!" and "ONLY KOREAN SONGS HERE." (The irony was that the song being sang by the Korean guy on stage was an American song, in English).

What?? My initial reaction was confusion, I didn't know what to say. My friend stood nearby and asked what the sign said. I told him. No more than a few seconds passed before the owner motioned to the door. Not only was I overcome with embarrassment as everyone stared at us. So I did the only thing I could think of�.I blatantly flipped of the bar owner as we involuntarily left the bar. I could see the fury in his face. But I didn't care. As we walked up the two flights of stairs a Korean guy followed several feet behind us I was expecting him to confront us but he just stood at the door as we walked away. As we walked down the street, the only words that came to mind were "F*** KOREA!" As we walked I was in disbelief about what had just happened. My head spun for a minute because of all the emotions that flooded my head. It's not easy coming to terms with the fact that I was just asked to leave a bar because we weren't Korean. I don't know if I was more embarrassed, infuriated, or shocked.

Yes, I know the "F" Korea comment was irrational and uncalled for...but we resort to profanity when we don't have the language to express how we really feel. To some people reading this, you may think that I overreacted. But as minority in the United States I had to deal with racism, xenophobia, and discrimination my entire life. I never got use to being called a wetback, being taunted, or having my ability to speak English questioned because of my appearance. But even worse I have never been denied the right to occupy a space because of my race or appearance!

Furthermore, for the first couple of weeks here I would have people refuse to sit in the empty seat next to me on the bus, or the time when I sat in the seat two spaces away from an old Korean lady on the subway and she got up and walked to the opposite end of the subway car. These things didn't bother me. I understand that Koreans can be conservative and xenophobic. So these little things didn't bother me before. But last night was more than I expected. I am still angry about what happened but it is not directed at a country or Korean people as a whole. Maybe I needed to experience like that to let me know my place in Korea and not too get too comfortable here.

But as we walked I thought more about the fact that my positive experiences in Korea far outweigh my negative ones. There are many Korean people who have treated me with such great generosity and kindness. I can understand not being able to speak Korean, because I'm a foreigner. Or not being able to vote in Korea's presidential elections this year, because I'm a foreigner. BUT, not being able to enjoy myself and sing at a karaoke bar with some Koreans, because I'm a foreigner. Now that's just outrageous...haha.

Basically, what I want to know is if anything like this has happened to you? How did you react? And any advice in general about being an outsider.

Thanks,

Angelo

[Qinella]

Yeah that's never happened to me, but I can't imagine I'd feel too happy about it either. It would be embarrassing, sure, but the feeling of injustice would probably be worse.

I don't think you over-reacted at all. That's what the middle-finger gesture is for, right?

Sounds like you've been doing a lot of traveling. One month in and already seen most of the major areas? Nice.

[J.B. Clamence]

[rednblack]

Never happened, but I belive it does to some. Mind you, I'm not young, so maybe my age has helped. Get a thick skin, worse things will/may happen if you plan to spend any time here. Keep smiling, things are not so bad over here.

[Harpeau]

Sorry to hear about such stupidity. They don't deserve your patronage.

I once went to the "International Bar" in Pohang and they wouldn't let me in because I was a foreigner. I looked at the guy confused and asked why they would name the bar with such a global title and then restrict it? He looked at me confused. I just left the place laughing.

People make their choices and live with them. It's no reflection on you or me. It's their utter ignorance and stupidity. Racism and bigotry have been around for millenias. They probably won't dissapear for a while. All I can do is be kind to my fellow neighbor and let the chips fall where they may.

[mexican-american-in-korea]

Suprisingly, it wasn't in my small town where this happened it was in Central Daegu.

But yeah, I have managed to travel every weekend to different cities and this was a first. So I guess I was just shocked. Besides this incident things have been all good.

[billybrobby]

That happened to me once at a cheesy booking club. I was willing to just leave because it didn't seem like a cool place, but my friend got indignant and eventually they backed down and let us in. Which resulted in 30 minutes of us sitting there and being bored and drinking 5 dollar Cass to prove a point. But oh well.

I don't think the middle finger was unjustified. f*ck 'em. Maybe the "f*ck Korea" thing was unjustified because, after all, there are areas of Korea outside that karaoke bar.

Of course, the slick to do would have been to kill them with kindness and make them feel bad about it. But that's not always possible and it's not a lot of fun trying to charm somebody who wants you gone because of the color of your skin. But anyways, I don't think you were way out of line.

[thebum]

i have yet to be refused service anywhere because of being a foreigner. i'm white, but i have a lot of foreigner friends in korea. most of them are asian (indian, bangladeshi, chinese, japanese, etc.). my non-white friends who don't look "korean enough" (i.e. the bangladeshis and indians) are often refused services in korea.

[Adventurer]

I haven't ever been refused service anywhere or given smaller food portions. The overwhelming majority have no problem sitting next to me on a train, but there were a few people out of all the people I sat next to who didn't want to sit near me. It is quite rare for me to experience that. I have had mostly good experiences, but I am well aware that there are places where people do not want foreigners from the West.

[ella]

I had a restaurant door closed in my face about a week ago, in Seoul. I was dressed nicely, I just wanted some bibimbap. No foreigners allowed, apparently. It happens. You just shrug and move on, not much else can be done about it.