Korean Job Discussion Forums

[andy202]

Today, during kindergarten, I was held at gun-point by a five year old girl.

She is a nice enough little tot and, with the exception of the odd airbourne sign pen, has never given me any cause to expect imminent death or injury.

Today however, she produced from her backpack what appeared to be something along the lines of a 44 Magnum revolver and, I'm going to level with you, I was scared.

She twizzled it around playfully for a while, then, as I peeked out from under the table, she complied with my polite request to put it away.

It later occurred to me to wonder what it is that causes Korean mommies and daddies to bestow such a weapon of hate and bloodshed upon an unknowing little girl.

I like to think it was no more than a convincing replica, but why? In a country which has managed to resist nothing but this, the worst of American conventions, must they then generate the idea for their young?

I was also introduced to a fine collection of small daggers by a very proud little boy of similar age a while ago.

Is this normal or am I unwittingly teaching at the Korean Combat school for Kinders?

[uberscheisse]

keep in mind you're living in a country where there is a tangible fear of attack from a huge infantry. you're also living in a country where criticism of agression against an outside enemy is rare.

so - a replica gun in your class... not a big deal really. make a stink about it and you'll look like a weirdo. no matter how right you are.

korea hasn't even had a sexual revolution yet, much less a peace movement.

[andy202]

Korea hasn't had a lot of things and, apart from a peace movement, this includes an agression movement.

The point I make is that I haven't witnessed any form of gun culture in Korea so why suddenly cultivate it among 5 year-olds?

The best conclusion I can come up with is naivity. This would also explain why kids can buy candy in dispensers identical to those in which strong medication is prescribed.

As for making a stink, I am free-wheeling toward my leave date and thus in no mood to openly question the behaviour of my students to anyone but rational westerners from the safety of my laptop.

[thebum]

[happeningthang]

There's no comparison to be made between American and Korean gun cultures. From what I understand they're almost impossible to obtain in Korea outside of the army. Does anyone else recall gangsters attacking soldiers on guard duty, in order to obtain their guns?

What you saw was almost certainly a plastic replica that shoots pellets. Hard plastic pellets to be fair. They're stocked in every toy store I've been in, and readily available in E-mart. It's a toy to Korean kids, and it's nothing more than that, since the real thing just doesn't exist here.

Kids act out, and there are more than enough violence themed movies and anime around to inspire them. There's been a few hard, plastic, ninja knives, inspired by the 'Naruto' anime, amongst the boys of one of my elementary classes. There's been a fair few yo-yos as well. I tolerate the knives until they start making the inevitable stabby motions, then they lose them for the duration of the class. Do it again and they lose it for good.

[billybrobby]

I remember seeing a kid on the street playing with a plastic gun and it seemed kinda off to me and I couldn't put my finger on what it was. But the thing was is that the gun had no obvious indicator that it was fake, such as the orange tip on the barrel or being the wrong color. I realized that it's hard to find such toy guns in America because there's so many real guns.

Another thing that threw me off was seeing kids playing on the city street at night.

It's sad the freedoms we've given up because of our own violence. As irrational as people say Koreans are, nothing is more irrational than a society where we can't stop murdering each other in the street.

[JongnoGuru]

[Gamecock]

Wow! A child playing with a toy gun. This never happens anywhere but the USA. How is this crime against humanity spreading to other nations???

What is the deal with some of the posters on this board? Is it possible for them to say ANYTHING without it being an anti-American slam? I'm as critical of the negatives of my nation as anyone, but some of you people need to get a life.

[NAVFC]

[jaderedux]

I want one except that it shoots water! Be great in the summer.

Jade gun lovin gun totin gun owning American.....and btw hate george bush....

[gsxr750r]

I keep a Colt Double Eagle air soft gun under my desk at work. Sometimes, I pull it out and let the students shoot things off of the table across the room. We have fun.

It looks very realistic. If I flashed it in public the USA, the police would be on me -- guns drawn -- in a hot minute.

Toy guns back home are restricted to having bright orange tips, or preferrably, all-bright non-metallic colors so police know it's a toy. This after many children were shot for pointing a toy gun at the cops.

The police in the USA are protected (mostly) if they shoot a suspect that pulls a gun on them.

[Zolt]

Sensitivity on the issue depends on where you've grown up.

If I see a kid draw a gun at me in Korea, I instantly know it's a replica and laugh at him.

I I see a kid draw a gun at me in America, I duck.

On the other hand, didn't some guy manage to rob a bank with a gun replica af couple weeks ago?

[sportsguy35]

I am more scared of the things that are readily available is schools in America, like Harry Potter. Lets not teach our children to shoot, lets teach them to place demonic spells on people. Mmmmmmuch better...

[mnhnhyouh]

[NAVFC]