Korean Job Discussion Forums

leeroy12 · Joined: 01 Jul 2003

Every now and then, I meet up with a couple of my Korean ex-students for a drink and a 'chat'. Why the inverted commas? Well, they're English lessons, actually. I give them conversation practice and feedback on emerging errors, and they buy my beer/cigarettes for the duration. It's a mutually beneficial situation, all done under the guise of 'meeting for a drink'. Anyway...

A recurring theme is the "west" vs "east" cultural comparisons. I'll ream off a couple of 'observations' made (commonly from this forum) about Korean culture and behaviour, and they will comment on it or justify it. Similarly, they will tell me what they've heard or percieve about western culture - and I'll do my best to clear it up. A wonderful cultural exchange, of sorts.

What has become apparent from chatting to these girls is the generation gap. Evidently, in Korea, it is absolutely massive. If they have it right, then Korean culture is evolving at a rate of knots. More than once they've explained "Oh, that particular cultural practice is common amongst our elders, but not so much in this generation." (well - words to that effect!) One person paying for everyone in a restaurant, for example, is less common among young Koreans (so they say). In some ways, Korean youth is becoming more western - although they are cautiously doing it so as not to openly seem that they are "copying" us.

Perhaps, though, it's the 'enlightened' ones that come over to the west, and the even more enlightened ones who willingly take out a western guy for drinks so they could discuss inter-cultural attitudes to racism, politics, sex and economics. (These certainly don't sound like the same students that you guys describe actually in Korea).

Monty_ · Joined: 16 Aug 2003

Without wanting to be too academic, there is a famous business text that backs up precisely what you are saying.
It's called 'triad power', and one of the main issues it addresses is that consumption and popular culture in the triad (North america, Western Europe & Japan + tigers) is converging fast. According to the research, the generational gap is now far wider than the geographic gap between people in these parts of the world.

If you think about it, a lot of your consumption patterns and the way you approach life is likely to be closer to a korean of the same age as you rather than your parents, especially in the age of mass-communication and west-is-best globalisation.

Although at the same time there are cultural traits specific to certain groups that are unlikely to dissapear anytime soon.

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

**results edited

JackSarang · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

leeroy12 · Joined: 01 Jul 2003

Jack - believe me, I understand what you are describing!

I don't defend the nature of Korean (and Asian generally) insularity here in London - but it's not all of them. (OK, most).

I'll generalise from now on. Koreans don't come here to learn about British culture, or to socialise with British people. They come here to learn English. Alas, the latter is not really possible without the former, but this is a difficult message to convey.

"I know the English but I can't use it!" is a common complaint among Asian students, living in ghettos of their own people probably doesn't help. It is difficult to make friends in western cultures - Latin Americans can do it because they are outgoing and friendly. Koreans, on the whole, are not. In order to 'make it' socially in Britain Koreans have to turn their back on their cultural way of doing things and try something different - most of them, younger generation included, are not up to the task.

From the sound of things though, plenty of English teachers in Korea don't do a very good job of integration either...

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

**edited

BTM · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Back in the saddle.

Korea is changing at a rate of knots. It's transformed in many ways in the 7 years since I first came here, even.

It'll either disappear down the toilet or emerge from its century long nightmare soon. Given Koreans' ability to surprise, and bounce back, I'm betting on the latter.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I just find Koreans to be very exclusive. You can make friends with some if you can communicate, but they seem to have many ways and criteria for creating their groups, such as age or social status. I don't know much about Japan or China but they also seem exclusive to me, maybe not as much as Koreans, maybe more than westerners. For instance, I have friends 10 years or more older than me. Does any Korean have a friend with such an age difference? Maybe with a foreigner only.

chi-chi · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

toomuchtime

little mixed girl · Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Location: shin hyesung's bed~

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

The evil penguin

[quote="Derrek
They do more than discuss!

I often wonder if they are quicker to jump into bed with a Western guy than they are with a Korean guy? What do you guys think? Do they act more conservative with Korean guys, or is it all just a facade for foriegners to believe?[/quote]

God-dammit, I'd love to know where you socialise Derrick.....

Reckon I can tag along sometime?