Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drunken-Al]

I unconsciously divide non-Koreans and Koreans into two categories; 'we' and 'they.' It's notable that I have done this in other countries as well but that the 'we' had always been reserved solely for my countrymen. Are Koreans so uniquely different that I would set them apart from all other nationalities? Ahem. I'm afraid the answer is a clearly pronounced and confidently spoken yes.

Why? What is it that makes Koreans so very different? Kimchi? Belief in fan death? Poor fashion sense? I don't think so.

While I find things like having bubble machines at weddings, Dunkin' Donuts with no coffee available, and eating dried squid at the movies amusing, I think that what puts Koreans into the 'they' category runs deeper than custom, culture, or even race and the language barrier. I mean, there's a long list of silliness in other countries, too. For example, why do Canadians where those hilarious maple leaf badges on their clothes and luggage? It's embarrassing, yes, but for some reason they still get grouped into the 'we' category.

Since getting married to a lovely Korean lady a little over a year ago (God bless her patience!) I've been able to do some exploring into that vast demilitarized abyss that separates 'we' from 'they.'

In that land of give-and-take, which I have come to know as married life, I often have the great misfortune of having to sit and endure Korean television. My Korean language skill is approaching an intermediate level (whatever that means!) and I am able to follow along fairly well but...um...words fail me. I am unable to find words to adequately describe the deep loathing and hate that I have for Korean television. My wife loves it. How can this be? How could the woman I love enjoy something that I abhor with all my passion? The answer is simple; she's Korean.

These horrific episodes of Korean television have explained much to me, however. You know that horrible comedy where the pans fall from the ceiling onto the heads of contestants who've sung the wrong words to a k-pop song? Oh...my...God. It's blood curdling. That show makes me want to throw the TV through the window. In other comedies there is always some guy dressed badly as a woman. This usually gets knee slapping laughter from my wife. In stunt shows people are made to look silly if they cannot perform some physical act in a certain time. With the dramas there is always some old, angry man or woman who is made to look foolish by how they conduct themselves when they are angry and the Korean audiences watch on with hilarity. Why do I hate it so much?

Well, it may be that Korean comedians seem to try to make others laugh through making themselves look foolish. Dressing up in stupid clothes etc.. Western comedians, on the other hand, seem to try to make others laugh through making someone else look foolish and, in turn, making themselves look good. Of course, Jim Carry is an exception here. I've heard more Arnold Schwarzeneggar impressions in the past 2 weeks than I had in 15 years.

This in mind, the differences in everyday life in Korea and life back home become a little more apparent, no? That whole 'Look at me! Look at me!' attention-starved attitude that is such a turn-off in many other societies seems to be very much practised, accepted, and loved here.

I'm leaping here, bear with me, but could the 5 millennia or so of being attacked, conquered, unknown, uncared about, and existing somewhere just below mediocrity have inspired the Korean passion for such things as karaoke halls? So starved for attention and recognition that to slip into imagined fame in the noh-rae-baung is as natural as wearing high-heeled shoes while hiking up a mountain? Or subway station men's rooms being so full of korean men coming in to check themselves out in the mirror that it's almost a mission just to get near enough to a sink to wash my hands?

Could it be that the idea of doing something silly, even as a nation, is a subconscious effort to shake self perceptions of inferiority and mediocrity? I mean, remember the fool who killed himself in Cancun last week? Most Koreans I've talked to see that idiot did in a positive light. Me? I think he accomplished nothing more than to portray an entire nation of Koreans as rioting, suicidal, maniacs and to bring misery to his family. Is that better than being unnoticed? Personally, I don't think so.

Korean people are not different than other nationalities. Well, at least physically . Most of us find happiness in comfort and the Koreans are no exception, whether it be in the materialistic sense or the emotional. It seems, though, that 'we' have a different comfort zone than 'they' do.

Well, I'm beginning to ramble. That means it's time to quit. I apologize if I've ruffled any feathers, it was not my intent. I would be interested, however, if any of you have thought about this idea and/or have any other ideas as to just what it is that sets 'them' so very far apart from the rest of the planet's population.

Thanks for reading and keep on drinking! Drunken Al.

[William Beckerson]

If you're just beginning to ramble, I'd hate to see you going full bore.

[Squid]

Two words for you Al, BENNY HILL... KTV is splendid.

Squid, and the pan-dropping show has Ee ryi Ho- don't knock it.

[leeroy12]

Hey Al

I enjoyed your ramble - it was interesting.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

All I can say is it's time to put the foot down regarding your house-hold tv policy. The drama's, while they suck, can be good for your Korean because of the simple language, and the well known teaching fact that a unified story line is great for second language compehension. The comedies, however, have to go.

"Please don't think I'm weak I couldn't turn the other cheek
Sometimes you gotta fight to be a man"

[just because]

I have a love-hate relationship with Korean TV.
On some days I can watch some of the shows
eg. Jaengbang noraebang(the tray on the head show)
Wehumhan Chodae (the show where they got flinged into the swimming pool)
CheonSaengYeonBun(the show where the celebrities get matched up)
These above ones I don't mind. I hate the tray one but it is brilliant for listening to see if you can tell when they stuff up.
On sdome days I want to learn and see how much I can follow(I find the more i can follow it the more I like the show) and other days I want to throw the TV out the window. I look at it as an educational tool.

[William Beckerson]

I look at it as a way to watch Non-Stop and non stop Starcraft...

[buddy bradley]

[Bulsajo]

I prefer to think of it this way:
Me; The rest of you.

[little mixed girl]

....

[buddy bradley]

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[wylde]

i am getting bored, there is nothing new coming up of interest and i am not as clever as you guys to create an interesting thread.. this 1 looked good to me so i thought i'd bring it up again.

[Bulsajo]

[kangnam mafioso]

i think what makes koreans different is there intense korean-ness. the culture is so dang homogenous -- back home and in most other countries culture is so mixed; it's a melting pot, a salad bowl of different languages, ancestries, cultures, ideas and philosophies of living. in korea, there is only korean-ness. if the korean culture wasn't bizarre and eccentric enough, add globalization to the mix where you have koreans trying to imitate or mimic western culture in a confused and sad way (hence the western bars, putting corn on pizza, bubble machines at the wedding hall, awful beer, et al.