Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gdnchg]

Hey guys,

Are any of you out there married to Korean spouses? Do you have children?
Since Korea is homogeneous, I've heard that children of international marriages face severe discrimination. For those of you in this situation, has Korean society accepted your children as equals? What are some of your experiences and do you think Korean can change.....

[luvnpeas]

There is a mixed-race kid in my school. Her father is Anglo-American; Korean mom. She is in third grade. She seems happy and sociable to me. I noticed she participated in the traditional Korean dance and other festivities on sports day. She is bilingual.

Koreans are prone to theories of racial status, and they think white people are near the top. It might be more difficult for a mixed race child with a non-white parent.

There was a Japanese/Korean kid in my school last year, who also seemed to do well socially.

[lostinseoul77777]

The situation is improving, but frankly, it still has a long way to go. Until recently, Korean society discriminated against mixed-race children and adults. But like I said, the situation is improving with people like Heinz Ward and other mixed-race celebrities campaigning for equality.

[Axl Rose]

[denistron]

[jaganath69]

Although some like Homer* would disagree, I don't think it's fair to subject my mixed-race son to the crap that kids like him experience here in the schooling system. We have two such children here at the expensive private school that I teach at, and seeing the crap that they have gone through has informed this decision. This is from a school where the kids have mostly traveled and should have an appreciation of different cultures. And while I do believe that Korea is making small, incrimental steps forward in this area, I feel there exists sufficient bias against students of non-Korean background to not want to put my son through this system. Moreover, I have seen social studies syllabi here that makes my hair stand on end with its references to the minjok (race), pure blood and its roots in Nazi eugenics. To that end, my family and I will be leaving Korea at the end of this contract.

*Not that there is anything wrong with that, our experiences have just differed. All the best who choose to stay here and educate their mixed-race kids in this country. It should make the place a lot more tollerable.

[Juregen]

If it matters

My Boy is being positively discriminated "ALL THE TIME".

He is turning into a spoiled brat.

[Alyallen]

[billybrobby]

Insooni first came out in 78? Man...must've caused a stir.


As far as the kids go, I imagine it's different depending on which race their mixed with and how good looking they are. A good-looking kid mixed with a white parent, fuhggedaboutit.

Race is complicated in Korea, just like America. Look at the way Americans simultaneously worship and abhor black culture.

[Alyallen]

[Ilsanman]

I am also leaving Korea weithin the next 3 years. My wife is expecting and due later this year. I don't mind him/her living here for a bit. He/she might get a few odd comments, but nothing to get feathers ruffled over.

In the school system, no way. The school system here is bad enough, teaching useless outdated education, add racism into the mix, it makes it not worth staying here.

Last I heard, foreign schools are about 20 million won a year and up. That idea's out too.

[xtchr]

I taught in rural schools last year and in one class there were two Korean-Philipino kids. The other children referred to them as 'monkeys', which went unchecked by the Korean teacher. She told me, in a loud voice in front of the whole class "they are not proper Korean, they are dark". And she shuddered while she emphasised the last word.

[luvnpeas]

[jaganath69]

[Ozabout7or8]