Korean Job Discussion Forums

antiamerican · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Many years ago, when I first came to Asia, I heard this term about the Chinese. From what I remember, it meant that the Chinese would practically lie, or twist the truth, in order not to embarrass themselves, superiors or their families. To look bad in front of others is to lose face. Hence we called it saving face.
In light of Korea, however, I wonder if this applies, or if anyone knows anything about the true meaning of these terms? Do Koreans try to save face? Is this the problem with Korea, and is the above mentioned definition the correct meaning of this term? Moreover, is this the way to describe some Korean behavior, particularly when it comes to right and wrong? An answer to this question might help us all.
Take, for instance, North Korea. We all know(at least some of us,) that Kim Jong-il and his nuclear bomb club have committed a grievous error, or broken the nuclear arms treaty. They've been building nuclear weapons secretely all along, even well before Bush stepped into office. This is no lie.
Yet when speaking about this to the majority of Koreans, all one gets is the cold shoulder. Not only that, but one gets reverse accusations, like the Western media is biased against North Korea and or America started the ball rolling by Bush declaring Kim Jong-il evil and not supplying aid.
But we know from reliable sources, that this isn't so, that North Korea got caught with its hand in the cookie jar, and that Kim Jong-il has lost face. So what do the South Koreans think and do?
Well, that's a mystery to me. They try to shift the blame, or don't talk about it at all, or excuse it in the name of reunification. They try to pretend that no problem exists, that it's really not the North's fault, or that as one student told me, "Why can't North Korea have nuclear weapons? Everyone else does?"
In other words, they try to save face. Or at least this is what I think it's called. But since being in Korea, I haven't heard this term used at all, and wonder if we know what's going on. This could be exactly what North Korea is trying to do, and makes me wonder, who's going to lose face?

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

You have made some very good points. Koreans do beleive in face. I forget the Korean word for it. Anyways, I think it goes deeper than just keeping face, it goes to the misinformation that is fed the Korean populace whether it is the media, (mbc comes to mind, and I am sure lemon will agree) or even the education students receive in school. This misinformation makes it all the more difficult to have current issue-event conversations. All the glorification going on up north happens here in the south also. I believe if you watch Arirang TV you will get a small dose my picture. Koreans really beleive and think this way about their country and themselves. Take a look at Korean advertising, it is all mythical themes or showing grandure. I am not an expert, so all this is my opinion, but after living in Korea for many years, I say Koreans will do anything, and I mean anything not to lose face.

IconsFanatic · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

I honestly don't think "saving face" is unique to Asians. Westerns have their own unique methods of trying to "save face" for each other as well.

Circus Monkey · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: In my coconut tree

Heh. I think we call it "refusing to back down".

CM

canukteacher · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul, Korea

My experience with Asians.......Chinese and Koreans and saving face is that they only worry about saving face when they have been dishonest, or have done something wrong.If they were honest with people they wouldn't have to worry about saving face.

CT

antiamerican · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Arthur Fonzerelli · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

Canadian Teacher · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

The Korean word for "face" is kibun.

Mr.NiceGuy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

Arthur Fonzerelli · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

Mr.NiceGuy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

keguri · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL

Here's a good definition of "saving face" from: http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/treatment/facesavr.htm

"Face saving (or saving face) refers to maintaining a good self image. People who are involved in a conflict and secretly know they are wrong will often not admit that they are wrong because they don�t want to admit they made a mistake. They therefore continue the conflict, just to avoid the embarrassment of looking bad."

Westerners save face too, but not quite to the degree that Koreans and other Asians do. For example, when you say to your friend "That hot-pink and neon green poodle-print shirt is nice, but I think your blue sweater really brings out your eyes more. Why don't you wear that instead?" instead of saying "What is that horrific crap you've got on?! It's hideous! Wear this blue sweater instead.", you are engaging in a face-saving act. You don't want to embarrass your friend, so you save your friend's face, so to speak.

You can save your own face, too. Have you ever tripped walking down a sidewalk and then turned around to see what may have tripped you, even though you know exactly what it was? This is to give the people around you who saw you trip the impression "Hey, I've got it under control... it wasn't MY fault that I tripped!" That's saving face.

With Korean society, I think saving face is part of showing respect. You would never, ever allow someone higher on the social ladder than you to lose face. It's just unthinkable. We don't have this hierarchical social structure in the West, and so if you allow someone to lose face, you are not creating such a horrible social faux pas as you are when you do it in Asian society. That's my theory, anyways...

Mr.NiceGuy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003