Korean Job Discussion Forums

[browneyedgirl]

Is there any kind of stigma against persons with Spanish last names in Korea, or are they treated the same as Caucasians if they look Caucasian?

[jaderedux2]

I am hispanic. My father was 1st gen to live in the states. Both grandparents on father's side were born and raised in Mexico. They don't understand sometimes but my students think it is cool but my middle and last name are killers...all those L's and R's.

Jade

[doggyji]

I think many Koreans don't really have any particular idea about hispanics, let alone any kind of stigma. They almost never meet or think about hispanic people in life unless they go abroad. With a very negligible hispanic population in Korea, we can assume some people may just have some images built up by Hollywood if any.

[mole]

[waynehead]

Probably in much the same way most hispanics think about koreans...

[VirginIslander]

Actually, there is a large popluation of Koreans in Mexico, Guatemala and Argentina. But, few spanish speakers here. There is one spanish speaker--Ewok--who regularly posts on Pusanweb.com

I know a few Mexicans and Peruvians who work in Pusan. One of them is actually in big trouble now.

He was going to leave Korea this week to return to Peru because some of his family members died in the earthquake. While driving home from work, a drunk Korean stumbled in front of his car and got hit. Now the Korean man is in a coma.

Peruvian is not responsible and many witnesses attested to his innocence. However, according to Korean law, if the Korean dies then the Peruvian man has to pay for the funeral expenses. Thats a lot of money for him.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If you look more or less white that's how you'll be treated. Koreans know very little about the ethnicity of foreign surnames. I know a Guetemalan Koreans assume is of European background and someone of Guyanian family background some Koreans think is African.

[yesnoyesyesno]

[Scotticus]

I'd have to agree with some of the previous posters. I'd be willing to bet the vast majority of Koreans don't even know Hispanic people exist. I'd put a month's pay that most Koreans see a Hispanic person and assume he/she is "white." Probably the same reason most Westerns can't tell Asian people apart.

[Unposter]

I don't know if Koreans know about "Hispanics" but they certainly know about people from Mexico, Central and South America. If they have played in the World Cup, they know about them. They even have a free trade agreement with Argentina. There are plenty of Salsa clubs around, at least in Seoul. I have even heard of some Koreans studying Spanish, believe it or not. They have some idea.

[Tiger Beer]

Foreigner last names don't have any meaning whatsoever to Koreans.

Even if they were able to recognize it as a last name with Spanish-origin, it still wouldn't mean anything.

Although, I have met some Koreans who open up Mexican restaurants who've been to Mexico or lived there. Either that or they lived in California or Texas and got the idea?

I'm glad to see some Mexican food in Korea from it as well!

[Boodleheimer]

here's a story for you. (this happened to me last week at a camp with elementary school students.)

at one of the camps i worked at, we used the Backpacker 2 textbook. one of the chapters is about the 12 months and holidays around the world. there's a big picture of some Mexican girls in traditional outfits dancing for their Independence Day. i had the students to turn to that page (there were other photos on that page as well, illustrating other holidays), and the reaction? 'ugly!' 'monkey!' giggle, giggle, giggle. i was absolutely dumbfounded. my great-grandmother was a Urtado. she had to have been rolling in her grave. i continued with the lesson.

[Okibum]

I have never had any issues being a Hispanic working in Korea. A lot of times I get people trying to guess my background.

[IncognitoHFX]

Weird... I just realized that I've never met a Mexican before, lol

[I-am-me]

My students are happy when I teach them spanish along with english!!! I let them know it's needed if they go to the US since it is the second language there in many parts.