Korean Job Discussion Forums

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I've been playing a few Korean online games. I've noticed that Koreans are very xenophobic in the online community. For instance, I'll go into a game room and I'll say "Hello everyone!". The next thing that happens is someone types "외국인" and the room clears out real fast.

I just thought it was interesting since you can't even see the person's face in an online game. Just the mere fact that I typed in English was enough to cause people to leave.

So, I did a little experiment. I opened up my own game room with the title being "English Chat". People dropped in for a microsecond and immediately left the room. After a few minutes, the only person that stayed in the room and said something was this Chinese guy. He asked me where I was from in Chinese, and when I said "I don't understand" he typed it again in English.

It was an interesting experience. Even though I can type in Korean, I still just use English to see what happens. I have yet to see someone respond to my questions. I just get ignored like I'm invisible.

I'm surprised some people don't take advantage of it. Its free English lessons online.

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I wasn't playing any team games. These are games where the language has no impact on game play.

I'm extremely polite and I don't do anything rude in the chat channels. here's what I say:

enter room:
"hello"
Round is about to being:
"Good luck"
after round is over
"great job!"

Thats it. Nothing complicated. However, when I type in English and someone says "외국인", and everyone clears out of the room I'm in, I doubt that is just mere coincidence.

And I'm referring to online games where everyone is in the same chatroom prior to a round starting, like Albatross Golf, Cart Rider, Rumble Fighter, Audition, Go Stop, etc...

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

I've played a golf game on Hangame and that has never happened to me.
As a matter of fact, the people I'm playing with, or against practice their English while playing.

superdave · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: over there ----->

i have to kinda agree with the OP ... i play warrock a lot ... and as long as i'm quiet, they don't realise i'm any different, everyone just plays. if i type anything in english, there's a high likelihood that i'll get booted from the room.

occasionally they'll let me stay, and engage in conversation (and i've made a few korean friends that way) but more often than not, i'll be turfed out of the room.

they also say 'shut the mouse' a lot ... which makes me laugh my ass off. i suspect that the people who are being buttwipes are just kids ... or taxi drivers (seems to be a lot of them who play computer games).

i would say that the people i play online games with (in korea) are a little racist ... however, i only notice their attitude when they kick me out of a room. we never notice the positive elements, because we take them for granted.

and, like all countries, people are a.s.sholes when they can hide behind the anonymity of the internet. why should koreans be any different? i used to play a lot of yahoo chess ... but i gave it up, cause the a.s.shole factor was high. it's a chess game, but still people felt the need to be morons ... because they can.

welcome to the internet.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Maybe its backlash from the way Korean gamers are treated on US games. In many MMORPG's, everyone trashes "Korean Gold Farmers" and if anyone says they are from Korea, they are automatically flamed and labeled as a farmer.