Korean Job Discussion Forums

Czarjorge · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject: Gummy smiles.

I've been looking at alot of pictures of South Koreans and I'm struck by something. They all have really gummy smiles. As in lots of gums showing. Are they just that enthusiastic about having their photo taken?

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

You're aiming for the bottom of the barrel crowd with this post, aren't you?

Czarjorge · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:55 am Post subject:

No, not really. It was just something I noticed that struck me. At my last job my assistant did the same thing, she smiled so big she showed gums. It was a disingenuous smile as she was constantly trying to play silly political work game to get me fired or throw egg on my face. Given what I've been reading about the tendency of Koreans to say one thing when they mean another in attempt to save face in the Confucian tradition, I was wondering if anyone linked these two things. Ie; overly enthusiastic (gummy) smiling with trying to seem happy/contented.

And I thought it was funny.

I'm often accidentally offensive, sorry.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

Just when I thought that threads on Dave's couldn't get any worse...