Korean Job Discussion Forums

sergiowoo · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Location: Los Angeles

If I end up in Korea, is there anyway I can get access to American cable channels? I'm willing to pay top dollar to install it. Plus, I have many tattoos. Sometimes, I feel self-conscious in America. What sort of treatment should I expect in Korea? Btw, I'm a Korean American.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Occassionally I see some gyopos in HongDae with tattoos. Usually it seems most like L.A. gyopo culture.

Korean-Koreans don't like tattoos and associate them with criminals. For criminals in Korea, tattoos are status symbols.

So you might have some difficulty mixing in with regular Korean society.

As far as to American cable channels. I have cable TV here but its 99% Korean channels, but I have it to watch the few western ones. Discovery Channel, On Style, CNN, BBC are most of them, I think there might be another one or two if you are into sports.

bradgilbert · Joined: 17 Jul 2007

The tats will garner lots of looks, especially if you've got sleeves

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

Never seen VH1 or TC, but if you check the ads in the Korea Times/Herald when you get here, there is usually one for foreign satellite channels on the second page or so. It's expensive though; from memory over a grand for the installation and a hundred or so a month. As for the tats, I have only one myself, but get no grief for it and hold down a good job. I often wear sleeveless shirts in the summer and to the gym. I know others who have them, one guy on this forum has them on both forearms and nobody seems to mind. I've yet to be refused entry to a sauna or gym for mine, for what it is worth. Hope this helps.