Korean Job Discussion Forums

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

So for years here I've found it amusing to tell Koreans that I don't know my blood type. I say that "back home, there's really no need to know it", and that it's common for people not to.

The look on their faces is often disbelief and terror.

Well... that was the look on my wife's face when I finally found out my blood type.

O-rh negative

Apparently, only .01% of the population has it here (and if you're a Korean male, that's enough to get 'cha exempt from military service).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type

So now my wife is all worried about it. She says that they often have blood drives for that particular kind because of shortages.

I guess I better not have a need then eh?

Alyallen · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:17 pm Post subject:

Well, I suppose you could supply your own at an area hospital just in case but I'm not sure how that would work here. I think in the U.S. it's possible in some places to sort of stock your own in the event you are a rare blood type....but don't quote me on it. My mom was a nurse and I hear a lot of interesting things about the medical profession at times....

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

Don't worry, CC. There are quite a few O- people among the waygookins, myself included.

I've never heard that it can earn a Korean an exemption from the military. It must be optional because I know a couple of O-'s in the military right now.

RedRob · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Location: Narnia

Ya-Ta, I have the same blood type as you, but I've also got some wierd colugulating? factor in my blood, the opposite of being a hemophiliac. Basically, I if I cut myself, I just pinch it together and within 30 sec or so it scabs up, no matter how deeep. Great when yr a kid!

My Dad has the same thing , and as he is a regular donor, they ring him up every now and again when they are doing surgury on hemophil. folks and ask for some.

Here's the rub, a few years ago at world cup stadium on L6, they had the blood bus there, and were giving free CGV movie tickets to donors....Sweet! Me 'n' Mrs Redrob pop in, say gidday, tell 'em our blood types (one would think they would esp. like some of mine no?)......errrm No. .......

And I quote..." Solly we not take foleinger brud"

Me: Eighteen!!!

Small incident, but it bugged me at the time.

(plse ignore spelling, I'm coffee jittery Laughing

)

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

I hear ya, Mr. RedRob. Having been turned down twice, I've stopped trying to donate here. It's too annoying.

On the other hand, several years ago some kid in Busan needed regular transfusions for whatever reason and a plea for donors was put out here on Dave's. Quite a few posters responded. Ultimately, the hospital chose someone who happened to live in the kid's neighborhood.

I've also had surgery since living here and none of the times have I had a problem with blood, so there must be enough O- laying around somewhere for cases like mine.

QUESTION: Us cool O- people are valuable because we are universal donors. Can we take blood from anyone, or are we limited to just our own type?

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

it's my understanding o- is the universal donor and another type, AB+(?) is the universal receiver

htrain · Joined: 24 May 2007

Theda · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: Australia

According to this table O- can donate to anybody, and O+ can only donate to other positive blood types. People with AB+ can receive blood from anyone. I also found this table interesting - never realised my own blood type (B-) is relatively rare.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Apparently people with AB blood are crazy nutjobs in Korea. Everytime I tell someone my blood type is AB, they look at me like I'm a psycho waiting to go postal.

AB+ is awesome. Your blood, his blood, her blood, it doesn't matter. I'll take it all.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Boodleheimer · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject:

i'm O- and so's my boyfriend. i keep him around in case my appendix needs removing. Wink

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Okay, everyone who's O- take careful note of who else is saying they are, because you might need them to save your life someday.

Thank christ I'm A+.

mikowee · Joined: 03 Aug 2006

Guess I'm the leech of all blood types. Can receive any type of blood but donate only to my own kind (AB+).

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

be careful about telling blood collection agencies about your type-O blood! my sister gets pestered all the time because she's a universal donor! what a rip off! she can give give give but if she needs blood it's an emergency!