Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Miguel12]

Looks like I will be working in the GWD public school system starting in December. I am just curious about cultural nuances and faux pas that I may not have heard about yet. Anyone teaching in SK have insights into some cultural differences you didnt expect, such as certain behaviors that are considered improper, phrases you are supposed to say in certain situations, or anything similar? Any good comprehensive websites out there on this sort of thing? Share your experiences and thoughts.

Thanks!

[Atavistic]

This is what I told my parents before they came.

The biggest bill in Korea is 10,000 won, about ten dollars US. You will carry a stack of cash with you, sometimes very thick. Banks actually have little bags for you to put your money in. Don't flaunt your money, but don't worry about it. Korea is very safe.

Korea is changing all of their bills, so there are two styles of each paper note.

At most public bathrooms (ie in subway stations) the toilet paper is on a large roll outside of the stalls. Don't forget to get some. Of course, many times there is none. Carry your own tissue.

At most public bathrooms soap is lacking. Koreans don't seem to wash their hands most of the time anyway.

If someone asks your age, it's not that rude. (It's sort of rude because you're a woman and older than 40, but they may still ask.) Tack two years onto your age before your birthday and one year on after your birthday.

Koreans may ask you these things: Where are you from, do you like Korea, can you eat spicy food, and did you know Korea has four seasons?

When walking up and down stairs, try to stay to the left. This is the general rule, sometimes it goes out the window.

Do not fear the autobikes on the sidewalk. Scratch that. Fear them.

Also fear for your life in taxis. Taxis are scary. Whatever you do, don't ask the taxi driver to slow down or say anything negative in any language, as that will only make things worse. Just close your eyes.

Fear walking anywhere in the road. If you hear honking, move to the side.

(About the above three points: I am now as used to it as the Koreans are, so you don't need to warn me that I'm about to be killed. I know.)

Do not talk about the FTA.

Street food is safe and we are going to eat it, so please don't lecture me on how I'm going to die. ^^

When you meet Korean friends, I will tell you their names, but you can promptly forget them because it's often very rude to use first names and you just don't do it.

Seoul sort of has a distinct...smell.

Old men on the subway will smell like any combination of these three things: soju, kimchi, and cigarettes.

You will get stared at. Especially since there will be three of us together at a time.

You may be told you're fat. Koreans like to state the obvious. "I am Korean." "It is raining." "Americans are fat." For the record, all Americans are fat. Even the skinny ones.

Don't drink the water.

When we eat Korean food Korean style, you will not die from some horrible disease. (Many restaurants have wet napkins that are awesome to use before eating.) After all, Koreans are still around, right?

Korean men (older ones mostly) spit in public. Watch where you walk.

Koreans often sneeze and cough without covering their mouths.

Yet women cover their mouths when they laugh.

Korean speech often sounds like whining to Western ears. It might make you slightly crazy.

Public drunkeness is not a crime.

If you want to eat dried squid snacks, tomato ice cream, or pine bud drink, we can do that. We can also suck snails out of their shells and eat silkworms.

Signs in Korea are backwards. In America we write "10 to 30% off!" In Korea it's "30 to 10% off!"

Dates are written YY.MM.DD or MM.DD.YY.

Very pretty boys wearing pink and carrying manbags are not gay. They are simply very pretty boys carrying manbags.

If you are offered coffee, you must accept. You will then be served this nasty instant coffee that is always 20 degrees too hot.

Take off your shoes!

When you give anything to anyone, use your right hand only, two hands if you want to be polite.

Any gifts are to be opened later, in private to save face.

We will bargain in markets, even though I hate it.

T-Cards (for the subway) are awesome.

You will see many t-shirts with horrible English on them. I mean horrible ranging from nonsensical sayings to things I won't publish on my own site. I recently saw a businesswoman wearing a blouse with "Italian hot cooks" written all over it. Except one of the "o"s in "cooks" was really a "c."

Ignore the men at the airport who try to "help." Darn taxi drivers get in the way!

Koreans don't say "thank you" or "excuse me" nearly as much as we do.

[Miguel12]

Wow what a post! I certainly learned about several things I didnt know...Thanks!

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

Altavastic, did your folks still come after all that or did it scare them off?

I think if I ever sent that my folks or friends back home, it would scare them off coming in the first place!

[Atavistic]

[Typhoon]

Here is all you need to know:

Your boss is always right. You are always wrong. Any good idea you have your boss will take credit for. Any bad idea your boss has he will give you credit for. In case of argument refer to the first two sentences, your boss is right you are wrong. Don't believe a word you are told and in turn don't tell the truth because it will only come back to bite you in the ass. If you understand and follow these basic rules you will be ok.

Yes, I am feeling a little down on Korea this weekend.

[Miguel12]

[oneota]

I read a lot about "first" names not being used in Korea before I came here, but the students where I teach regularly introduce themselves to me by the first names and expect me to use them.

Taxis in smaller towns honk to let you know they are available.

[Atavistic]

[PeteJB]

Red means Green, green means "Put your foot down."