Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Freakstar]

I was recently in the States on a business trip, and I was having dinner with a Korean-German gyopo and another native Korean co-worker when the Korean-German guy asked me this: If there was a soccer match between the U.S. (I was born and raised in the U.S.) and S. Korea, who would I root for? I thought about it for a second and then said, the U.S. My co-worker was shocked to say the least. He said I was the first gyopo he's met who answered this way.

The Korean-German guy said that even though he was born and raised in Germany and still lives there, he'd most definitely root for S. Korea over Germany.

What about the other gyopos out there - would you root for S. Korea over your country of citizenship?

[Bibbitybop]

Whoever my money was bet on.

[not a kyopo]

[crsandus]

For soccer? I'd root for Korea. The reason is that I feel like I know more about the Korean national soccer team than I do about the US team. If you said, women's soccer, I'd say the US (I'm assuming there's a Korean women's national soccer team) because I happen to know something about the US women's soccer team but I don't even know a lick about the Korean women's soccer team.

For other sports it'd be complex. If you took the baseball team from the world cup thingy that went on a year or two ago, I'd go with Korea because I'd find it strange to root for a mix of Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, etc. If you said the Detroit Tigers vs the Korean national team, I'd go Tigers all the way.

Basically I will root for the team I most relate to. I relate to/root for Detroit teams since I lived most of my life in Michigan. I never made an attachment to the US soccer team.

[endo]

I'm not a gyopo. My background is primarily Ukrainian.


So if the Ukraine played Canada in any sport, I'd root for Canada. No question.


I am fourth generation Canadian however. So I guess I've fully assimilated into Canadian culture. Beiing caucasian doesn't hurt either.



I can somewha understand first and second generation gyopos cheering for a Korean team. Hopefull that changes with the preceding generations.

[bejarano-korea]

My mother is Peruvian and I was born in England so if England were playing Peru I would cheer for Peru.

No question about it.

Maybe this is down to me knowing more about English football and the players and thus it is a case of 'familiarity breeds contempt' but everytime I have seen Peru or a Peruvian playing sport (not often do you see Peru on the world stage) I cheer them on whoever they are playing.

I also cheer on Wales also.

I'm sure gyopos have had their 'Americaness' questioned, I know I have had my 'Englishness' questioned and that makes you a bit distant about
being patriotic to the country where you are from regarding sporting matters.

However if we were to get invaded - thats a different question entirely.

[Chaz_Bangalang]

boggie woogie woo

[boyne11]

North Korea.

[komerican]

[Suwoner10]

The Packers, dog.

[mistermasan]

as a3rd generation american mutt, more often than not, i root for the underdog. so...rooting for the US in association football/socceer/footy is easy enough. can't remember the last time i rooted for team USA basketball. ever since barkley steamrolled that angolan "Team USA" basketball has been the epitomy of "ugly american" for me.

[Vancouver]

seoul born vancouverite. I dont know a single Korean in vancouver (of any generation) that would support the Canadian team. And I'd only support the Canadian team if someone had a loaded gun to my head....or if they offered me lots of cash

[Freakstar]

Decided to resurrect this thread because today my boss asked me if I'd be watching the Olympic games this weekend. Then he asked me the same damn question. In a match where Korea is competing against the U.S...who would I root for? I quickly answered, "Korea, of course!" He smiled and said, "You're a true Korean."

In truth, it would depend on the sport. If it was a soccer match, I think I'd root for Korea. If it were a basktball match (does Korea even have a basketball team in Beijing?), I'd root for the U.S. Maybe because I grew up watching American basketball and know the players and the sport through watching NBA and NCAA games all my life. As for soccer, I'm not an avid fan of the sport, but I know how much it means to Koreans and to people like my dad who is a soccer fanatic and would wake me up at 4 a.m. to tell me to cheer on Korea in the World Cup event. In my O.P. back in January, I answered that I would root for the U.S. without really even thinking about the question. Does that mean my answer back then was more honest? Hmm...

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[pkang0202]

In a US versus Korea, I'd root for the US the 1st time. The 2nd time I'd root for Korea.

But, who are we kidding? It would never happen. The USA would NEVER win the World Cup. NEVER. IF all else fails, the Refs would make sure the US doesn't win.