Korean Job Discussion Forums

crlb2006 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

not to get off on the anti-Korea tip, but I had an interesting day.
i am a white guy with a dark complexion, but here in Seoul Im pretty sure im percieved as a black guy.

first, the doc at my physical (who was a nice guy and spoke english pretty well) told me I look like Tim Duncan, which definitely made me laugh.

second, my students called me 'gorilla teacher' and 'king-kong' which was somewhat less amusing.

my skin is a shade or two darker than the typical Korean, and im getting the idea this is not going to be to my advantage socially with the locals.

so these yokels have never seen a real black guy then or what? back home I am most often taken for an italian so this is all a little new.
on a side note, racism is not really too cool guys.

Atavistic · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:38 am Post subject: Re: fun w/ racism

nicholas_chiasson · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Location: Samcheok

Could you name any famous people with your skin-tone? Do you have black hair? I'm confused how you could be mistaken for a black dude unless you're bi-racial.

tfunk · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland

When I was walking around Sokcho with my Nigerian friend, people would literally stop and stare at him. I loved walking around with him, I was like a Z list celebrity compared to this guy.

He was wearing army camouflaged clothes, a Korean came up to him and gave him a matching army styled baseball hat. Also, when walking up Mt.Soraksan a Korean man came up to him and said that his ancestors had fought on these hills and that he should be proud. I wonder what the Korean bashers will make of that!

crlb2006 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

crlb2006 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Beej · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Location: Eungam Loop

crlb2006 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

crlb2006 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

[quote="crlb2006"]

Beej · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Location: Eungam Loop

[quote="crlb2006"]

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

I have a friend back home who comes from a pure Ukrainian family, but he's got olive skin, black hair, and dark eyes. I suspect John Redcorn was his father.

crlb2006 · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

[quote="Beej"]

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

You just got here OP. Let it roll, because you will hear much worse. Koreans aren't that kind or respectful. The thing is that many don't know they are being that way. For crying out loud this is the center of the universe according to most of them. Laughing

asylum seeker · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Location: On your computer screen.

[quote="crlb2006"]

second, my students called me 'gorilla teacher' and 'king-kong' which was somewhat less amusing.

quote]

This may not be racism. Sometimes white teachers get called that because they have hairy arms. I've had it happen before. You've got to learn not to take everything you hear too seriously, especially if it comes from kids.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

I know someone who studied in Utah in 1969. He was mostly Caucasian looking but swarthy as some Middle Eastern people can be, and many people called him "Smokie". He hated that very much. Imagine how he felt in the US being called that in the late 60s. Remember in the 1970s so many schools weren't even integrated. Racism is a big thing in the U.S., too, you know? You can't walk in certain neighborhoods. I was once walking in a black neighborhood that had no Hispanics, and I told my guy friends who were from Europe "Ummm guys let's walk fast....". People were looking at us... People sometimes board planes and forget what they left behind.