Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Shredd]

I have an open class coming up where I'm expected to discuss some of the cultural differences between life in the ROK and the States. Is there a thread that covers this or some site that might be of help? If not anyone want to share some experiences? I've got my own but I might have to go for a while with this.

Thanks

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Why don't you just skim through this site and copy-and-paste some of the usual rants?

[Ramen]

[inthezone]

Why not just write down your own personal ideas and thoughts about the cultural differences?

You must have some thoughts on the subject. Obviously do not criticise Korea in any way

[wormholes101]

There is a book "Ugly Koreans, Ugly Americans" by Min Byoung-Chui that deals with this subject quite well. It's cheap (only 5000won) and should be readily available in bookstores in Korea. I just bought one a few days ago.

[Shredd]

[kingplaya4]

I'd avoid this topic like the plague, I'm sure you know how touchy Koreans can be about their country. If you have to, make it positive towards Korea, like how they have the escalators the carts can use here, and the cellphones are so much more amazing. If it were me, I'd ask for a different topic.

[Shredd]

[bluelake]

I second the Ugly Koreans, Ugly Americans book. It needs revising, but it still covers many common cultural situations. I was one of the "editors" of a revision of the book back in the 90s; I see my name is still in the credits of the 2004 edition--no money, but it was fun working on it at the time.

[Cerriowen]

My only advice is to keep it fairly light...

There was a post from a guy talking about his parents coming to Korea to visit and meet the inlaws...

Later, his dad complained that his father in law slurped his soup, and how rude that was... but his dad blew his nose on a hanky at the table, and put it back in his pocket.

I kept getting toilet paper from people when I came here... I thought perhaps they were hinting at something.

How about how it's pajorative and annoying in the USA to call your teacher "Teacher" instead of by their name... but here it's a sign of respect?

[Shredd]

OK, here's my brief outline so far:

In America we have:

No Kim chi
Strict Traffic laws
No Street Vendors
Cell Phone compare and contrast.
Not as much Same Sex touching
PC Bangs are not popular!!!!

These are not 100% true but they are mostly true and pretty safe.

[whatever]

^ Don't forget 'Women have asses'...

[Atavistic]

No idea if any of this will give you ideas, but maybe it'll jog some more thought. Before my parents came I told them:

General Points About Korea

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. Bosses will steal from you, but you aren't working here, so Korea is safe.

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.

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. Stepdad needs to tack two years onto his age.

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. ^^

I know you're proud of Johnny, but a lot of people don't like the US military here (especially younger Koreans) so if you talk about him, just say he's a firefighter.

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 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. With 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.

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."

[Shredd]

The shoes and $$$ thanks for the reminder.

[bovinerebel]

I think Korea certainly has a rich culture , but it's pretty tame and watered down compared to the rest of Asia (except Singapore). I just cringe at the passionate shock expressed by some people which just serves to say a lot more about their sheltered lives than Korea really.