Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Trinitarian]

Hey a little background...

I am a triathlete and when I go running I never wear a shirt (weather permitting). Thing is I feel so much more comfortable running without one. I sweat a lot as it is so when I run it pours. Having to wear a shirt is very uncomfortable for me.

I was teaching at a university several yeas ago and received some negative comments about going shirtless on my runs (I was doing 15 kilometer runs at the time). In all my runs I ran to the beach. I thought it odd that when some people told me it was offensive that the last day at the school there was a soccer game (the field was located right in the middle of campus) and the guys were playing shirts and skins. People were watching and nobody cared. I thought to myself that I work out much harder than them so why is it acceptable for them to do it but shocking and culturally insensitive for me o do the same thing.

So here I am back in Korea and I am wondering if Koreans still throw such a (selective) hissy fit if I continue doing the same thing. Not that it would matter because I am going to do it anyway.

Thanks

Trinitarian

[Css]

are you part ape? that might play a part.

[moosehead]

so are you hot?

you must be - keep it off, give us gals a thrill ok?

[waynehead]

It is considered uncouth. Do you have chest hair? That might be part of the problem, too.

[Trinitarian]

an ape? well I am a bit hairy but I do shave my legs

In terms of good looking...I think I'm just average but I love seeing the faces on the women (and hearing their reactions) here when they see me. Same thing (but more intense) happened in the Philippines.

[Css]

i think we need to see a topless pic so we can properly judge..

[Trinitarian]

ill have to tuck in my belly first...or just come to Jinhae

[moosehead]

[ajgeddes]

I remember a couple of years ago being up in Jongno walking around when some foreigner comes jogging down the street and turns onto the busiest street in Jongno 2-ga (the one with all the bars and restaurants that runs parallel to the main road) wearing short, short shorts and no shirt. He was also hairy. The Koreans around us were making so many comments and were pretty much disgusted. Might have had something to do with it possibly being the most inappropriate street to be doing that on though.

[VanIslander]

[mindmetoo]

I saw this really hairy white guy jogging through Myeong Dong a couple times.

Yeah I really don't see many Korean men going shirtless. I don't even find it very styin' in NA. I understand maybe your sport requires it but you might want to bend to local tastes. Get a tank top.

[VanIslander]

[Trinitarian]

Local tastes nothing. Is this South Korea (free) or North Korea (dictatorship)? And by the way it is NOT an illegal activity. I see a lot of things that offend me but hey.......

it's part of the price of a "free" society.

Had one guy come up to me and say, "We don't do that here". I replied, "Good, then don't ever do it!"

If any don't like it they can lump it!!!!!

[crazy_arcade]

It seems to be that the rule in Korea is

A) It's ok if it's in an enclosed or semi-enclosed area. Like those guys playing soccer on the soccer field without a shirt or my K friends who skateboard or bmx without a shirt. I notice that anytime one of my friends leaves the skatepark, even to just go to the bathroom or grab some water, they put their shirt on and then take it off again when they come back.

B) It's considered not ok when going about and around in the general public.


So I guess, maybe, it might be considered fine on a running track. However, it's not considered fine when you're running down the sidewalk past the neighbourhood kimbap shop.

[crazy_arcade]