Korean Job Discussion Forums

kiwiduncan · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Location: New Zealand

I remember living near the Blue House several years ago and regularly going jogging on the streets and up on the mountain behind. I didn't go shirtless, but ran in a grey tanktop.

One day one of the security guys in front of the Blue House called me over and told me it was not appropriate to wear just a tank top and shorts hear the Blue House. He was very polite and friendly and I was also pretty civil with my reply, but it did piss me off a bit.

seoulsucker · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 4:05 am Post subject:

Yesterday · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 4:49 am Post subject:

SeoulFinn · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: 1h from Seoul

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 5:47 am Post subject:

Who cares what the Lees and Nancys think-good on you for not caring one bit about them and their absolutely worthless negative opinions on running shirtless.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

You can do what you want, of course, but I'd advise against it. Is it that trying to wear a tank top?

Look at it this way. Nude beaches are perfectly acceptable in some parts of the world. That doesn't mean I'd be justified going to a family beach in Texas and stripping down completely.

That may be an extreme example, but you get the gist of it. When in Rome, after all.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Bailsibub · Joined: 22 Dec 2006

I think it works this way here:

If you're shirtless but built, then Koreans are just going to admire your physique. If you're not built better than the average Korean man, then they are going to give you those looks and comments like the previous poster described, especially in the snobbier areas of Seoul.

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:13 am Post subject:

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

I come from California, in May we usually try to get a tan for the beach season in summer. One, we gradually tan so we don't get sunburn/cancer all at once when we hit the beach. Two, some of usl like to tan if we're into body building.

Now, I'm quite shy and can't run around with my shirt off. So, I was looking for some place to tan without *tons* of fricking people around.

In L.A. I would go to the beach, put a towel down and Venice and relax, and no one would stress.

That doesn't exist here in Cheong-Ju South Korea. After I work out in the gym, I would go to a sort of secluded crappy basketball court (uneven sand on the court so you get unven bounces) and play there with my shirt off.

And most of the time it was cool, but once this Korean old man told me to put my shirt on. I didn't argue, I put my shirt on and left.

So I gave up on trying to get a tan. I'm not gonna argue with these people. They're hateful in a way, the older generation. But that's the way it is. I'm not gonna worry about it.

Every time I think about these Koreans I think about The Dude. F*** it man.

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

You know what the funny thing is? Once you get a good tan, you look a lot less hairy. It's a sort of blend effect.

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

Do you plan on teaching in the Middle East next?

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

If I wanna get some sun on the body I find a rooftop (the higher the better) where noone will bother me.

I used to lay out drinking beer while making my phone calls on the top of a high-rise helicopter pad (never saw a chopper - big surprise) next to Lake Park in Ilsan. Wasn't my building, but whatever.

Never bothered once. In fact, never saw anybody. I recommend finding a place like that.