Korean Job Discussion Forums

Polo Explorer · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

On a scale of 1 to 10 how bad is it to wear shorts around Seoul when it it is hot out? I don't mean to work or to a temple or anything. I'm hoping to wear knee-length shorts while walking around, running errands, etc. As a tall, blond, white guy, I'm expecting to not fit in, so I was just wondering if wearing shorts would be a "not fitting in" thing or if it would actually offend people.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Showing legs is not taboo in this country. Especially if you are a girl. For men, shorts are fine. I've even seen a few teachers in my public school wear them during school hours.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

This guy is worried about people's reaction to him wearing shorts? How thin-skinned can you be? Just wear them if you want to and if it freaks people out, who gives a cr@p?

Polo Explorer · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

Thanks for your response, Bibbitybop! I'm glad that I won't be offending anyone.

Coffeeprincess · Joined: 19 Sep 2007

It's perfectly acceptable to wear shorts in Korea. I don't know about wearing shorts on the job at a hagwon though...I'm sure some hagwon owners would allow it, while other wouldn't.

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

It depends on how hairy your legs are. They might draw attention and children and men might want to touch them. Ajummas will be horrified. But who cares, as long as you don't wear a tropical hawaii shirt with it.

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

shorts is one of the few summer things i feel i can get away with as a girl, no matter how short they are!

my BF wears long shorts too, never had any weird stares. we live in seoul.

sojourner1 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject:

Last year in the hagwon I taught at, we wore shorts all Summer long, but I won't in a public school despite having never been told anything about what not to wear. I only will wear them now when I'm not teaching or in the office.

If an ajumma or ajossi is horrified of you wearing shorts, it shows their true colors of what they think of you from the get go. Don't pay no attention to the old people and don't live next to them such as in a villa as I learned last year the hard way. It is true they don't understand who you are and why you come here and they don't accept you in many instances, but they can't do anything if they're not your landlord, villa neighbor, or boss.

Dress comfortably on your time off.

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

i wouldn't wear shorts to teach though, just like i wouldn't back in Canada- it's too casual for a girl (especially) i think.

BigMikeAbroad · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Location: US, for now

Soo, they aren't popular? I love my Hawaiian shirts man =*(.

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

I wear shorts every day. I've suffered through too many hot, humid summers over here. I made a vow that I would not wear pants again until October.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I arrived in the spring of '94 and as summer approached a Korean friend told me I shouldn't wear shorts outside my apt because it wasn't 'polite' for a man my age. I frowned.

Summer came and it was the hottest summer on record. Sure enough, no man my age had shorts on in July. By August every old man in Taejon was wearing shorts. I smiled. (And started wearing mine outside.)