Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OnTheOtherSide]

In Korea, it is obvious that lots of Koreans very much so identify themselves strongly as "Koreans". And they do things in a certain way which is dictated by being a Korean. In schools they even teach them how to be "Korean" and conform to that way of acting in very specific ways.

Lots of Koreans also seem to view others in this way. If you are a Japanese, a black, an American, a Thai, etc., they assume that you are a certain way based on this. They assume you must eat certain foods, hold certain beliefs, do certain things, and when you do things contrary to the stereotype it seems to really shock most people. They see a person's culture as coming before thier individuality and they think that other cultures thnk this way as well, but they don't.

I've gotten utterly shocked reactions from people when they see me eating Kimchi, drinking ginseng or doing other things that are "Korean". Lot's of people assume I must be a hamburger and spaghetti eating typical American.

I see this sort of thinking in foreigners here too. I hear people being lumped into huge categories like "Western men", "Western women", "Gyopos", "etc. and ridiculous assumptions are being broadbrushed onto them as if they are all the same. Usually these assumptions have negative undertones too.

This sort of logic is bunk. Where I come from, each person is an individual. I know that we are in Korea here, but lets not descend down to the level of beasts.

Don't be a tool. Don't think this way. Life is not that black and white.

Even when talking about "Koreans", we have to remember that some of them are very intelligent and aware. Some of them are seeing above the insanity of of the culture, and the current state of the world. But I must abmit, many Koreans are very, very similar because of the isolation of this place and the very strict indoctrination they go through as kids.

But nothing is absolute.

[Lekker]

It's part of their culture. What more could anyone say? People could say that Koreans should conform to them when they come here, but that's not the way it works.

[stevieg4ever]

I'll say this much, im not sure if Korea turns people into racists (do you mean literally 'make' racists op??) but coming to Korea has totally redefined what I think and feel about racism.

But I think a lot of what you talk about can easily be explained by their isolation and the mono-racial demographics in this country.

[xingyiman]

[quote="stevieg4ever"] .....but coming to Korea has totally redefined what I think and feel about racism.
[quote]

Ditto. I really don't think of it as racism at least not in the classic sense of what we were taught about racism in the West. I see racism in every society and have observed that in multicultural societies it just changes shape.

[genezorm]

I was a racist long before I came to Korea, and will likely be one long after I leave.....Korea has not changed me.

[OnTheOtherSide]

I was talking more about foreigners who come here from other places. It seems like the vibe around here really rubs off on them. I've heard Americans in Korea say things regarding race that just sound much more ignorant to me than anything back home.

The racism in America is different. The is racism where I grew up of course, but it seems more complex and multi-dimensional and often it even has a shred of logic and truth to it to it. The racism here is just assinine and involves huge over-generalizations which are totally illogical and just not true.

The racism I find in Korea is more like people ranting about "The Japanese", "The Koreans", "The blacks", "The gyopos", "The blah, blah, blah" and assuming EVERY member of that group is a certain way. Just shamelessly over-simplifying things like a kid. The racism here seems much more....... unintelligent? Much more like the philosophy of a person living in a xenophobic world.

I guess it's a simple answer to my question then. Yes.

[lostandforgotten]

xxx

[lostandforgotten]

xxx

[Spliff's Son]

I'm a culturist.

[aka Dave]

In a word, no. If you're a racist, you're responsable for it. Nothing that happens in Korea could justify it.

You can complain about in-group out-group discrimination, or perceived xenophobia, or just irritating stuff. But nothing justifies race based discrimination.

Honestly, 90 percent of this stuff is if you have a good job vs. if you have a crappy job. Your entire perception of Korea will hinge on that fact.

[lostandforgotten]

xxx

[Gwangjuboy]

[sojourner1]

No, I don't believe being somewhere makes you more or less racist, but it can make you feel very different for the duration spent in any given city or country. Koreans don't make me think differently about people of other races, nationalities, and cultures, but so many old Koreans often show disgust or dislike for me simply because they're inward thinking and don't understand anything about me or why I'm here nor accept me. Yes, many of the older people are racist and don't like foreigners nor all this change happening in their Korea. Those old folks came from the old Korea where there were no foreigners outside of US army and grew up in a time where they didn't know where there next bite to eat was going to come from so they are very hardened to the core. I mention old people since they're the ones who get on peoples nerves a great deal. We simply are outside of their parameters of thinking and functioning in their everyday lives. Remember, in any country, there are racists and foreigner haters so Korea is not an exception just because we're invited to teach English, but it often gets very uncomfortable in public places unless you oblivious to all these old peoples negativity. Thank god the younger people rarely act racist and have negative attitude towards non-Koreans. It's quite awkward with the old people as they lack education and an open mind due to growing up extremely poor in such an isolated country.

Not all old Koreans fit this mold they were taught to live in. One old Korean I met on an airplane who has lived in America for 40 years was the sweetest fluently English speaking 75 year old I've met in a long long time. It's all about culture and mindsets, not race or nationality. We simply do not naturally fit into Korean culture and never will be outside of something artificial like English education, foreign investment, and military support.

[tigerbluekitty]

Being in Korea has made me dislike Koreans. Koreans are a lot more racist than I expected - to the point where I don't want to know them or give a damn who they are. Of course I know a few Koreans I must deal with almost on a daily basis, but from what I hear from gyopo co-workers... they're incredibly two-faced towards me.


After over two years living in Korea, I can honesly summarize from my point of view that Korea is ugly and the people are rude and fester racist attitudes. Never in my life have I felt such intense discrimination than here. I had a pretty comfortable, easy-going life back in LA where everyone seemed to get along. Coming from LA to Korea was like an extremely rude awakening.


Wish my husband would just get the hell outta here so I can leave this unpleasant place. Take me somewhere else in Asia like Taiwan or Japan where people are much nicer and more pleasant to be around.

[Roch]