Korean Job Discussion Forums

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

A former co-worker of mine argued that the police always ruling against the minority/immigrant is how gangs get started, and that if it continues, it will happen here too.

He didn't mean the English teacher types- some like to drink and party a bit too much, but there aren't too many of us that are likely to start forming gangs no matter how mistreated. But he argued that this could happen with other, rougher foreigners in Korea like the Russian dock workers and Southeast Asian factory workers.

I don't really buy it, but what does everyone else think?

RJjr · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Turning on a Lamp

You're right that ESL teachers will never organize a gang. Teachers are too transient, dispersed, and so many have Hello Kitty lifestyles.

I don't think other foreigners will organize gangs either. But the one problem I do see arising from the police not protecting foreigners from violence is an eventual but sudden availability of handguns. It hasn't happened yet, but once the genie is out of the bottle it ain't going back in and the magazine-fed .22 with a suppressor will be as synonymous with Russian expats is Korea as backpacks with flag patches are with Canadian expats in Korea.

rebel_1812 · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

asylum seeker · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Location: On your computer screen.

RJjr · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Turning on a Lamp

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

I'd rather take my chances taking out some Korean guy than having him kill or injure myself or one of my family members.

I find it pretty damn crazy that you don't have the right to self defense in your own home. That is just another sign of how illogical Korea is compared to the West.

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

Wherever you are it is you who are responsible for your own safety. I have yet to meet many Koreans that seemed remotely intimidating. I grew up in a very rough school and have had to deal with hostile people all my life. One thing I have noticed is that people who generally get attacked are the people who are in some way projecting a weakness that is picked up by the perpetrator. Lions don't attack elephants and in like manner people generally will not put themselves in a situation where they could stand to get hurt or worse or at least they will select a target that offers the least amount of resistance. One generally doesn't see midgets bullying NBA players.
We talk about the laws that are skewed in favor of the Koreans but if one looks at the way our legal system works back home there is little difference. The days of two guys getting in a scuffle outside of the bar and walking away are over. If you get in a fight or are attacked and successfully defend yourself it is likely that you will be arrested for assault and battery depending on how bad or messed up the other person is (remember, he has access to lawyers too) and even if you get off you'll likely have ot spend thousands trying to prove your innocence to a jury full of people not smart enough to get out of jury duty.
If the perp is a black guy(or insert like minority) and you're white - you've got problems if you were the one who came out on top. They'll try to pan it as a hate crime.
The best bet in any situation is to not stick around and wait for the cops because as far as physical agression is concerned no one generally looks fondly on it even in a self defense situation there's always someone who will try to pan it to their advantage in hopes of getting some kind of cash prize.
As for Korea, I think that it might be to people's advantage to take some martial arts classes while they are here. The least one could do is to increase their confidence to the point where somebody might think twice before starting anything. Of course that doesn't apply to US soldiers who've downed one too many Hite but I try and stay away from the places they frequent so I seldom have a problem .

ReeseDog · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Location: Classified

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

When it comes to self-defense it would behoove you to remember The Three Laws of Waegookics

The First Law: A foreigner shall not injure a Korean or through inaction cause a Korean to come to harm. While carrying out said First Law, all E-2 bearing foreigners shall speak English as this gives Koreans a chance to practise their English.

The Second Law: A foreigner shall always obey a Korean's order, except in such case where the order conflicts with the First Law. While carrying Second Law, all E-2 bearing foreigners must speak English as this gives Koreans a chance to practise their English.

The Third law: A foreigner has the right to protect its own existence so long as such right does not conflict with the First or Second Law. While defending their existence, all E-2 bearing foreigners must speak English as this gives Koreans a chance to practise their English.

Keep such laws in mind, and you should be fine.

(With apologies to Issac Asimov)

mikeyboy122 · Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Location: namyang

Don't start it. Have honest witnesses, if that's possible.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

mikeyboy122 · Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Location: namyang

What a wonderful world Surprised

i4NI · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

RJjr · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Turning on a Lamp

The only guy who has hit me in Korea was a guy who had a 0% chance of kicking my ass by himself, but like the Metropolitician said about the guy who effed with him, the big concern is the possibility of bystanders thinking, "If the n----- starts to win, we all jump in."

Fortunately, the Korean studs who would be able to kick our asses at will are always the most polite. I think it's probably because they have a lot of self-confidence, whereas a smaller guy might have a sense of insecurity and try to take it out on the foreigner since he knows that's the one time others will have his back.

However, one night when I was in Miari, the ladies who usually try to convince you to stay and make a purchase before you leave saw me and looked surprised and worried. One came up to me and told me to hurry up and leave. I looked around and there were some young Korean dudes walking around with huge biceps. Not huge in the Hulk Hogan kind of way, but more like Terrell Owens. They had shaggy hair and were wearing flamboyant clothing, which makes me think they were neither soldiers nor police. I don't know for sure what was up, maybe Gang Night in Miari. The ladies seemed so genuinely concerned and worried about my well-being, it made me glad I saw the ladies first instead of walking down an alley and walking up head-on where the dudes were.

branchsnapper · Joined: 21 Feb 2008

As to gangs, I think Koreans are becoming concerned about Chinese crime rackets. I don't think it would be very easy for more conspicuous foreigners to get away with gang activity - I bet the Korean police and courts would be pretty good at rooting that out.

The Philippinos who hang around my local bus station all the time look as though they would like to start a gang, if only to pass the time.