Korean Job Discussion Forums

gabrielle · Joined: 28 Jun 2008

I don't even know what to do I'm so angry...so I guess I'm ranting on Dave's. My boss called me fat in Korean today in front of the entire staff. He pointed at me, said I have a stomach and then went on to indicate that all weigukian have love handles. This man has the most repulsive teeth I have ever seen and could certainly stand to loose some weight himself. I'm 5'6 and weight 120 pounds so am hardly fat. Is this ok even in Korea? A Korean staff member kept trying to tell me afterwards that he was saying I was thin. I may be foreign but i'm not retarded.

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

Yes, we're all fat in Korea. I'm the pretty much the same size as you, which is considered rather thin for Western standards.

Don't fret it.

I seriously never felt as fat as I do since I got to Korea, even though I'm not.

zpeanut · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Location: Pohang, Korea

I was told by a student that if I was a little skinnier, I'd be prettier.

FAIL.

Try not to let it bother you. Korean girls aim for size 44, which is something like an Australian 6... American, i dunno.. 0?
I can't think of anything that could be attractive about a bag of bones or an ironing board.

curves win hands down!

Next time your boss says something offensive like that, just give him a stern look that says 'excuse me!'. One thing I've noticed is that Koreans sometimes misunderstand smiling out of embarrassment as smiling because you agree or don't mind. Some also like to really push it... such as the student mentioned above.

bobranger · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Location: masan

First
you're not fat.
Second
your boss is rude.

You have every right to be angry.
You should have pointed to his *beep* and said small. Then gave him the middle finger and walked out.

soviet_man · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

You've got to be firm upfront the first time it happens.

If you let them get away with it once, chances are that it will happen again.

R-Seoul · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Location: your place

Lose weight. Failing that, whine on an internet forum.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Ahh. The FAT debate. Me I am a bit fat. I can take the pig jokes from the kids. But the adults it pisses me of is the - hmm what is the word ..... TACT. Many times have I met a Korean with a lack of tact. Yep just say what you think in front of the person you are talking about. "Yea you can stand loose a few pounds "skip"." OR "Your gf is FAT, too".

The only people that can be brutal with me are my doctor, brother, and my best friend. Not my boss! Ok yea he can be brutal about my english teaching but when it comes to non-issue stuff. FLOCK OFF.

Also there is a weird concept about weight here in Korea. They like the twig and stick thin girls. That is why I would likely skip most Korean girls for a western girl (besides the long time gf) is they have no ASS or BREASTS. My opinion.

But careful girls I have met many a western girl who has said I am not fat just [big boned, curvy, rubenesque, full -fiqured.] but in this case I will give the benefit of the doubt. Koreans are very picky.

Just remember this insult "I may be fat, but you are ugly. Me I can diet, you, you are UGLY forever."

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

This kind of stuff happens all of the time.
Where are all of those posters who claim NO ONE in Korea ever says anything to them about about being fat? Rolling Eyes

blurgalurgalurga · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

Funny old country...back home I'm lanky and fugly, here I'm tall and handsome. Go figure.
Definitely the fellows get the better trade off here...I've seen lots of dudes who, back home, would be considered hatchet-face tubs of chicken-grease, saddled up with very pretty K-girls, who look all chuffed and call their boy handsome brad-pitt man.

Pooty · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Location: Ela stin agalia mou

Does the OP speak Korean? How does the OP know for sure that her boss called her fat? The next time he does it, and you know for sure that he said that, walk up to him and point to his crotch and say, "You have small penis" haha. Very Happy

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I would have replied, "I can lose weight, but you'll always be ugly".

flakfizer · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:35 am Post subject:

Koreans are like that. But they are not like that only to foreigners. My wife complains that some neighbors make comments to her about her weight. I have rarely had this happen to me as I am not fat by any sane standards, but I got a comment a few weeks ago from the secretaries at my school about being fat. I was stunned. Been here over ten years and have kept the same weight the whole time and hadn't been told I looked fat until just a couple weeks ago. It was weird.

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

post hot boob and ass pics, or STFU!

muhahaha

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

Wisconsinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2007

Koreans have a very weird thing about fat. Most people in the world, do. However with Koreans it is like it is amplified by 1000. I don't know why and I have heard many theories why and I don't believe a single one on their own. It is a combination. They will call a normal, western girl who is a size 6, fat. The students will call her pig and monster. I don't get it and I sure don't like it. I think it is shameful that some people behave that way and hurt other people's feelings. There is never an excuse for it, I don't care what culture it is.

On the other hand, it doesn't bother me since I am thick skinned and have a very healthy self esteem. When a person calls me pig or fat, I just smile and shake my head, because I know better.