Korean Job Discussion Forums

[weatherman]

It has been mentioned that Korean women will sometimes not get on an elevator if some weagukin dude is there. I have also noticed that on a bus, the seat next to me is always the last filled, and if a group of Korean women get on they would rather stand than be seen in existence with me by occupying the seat adjacent to mine. I also get this at the small restaurant outside my school's front gate. If the restaurant is busy and a group of co-eds come in and the only table open is one next to me, they will leave and find refreshments elsewhere. Can you think of any other cases? What is with their socialization process that prevents them from acting like mature grown up people?

[Ralph]

Maybe you aint hot enough.. I have no problems if Im not with my girlfriend.

[kiwifruit]

[Mr.NiceGuy]

Some of them are just plain old afraid and embarassed. Don't sweat it.

I've heard of some Koreans running away when confronted by a Westerner.

As for the bus thing, it's happened to me too. But not regularly.

[captain kirk]

I know what you're talking about, weatherman. it has happened to me once in a blue moon that there'd be some princess who would prefer to stand on the subway than sit in the empty seat beside ME. she'll hang around nearby, though, to make it clear to all around that it's a point of principle with her, and that she's a kimchi queen, haha. but this is once in a long while, such prissy, posturing, snubs. it has also been guys, glowering. and i have noticed, on the bus, guys sitting the whole way with their arm towards me outstretched to the back of the seat in front of them, like a bar they set up between korean and waygook (segregation, if it was his decision). weak- egoed percentage of the population that MUST 'do the locomotion' with what they conceive of the 'agreed consensus', and so ride the wave? but if the group is over 99 percent of the population strong, is going along with homogenity weak, or just 'with the flow'?. are you a clothes horse? nor i. in korea and all over the world, if one bends over someone will surely come along to KICK ONE'S ASS, haha. what about the times when korean people are incredibly gracious and kind, huh?!!!!!!!!!!!!! why fixate on boobs? (the misfit kind, haha).

[mack the knife]

try using "speed stick" instead of "degree"

[weatherman]

I have no problem having the male population of Korea beating a path to sit next me, trust me, many a korean male has broken some dream like thoughts by joining me for the ride, but the it is the 20-25 age group of Korean women who would rather be running down the street than be sitting next to me on a bus. I even have seen many times women change sides of the street so they wont have to walk passed me. Man I don't understand, even after so many years here. I really am not some strange odious ogre or something.

[Zyzyfer]

[Tiger Beer]

Interesting thread..

This reminds me though.. I use to live in New York City.. which is a very very multicultural city.. and anyhow.. I'm a white guy.. and sometimes I would sit down next to a black guy.. and then suddenly two or three empty seats open up nearby.. so suddenly you are just sitting right next to one person, right? and there is all this room.. so naturally.. the reaction is to jump over to the empty seats!!

But.. then.. you think.. wait.. i'm sitting next to a black guy.. if i get up and sit over there.. is he going to think i'm some kind of racist who doesn't want to brush up against a black guy?

anyhow.. the main point.. getting on a subway car and driving yourself crazy and going nuts about who is racist and who isn't.. well, it'll drive you nuts..

(but to the original poster.. thinking people are reacting and avoiding you because you are a foreigner.. hmm.. i think you are getting the wrong perception somewhere.. personally i often wish koreans would give me a little more space on subways and elevators. Generally I get the guy who stands right next to me while I'm trying to read the newspaper and meanwhile the subway car is nearly empty types of experiences)..

[weatherman]

[PootyTang]

When I was in Korea, people were fighting just to sit next to me. Once two girls got into a fight on the subway over the seat next to me. When I got up to offer my seat, they followed me.

Then I woke up.

[Tiger Beer]

[rapier]

Well posted weatherman. Koreans are some of the silliest phobic, spooked people I have come across on my world travels. Afraid or awkward with anything different- I suppose its all you can expect from a nation of clones. I've encountered the "last seat " syndrome many times. Look at it positively: you get more space 2) nobody's going to be nodding off on your shoulder constantly .
Its worrying that a whole nation sees foreigners as a separate species, but it'll take years before Seoul is anywhere near as cosmopolitan as New York or London.

[GRK]

At the central library in Seoul (forgotten the name), I came out of the toilet to a line of people waiting. The next lady in line looked visibly startled, then moved to wait at the next cubicle. I was kind of surprised because one tends to equalte libraries with intelligence.

[stalinsdad]

I agree with the second post! Are you very ugly?
I continually get banged into by women and if on a bus or cinema, they go out of their way to touch my hand. I have had lots of arguments with my girlfriend over this unwanted attention.