Korean Job Discussion Forums

matthewwoodford · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Location, location, location.

I just read a post by some guy who got told he was 'very handsome' by some naked Korean guy in a gym. It got me thinking a lot of Koreans could use a cultural misunderstanding discussion/education class. So let's make a list: what's the most annoying/funniest thing a Korean has done or said to you unintentionally due to cultural misunderstanding? Or, conversely, have you ever pissed off/amused Koreans inadvertently?

Number 1 on the list of Don'ts for Korean men who don't wish to give the impression that they're gay:

Don't tell a western guy he's handsome. Especially when you're naked.

Followed by...

Don't ask a western guy to dance with you. Don't try to hug a western guy on the dance floor.

Matt

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

It's a good idea, but it won't work, koreans won't change. Take English for example. All the years that koreans study English; middle and high school, hokwons and universities and still, very very few can hold a conversation in English. You can bet that during the years that they were learning English, they also learned about the culture differences. Does it sink in? I always get asked, "how old are you" and my reply is always the same "it does not matter how old I am, it's not important." Are you married? Again, it's not important. Or I'll ask them, "how much money do you have in the bank?" I turn it around and they always look at me puzzled as to ask "why do you need to know how much money I have!" I tell them, do you like being asked personal questions and they say no. Well, then, why ask others! Don't be so "Sucking" noisey! Same thing at the gym, "oh you have a nice body!" What man, are you gay! No, Then take your eyeballs off my stuff! Or "you have a nice body" and I tell them, "how come you don't have a nice body!" Not that I'm checking them out, just a sassy comeback. But most of the times, I just take it in stride; it's a different country and if I don't like it, I can leave anytime. They can't. They are stuck in korea.

Apple Scruff · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

And this one time, at band camp....... Rolling Eyes

Apple Scruff · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

DarthPaul · Joined: 17 Dec 2003

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

I had to hold hands last night for a bit with a damn drunk Korean man who happens to own one of my favorite bars. He was outrageously drunk and falling over the bar. His woman was with him, but being a male centered society he held my hand and not his lady's, (who happens to be one of the hottest women around, day in day out, always looks good with no make up, prefect skin, and can drink like a fish too.)

I had no problems with this. Seven years ago when I first got off the plane, I would have punch the man, now it is all part of life here, men aren't so hung up as in the west of showing feeling towards other men in non sexual ways. I wasn't bothered.

the wrangler · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 10:54 pm Post subject:

Yes, weatherman, I follow you totally.

It wasn't uncommon for any of my male Korean friends or students to put an arm around me or grasp my shoulders with a firm massage-type grip whilst drinking, displaying man-to-man affection

Heck, when I downed one too many doubles I found myself doing the same thing!

And strictly speaking in a non-gay manner, it is a good feeling and at times I felt like I was one of these guys. Damn, I miss those times. There are a lot of things I learned and appreciated about Korean culture.

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i was in a bar one night and a guy said to me 'you drink too much', he just walked up and said it..
i said 'you talk too much, why don't ya f*ck back off to where ya came from and mind your own business'..
things were steering for a fight when the owner of the bar came out and started talking to us.. it turns out he was offering a compliment, saying that i drank very well..
i felt pretty bad. we became good friends after that.. funny old place this..

about the touching, it hard to deal with at first.. it feels pretty strange.. once you understand it is their culture it is easier to accept...

problem.. when i go back home am i going to put my arm around my mate and put my hand on his knee? damn hope not or i will get punched

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I comfortable with many things, but I'm still not that comfortable or really enjoy drinking with Korean guys. I don't like the way they drink. They just tend to be in your face shaking your hand and touching you and pouring shot after shot.. just real hyper. Granted that'll never change, and I know that.. but..

One of these days I'm just gonna flip out, jump up on the table and start shouting "OKAY DAMNIT EVERYONE CALM THE *beep* DOWN!" and someone's gonna have to drag me out of there while I'm yelling 'NO, YOU CALM DOWN! YOU! Not ME, I've been being MELLOW DAMMIT! Its YOU guys dammit!'

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

I'm not homophobic or anything, actually, I have a Korean friend here that is gay... but I don't like being touched by men at all or women that I am not interested in. I'm trying to adapt better to this culture, but that's just one thing that I can't get used to...

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

The exercising of common sense would alleviate a huge % of cultural misunderstandings.
No matter how different cultural practices are, common sense should be the basis...

IconsFanatic · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

I'm always amused at which cultural differences Koreans are aware of, and which they're not.

While they find no problem checking out your package and commenting "nice body!" while you're naked in a changing room, they do understand that Westerners usually don't drink soup from the same bowl, for example, and are simply amazed when they see a foreigner happily tucking into a soup with a Korean.

Likewise, they seem to understand we don't do "double-dipping", and are thus surprised when they see us at the "po jang ma cha" happily dunking our o-daeng into the communal sauce bowl. Perhaps they saw that episode of Seinfeld! Wink

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i actually had a guy ask me if he could have a look while i peed

i said sure... he nearly fell over when he saw it.. wow.. its HUGE he said( i only have a little 1 )

but, i thought.. how insecure are these guys? they hear about it it and ask if they can look... i'd get punched (many times) in australia if i asked that

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

You've actually asked that in Australia?

At least the guy asked you... New Years Eve the guy just leaned over to take a peek for himself... wasn't too happy about that. I guess it must suck to be Korean and "know" that in some ways you just can't measure up.

leeroy12 · Joined: 01 Jul 2003

I've never seen a Korean d1ck. Through my vast experiences of internet pornography I think I can verify the rumours about black guys - but do Koreans (and Asians generally) really have smaller "members"? I am well familiar with the urban myth but have never seen "hard" evidence... Wink