Korean Job Discussion Forums

Shauneyz · Joined: 26 May 2008 Location: The land of Nod

Wondering about your experiences...especially in situations where there are 15 or so foreign and korean teachers (mostly adjumma).

How quickly do the rumors fly? "Oh, her? She's dating a foreigner!"

How annoying is it, really?...and how often or common is it to see k women dating foreigners in such a big office?

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

Personally, I'd probably avoid it. To be honest, since coming back to Korea, I'm really not even put out any feelers towards any of the women here. I'm just trying to get my own life in order again, and that sort of involvement only complicates things, especially if it's in the workplace where you are obligated to be for at least a year and can't just leave to make things better.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

There were a few women I worked with that I would have dated back when I was single. I never did for the simple saying..."Don't sh*t where you eat my friend."

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

Captain Marlow · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Location: darkness

dated one of the desk girls at my office... apparently, she was "talked to"... all of a sudden, she turned into the ice queen... then a couple o weeks later, she was let go (partially because of dating me i later found out from her as she started dating me again once she left)...

she also told me that it's in all the koreans' contracts not to interoffice date, punishable by dismissal... i believe her... korean women must be protected from foreigners...

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

fuking hell.

Papa Smurf · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Seoul

mate of mine works at a hagwon, and it was discovered that a couple of k teachers were having a relationship.....k man and k woman. Fired.

Louie · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

The key is to avoiding the rumor mill is to be completely ignorant of what is going on by making them think you don't speak Korean.....I did that while working at several jobs and the only time I revealed that I did speak Korean was when asked to give a farewell speech.....thats when the jaws dropped and the eyes widened.. Shocked

...priceless

As for dating people at work...I always follow this advice; never shit where you eat and never eat where you shit.

Pokerface · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Location: Mokdong, Seoul

You should not do this...
This is stupid, trust me. There are MANY outside of the office.
The above poster has wise words concerning the ingestion of fecal matter. It's gold.
That is all.

Mix1 · Joined: 08 May 2007

Dating IN the office? Make sure to wipe off the copy machine when you're done.

Anyway, if you are a foreigner, odds are the rumors are already flying around, regardless of whether you have done anything or not.

And if you are found out, be prepared to see the office turn ice cold if they don't "approve" of the situation (not that you ever asked for their approval anyway, but that doesn't matter to most gossip queens). But If you are popular and friendly at work, it may not be a big deal at all.

Give it some time. Weigh out your options and the consequences of your actions. If you really like the person, the petty things shouldn't matter anyway.

Teelo · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Wellington, NZ

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I met my current girlfriend, whom I've been dating for almost two years, at work. We didn't keep it a secret and didn't get any flak for it from anyone, even the boss (perhaps because he had an Australian girlfriend when he was young).

If it's going to be a problem though, agree with the other person to keep it a secret. While you're secretly dating, pretend to hate each other in the office (just don't overdo the pretend hatred; someone might suspect that you're overcompensating).

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Don't do it.

When I worked at Avalon the Korean female employees were given a talking to about socializing---not even dating, just socializing---with the foreign English teachers. They said it wasn't part of Korean culture for single women and single men to hang out. Which may be true, but no need to name foreigners in it.

I went to church one time with a Korean female coworker, and we were spotted by another teacher, who spread around that we were dating. My friend turned icy and kept all conversations at work to just a minimum. This was in Bundang, by the way, so don't let the "cosmopolitan" facade of wealthier neighborhoods fool you.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Stay friends... build the sexual tension. Flirt with her and leave little gifts. If you must, hint somehow that you think it's bad to date co-workers.

Then, if you leave, ask her out seriously.

A lot of guys meet their wives at work in Korea. When it doesn't work out, however, it can be a bad scene if you are still forced to work together.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Stay friends... build the sexual tension. Flirt with her and leave little gifts. If you must, hint somehow that you think it's bad to date co-workers.

Then, if you leave, ask her out seriously.

A lot of guys meet their wives at work in Korea. When it doesn't work out, however, it can be a bad scene if you are still forced to work together.