Korean Job Discussion Forums

[afsjesse]

So I come to this one school every Thursday and the teachers are all really nice.... especially this one guy. Last year he was giving me all of these oranges and teas etc... and today he wants to buy me 200 grams of real Guatemala coffee. All good because out in the sticks I cant get it easily.
So today he just comes up and hugs me and gives me a good ol' pat on the back. 20 minutes later, he doe the same thing. while saying "Good guy" and "nice to meet you".

What's with the hugs? It doesn't really bother me, but this guy has known me for months and every week its as if he meeting me for the first time. Really nice guy though. He just ordered... yes that's his word "order", his wife to go to this shop one hour away and buy me coffee!

[Gimpokid]

Here's my theory.

Korean dudes are pretty touchy feely with their buds. I'm sure you've noticed. I'm always geeting an arm around the shoulder, a hand on the knee and a close range ear full of soju breath...

...but they don't really hug each other that I've noticed and I also believe that it's a common misconception amongst Koreans that dudes hug ALOT in the west. (I've been asked a few times if dudes hug and even have a western culture book here that says hugging is a way for male friends to greet each other.)

I think he's just being friendly and trying to practice what he believes to be some western mannerisms on you. Take the coffee.

[The Great Toad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iopXhFxtYM

If it is one thing you need to learn about Corea is some will claim there father will not hug them ... but put hugy sign up and next thing you know you have a crowd ... I think you should hug him again when you get the coffee

[ryoga013]

I hope she wasn't molested... I mean, in the US that would be almost the same as "free molestation"

[red_devil]

ROFL it's hilarious...you almost never see females do these free hug things. Look at the crowd staring at her like she's a f'ing freak...hahaha. Classic!

[ChinaBoy]

I need a hug. A nice long hug.

Actually, that is a good song for the video. That girl did make a fool of everyone standing there just looking at her. And a lot of the idiots who did hug her were just trying to get their friends in the crowd to scream. Almost all of them ignored her after hugging when she was trying to be polite to them.

[Robot_Teacher]

They like you. You must be a very likable person. Have fun. Looks like a super easy way to go

[littlelisa]

I agree about Koreans in general being touchy feely. As a woman, I also get the hand/pat on the butt occasionally from some of my friends (also women).

But I wish Koreans gave better hugs. Anyone else get the hug/pat on the back combo? If you're going to give me a hug, give me a real hug, dammit! Don't tease me.
I could use good hugs, I like good hugs.

Anyway, I would say that the hug thing is no problem.

[ryoga013]

[Chris_Dixon]

[michaelambling]

[oldfatfarang]

I think some K's have been told that this is the way Westerners say hello or good bye. I go fishing a lot - and there's a teenage student I sometimes see down at the river. He's obviously poor, so sometimes I give him the odd bit of fishing gear.

He doesn't speak Englisheeee. When we say goodbye - he invariably gives me these big hugs. It's embarrassing. But you can't fault the kid for his natural kindness and good manners.

[tatertot]

[Mr-Dokdo]