Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beeronthedock]

I've been doing this (living in Korea) for 4 years now but it's really starting to get to me. No matter how casual I am, no matter how much I try to blend in, there's just no way to avoid those times when I'm walking down the street and I pass some people and then just before they're out of earshot I hear someone mention "waygook saram", like it's some big deal that a white guy just walked past them.

It's getting so that I try to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary. I've started taking walks later at night so I can walk in peace without feeling like I'm being eyeballed by everyone I pass.

I know, it's usually just Koreans everywhere, so a western face is going to stand out, but man, I miss Canada, a multicultural country where it's not such a big deal.

I don't think of race when I'm doing my teaching job. I don't look at my students and co-workers and see Koreans. I see people. When I'm out buying groceries or running errands, I think of myself as just another person on the street. So it pisses me off when I get reminded that I'm something special because of my skin color.

I get it. We're here because the parents want their kids being taught by a Westerner with a western accent. The schools want us because it adds prestige to their school if they've got native speakers on staff. I also know that a lot of the hagwons will only hire you if you're caucasian and reasonably decent looking (something I don't agree with but it seems to be a fact of life here).

This is my last year, I've got 7 months to go, and after that I'm retiring to Canada where I can just be another dude on the street.

There's a James Bond novel where Bond visits Japan, and his contact is a western agent who's been living there for the last 20 years. The guy says to Bond: "They'll never let you forget that you're not one of them, no matter how long you live here, no matter if you speak the language, dress like they do, act like they do. You'll always be a foreigner to them."

[alphakennyone]

you've never walked down the street in canada and heard some stupid teenagers yell something at you from the safety a car? your clothes, the size of your girlfriend's *beep*, etc?

you'll get comments going down the street almost everywhere. usually from punk kids. koreans have just never grown up, but their mentality is still evident. in this case, they say shit about you from the safety of their language.

it used to be funny going out on dates to restaurants in korea. one time a "first date" next to us had the guy hemming and hawing about which side of the table he should sit on - should he sit on the same side that the waegookin did???

another time some old guy loudly complained to the staff that our booth was bigger than their booth.

you're dealing with kids. just shrug em off.

[jajdude]

Hi,

I've been in Asia a long time, most of it was in Korea. I'm in China now. I don't know where you are in Korea. I've been to and lived in several places there. I have never really got used to it either.

What I'm experiencing these days is I believe the absolute biggest culture shock I have ever faced. This is a Chinese city of 2 million or so, but man, it's on a new level compared to Korea. The thing I like is that is that in my opinion the Chinese are pretty friendly and welcoming, usually, but alas I cannot say that so much about Koreans.

That said, oh boy, do the Chinese gawk! There seem to be so many who have nothing better to do than stand around like cows on a farm, looking at stuff. I'm getting a serious amount of attention here. I'm not used to it. A city with over 2 million, but like a village. I wonder if there are even 100 or 200 foreigners in the entire city. I hear laowai" and get "hello" every ten minutes or so in public. And it is not easy not having language skills because that "hello" is all the English at least 99% of them know.

Hopefully things will improve. Been a bit freaked out adjusting to this city-village.

Yeah, Korea, the thing I found, my personal opinion, is they're just not that friendly or nice, really. Many are, but too many are not. Crappy society. Too much racism and other garbage.

[waynehead]

As someone who's also lived in both China and Korea, I have to agree, China's much worse about this sort of thing.

It is annoying, tho, and no matter how much you experience it you never really get used to it. It's just part of the price you pay for living here.

Just ignore it as much as you can and try to not get upset about it. That's the only advice I can give.

[LURKER]

Stop complaining and suck it up. People aren't used to seeing non-Koreans or non-Asians, so it's natural for them to express surprise, Korea's not like a Western country which attracts immigration from all over the world, and there is no social pressure for people to conceal their surprise at seeing very foreign people. 99.9% of the time, the surprise is neutral "Oh look a foreigner," rather than, "GODDAMN AMERICANS RUINING OUR BEAUTIFUL KOREA." Given that being a foreigner has a lot of perks too, such as more attention from the fairer sex and so on, this isn't a real complaint.

Don't worry, you'll get used to it after a couple of months anyway, you won't even notice it after a while.

[Cheonmunka]

I've been guilty of it myself a few times.

[xCustomx]

Here's an easy solution: Use an mp3 player

[Robot_Teacher]

[harlowethrombey]

I used to live in a small city in Japan. On the plus side, it was rural which meant lots of places to go hiking or running where there would be few people (like Korea, it was essentially impossible to find a place with no people unless it was 1 AM).

Anyway, when I'd be out running I'd head out into the rice fields, really beautiful countryside you know. The roads were big enough that I could avoid the crazy drivers and all was well.

Except for the gawking. Cars following me, slowing down beside me as I'm running, coming to a full stop in the middle of the road while the driver sat, staring, slack-jawed like he was seeing Godzilla rise out of the ocean.

Going out to eat at restaurants I'd always wear a hat so I could pull the brim down over my eyes so I wouldnt see people staring at me out of the corner of my vision.

Lots of nasty looks from the older generation when I was walking down the street with my japanese girlfriend.

So, after that experience, I'm pretty comfortable with the level of gawking I get in Korea

In Seoul I dont get that many people gawking. Just like the large cities in Japan, they seem pretty used to the foreign devils.

[Goku]

Actually I stare too.

Everytime I see a weigook I can't help but stare.

Usually the first instict to look at him is that "oh he's not Korean" and that he/she is different. Even speaking English will attract my attention, gyopos or possibly other Asians. And then I'll stare to see wether or not I know that guy.

And sometimes, if I'm lucky, it's an assorted freak show. I get the strangest weigooks...

My favorite is I saw one guy, who... on the appearance looked normal. But he kept trying to look up Korean girl's skirts. He had the most perverted look on his face. It was hilarious. His face screamed dirty thougths. The girls noticed him, but didn't notice his skirt leering.... hahaha...

[Colorado]

So what do you think is weirder?
Looking up girls' skirts or staring at someone else doing it?
Both strike me as more than a little odd.
You shoud get a new hobby.

[Crockpot2001]

For my height and Westerness, I don't get much attention. Maybe I have tuned it out as a self preservation tactic. Most of my experiences have been positive, especially when I step outside of myself and show kindness. I took the only seat left on the bus one day. It was next to a chubby ajjuma. I felt significant tension. I opened up my bag took out a piece of gum and offered her some too. Her face lit up and she totally changed. I cranked up my MP3 when she started chomping loud enough to be heard over the roar of the bus. Outside of that, it was a good exercise for me.

I addition, I ride my MTBs around the area quite a bit with no attention paid to me. I took my road bike (Skinny tires) out for a few hours last Friday and people actually started riding with me. It seems that there was a point where I stuck out far enough to attract some attention. I had 3 tag alongs until they invited me to ride some trails my bike was not made for. It was a fun experience bonded by bicycles.

[Looney]

where abouts are you based OP? I rarely get the obvious staring in Seoul and Busan where I've lived, to a lesser extent Daegu too.....of course way out in the boonies is a different matter.

[Jane]

OP, it's no surprise that you are feeling this way after four years. I too, am more sensitive to the staring and snickering in recent year; the staring being less of a concern during the early years.

In Korea you are a foreigner first, human second.

My advice (which you see to be doing already anyway) is leave Korea. Only then will you regain all your dignity and feel fully human again (instead of like an animal).

FYI, I'm leaving Korea in the coming year...let's do ourselves a favour and follow through!

[blackjack]

NZ -73% European 8.1% Asian
Australia -90% European 8% Asian
USA -74% European 4.4% Asian
UK -82% European 7.?% asian
Korea -0.3% European. 99% Asian



The korean stats are an estimate could not find exact details. There are 117,000 americans so boosted that up to 150,000.

It's pretty clear why we stick out tho. Also if you take into consideration that 25,000 of those americans are on base and most westerners live in seoul, then we are pretty thin on the ground