Korean Job Discussion Forums

[coralreefer_1]

Someone mentioned earlier about the racism toward Indians in America. My home state of North Carolina is considered the south and while it doesn't have quite the reputation of Mississippi or Alabama, it has it's share of racism. (It was the last state to join the confederacy and was basically dragged into it because all of the surrounding states had already
succeeded from the union.

From my own observations of being white and listening to white family members and friends, etc over the years, most of the racist attitudes I have encountered toward non-whites seem to be based more on their socio-economic status rather than their skin tone. There are many east Asians and Indians in my area, many working at the Research Triangle Park (practically a city of high-tech, bio-medical, medical, and IT companies. Those people tend to have good to great jobs, make good money, buy 5 bedroom homes and people tend to stereotype them as "wealthy', which I believe saves them from the more severe racism directed more at Blacks and Latinos which people believe have a lower economic status.

Years ago I was dating a Chinese woman here in Daegu, and the kind of attitudes she faced from servers, taxi drivers, school officials at her university, and many others were much worse than anything I have ever dealt with. I think many Koreans make the first assumption that she was either.

A- a factory worker
B- a student (she was a student)

In both cases, she would be considered on the very low end of economic status, given her country or origin and what she was doing in Korea.

By comparison, myself as a white American...their first assumption is that I am a teacher (which I am not) and being from a wealthy nation and the assumption that I was a teacher, who makes more money that the average factory worker or student, my treatment was much better than hers.

I think this is what someone was touching on by quoting figures from wiki about Indian doctors and business owners way back in the first pages of the thread. Money and economic status , while not an unbreakable shield, seems to protect certain groups from facing blatant racism in many cases.

Another point I would like to make is that when I was a boy, I can remember vividly the kind of racist remarks made against blacks and latinos, and it wasn't hidden. However once that Research Triangle Park was built, this caused many "non-locals" to move to the area for the great jobs offered in huge numbers (many of them coming from northern states). I believe this influx of many more racially tolerant people coming to the area helped change many of the attitudes of the local population. I think as time goes on and more foreigners come to Korea and people begin to have discussions like this, issues such as in the OP will become less and less frequent.

As has been pointed out, there is racism everywhere. I have been in Daegu for just under five years, but not even once been cussed out because I am a foreigner, spit on, attacked or any of the other wild things that others have related in this thread about treatment they have endured in Korea (and this is Daegu, certainly not Seoul)

Sure I get stared at, but I take that as a compliment. They might be thinking "Wow, I want to kick that guy in the teeth and send him home", but they also might be thinking, "Man, I wish I was that handsome and had a bulge in my jeans like that"

I've ridden the subway/walked all over the city...etc with many beautiful Korean women (the woman I am currently dating is a cosmetics model, so even Koreans think she is FINE) and over all these years no Korean has made any comments or complaints similar to some earlier examples about us being being together. It may happen someday, but I don't think it is as prevalent as reading Dave's would make it appear, based on my own experience, although I understand I am just one foreigner among many.

[Steelrails]

I totally agree that systemic, racial-superiortity racism is such a sad state of mind and culture. There is definately a sizeable number of Korean people here who fall into that and they come of as incredibly provincial.

At the same time it seems that some posters here believe that Korea should 'bow down' to the west, acknowledge its superiority and abandon any positive feelings towards Korean culture.

Of course the best way is for individuals to take the best parts of each culture they experience and adapt it to their own selves. This IS easier in America than Korea.

Understandbly the Koreans are a bit more closed to other cultures and for good reason, one look at Korean history (and the history of colonizers) can show the dangers of being too accepting towards outsiders. Whether it be Japanese, Mongolians, or the West these folks might not have the Korean people' best interests truly at heart. They may honestly believe they do, but often that is not the case.

We must also remember the 'brain-drain' that is a result of the Korean diaspora. The more open-minded Koreans may not be living in Korea.

America, on the hand, has had a wonderful experience from immigration, unless of course you are a Native American. Conversely many other countries have had only short histories with immigration or being conquered.

The stares are not isolated incidents, nor are verbal assaults, by neither are they frequent occurances. For everytime I've seen some bad comments voiced at a foreigner, I've seen local Korean people show people around on the subway, offer to give people a hand, and do other acts of basic human kindness. In fact, I've seen more.

And folks, I'm sorry but the brainwashing and propagandista I hear about, while at times is there, is not the systemic, borg-minded thing people here make it out to be. For all the bashers out there who justifiably get stressed by some aspect of Korean society, plenty of them are willing to acknowledge good friendships and relationships and with a fair number of local people.

The Borg-argument is starting to fall to the level of throwing out the Nazi card. No, Lee-Myung-Bak is not Locutus and some independent thinking Korean is not Hugh. Good Grief.

As for the 'personality-based' friendships of the ESl community, please.
Just scan the comments posted on certain groups of people who come here/live here and there is plenty of surface judgement going on. Women especially might get a good chuckle out of 'personality-based' friendships. Age groups and people with families too.

I see plenty of narrowmindedness from the locals, and I see plenty of it from Dave's posters.

Either way, whatever, to each their own, and we are all fairly civil to each other. If you don't like Korea, fine. Plenty of good reasons not to, and its not a horrible offense. What does grate is the "I'm so tolerant and enlightned" crap I hear. Oh please.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

[js99]

[stevieg4ever]

I am sorry but Korean history offers no mitigation for racism. None whatsoever. And I know many people, from people who have done a Masters in Korean history, to my former Korean teachers and professors right through to well-to-do Koreans who would totally disagree. Korea does have a history of war, occupation, colonisation, division, poverty and prosperity: but what country doesn't.

[rkc76sf]

[CentralCali]