Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mua'dib]

[Kurtz]

Let's see your tat then shall we? Post it up.

Let's see what cliched bit of crap you've got inked on your canvass. A bit of BS Thai writing as you got so inspired on a 2 week holiday sitting on your arse in a bamboo shack? a Celtic image? a dragon? something wrapped around your arm? let's see this original piece of art that hasn't already been done a million times before.

Man, from what I've heard from Canadians, half of them under 30 have got a tat, baaa baaaa, show some individuality. And people say Koreans follow each other.

Yeah, I'm over 30, I just don't understand right! Getting oooold.

Well I call teenage angst.

How many people are getting laser surgery these days to remove these creations on their body? And tats look oh so beautiful as time goes on, like a fine wine they get better with age.

Anyways, glad to see folks are staying on topic and are actually answering the question which someone answered before, EPIK said hide them.

Some of these responses are really funny. Like, some mothers seemingly don't have a problem with one person's tats and that means this MYTH about Koreans not liking tats is proved false. Yeah right!

Do what you want guys, show your artwork proudly in your photos, tell your recruiter fully about your tattoos, you'll get a job no worries.

[Underwaterbob]

I have a fairly visible, incredibly benign tattoo. It's been seen many, many times in my five years of teaching. It's never been a problem with anyone.

[mua'dib]

Yeah, I have tattoos visible in a T or polo shirt, I work for GEPIC and no one gives it a second thought. My principle is very nice to me, my co-teacher told me it didn't matter and the students spent about three seconds caring until they realized I wasn't going to waste classtime talking about it. Everyone at my school knows and none care enough to make it an issue.

I am sure that in ten years (maybe less) in the states it will not be uncommon at all to see professionals, educators and even doctors with visible tattoos. The social stigma is dying (thank god).

Also, tattoos are not fashion for me, but as long as they are perceived as such the stigma will continue to die.

Good, cause these suckers are around forever!

Personally I can't wait to have a Dr. with knuckle tats!

BTW Kurtz, why so anti-tattoo? teenage angst? I am an adult, and I have been planning the tattoos I would get for YEARS. Getting inked was an intense and pleasurable experience that I hope to repeat over and over again. I am not an impulsive person.

Also, to my knowledge, people don't get tattoos to be individual. they also don't get them to follow the crowd. They get them because they want them.

Not everybody that's younger than you who does something you never would are stupid/sheep/"punks" (I loved that one;-)) They are simply different. Though it may be difficult for you to understand, everyone has a reason for what they do.

You are so agressive..... What's the matter? some tattooed musician PUNK sleeping with your daughter or ex wife or something? Jebus!

[mua'dib]

I also don't tend to show my tattoos to people who have the intent of ridiculing them, but I assure you, they are nothing cliched and everything.... everything has already been done by somebody else first.

[GoodMike]

[VanIslander]

[Old Gil]

I have a giant squid on my right arm. I haven't seen anybody with that before, I'm sure it's been done though.

[Grantasmagoria]

A Korean asked me how much one of my tattoos was and why I would spend so much money on something like that. I told her the amount and asked her how much she spent on that handbag and why she'd spend so much money on a bag. A moment of clarity was achieved. Moral of the story for you old/conservative/Republican farts: Some people buy cars, some people buy the lastest fashion, some people buy the latest tech. I like buying and getting tattoos. It's as viable a hobby/interest as anything you anti-tattoo people like. Using the old "your tattoo design is cliched" is so weak. I'm sure there are any number of cliches in either the way you live and or your interests that I could tear to shreds.

For the record, I cover mine up at school. No one knows at school because well, there's no point and it's none of their business. I did catch hell from the fruit bongo guy when it came summer time and there's ink all up and down my right arm and leg. Haha, if he didn't have such delicious apples, I'd go to the ajumma down the street.

[youtuber]

There was a discussion on a radio program that I was listening to that commented on the link between the rise in the popularity of tattoos with the rise of narcissism among younger people.

[apocalyptic_tea]

Sorry, Old Gil, I've seen a bunch of squid tattoos. But squid are neat, so that's understandable

I just got hired through SMOE, who does ask about tattoos on their application, and was told by my interviewer that nobody cares as long as they can be covered up in class.

I'd like to think that public opinion on body modification is changing, especially given increasing multiculturalism and cultural awareness (thanks, Internet!), and the fact that the value of body modification in general terms is entirely relative to the society in which one is brought up. Depending on your culture, a nose piercing can denote marital status, and a tattoo can be representative of one's genealogy or coming of age in the eyes of one's peers. I'd hate to think that those folks get the short end of the stick due to a stigma based on an outdated perception that body mods are the sole province of delinquents and ex-cons.

On the up side, plenty of Koreans have had the opportunity to notice my tattoos in the public sphere, and (so far) they've all taken it in stride. It may be wrenchingly optimistic to say this, but social change may be a-coming.

(Of course, that isn't to say that employers have nothing about which to worry in regards to tattoos--hugely visible, potentially offensive ink might be cause for concern, just as a T-shirt with explicit content in the workplace would. But to paint all body mods in the broad strokes that conservative businesses seem to, I feel, is also inappropriate.)

[brandonlk]

I am going to be working/living in Bundang which I hear is very upper class and full of rich people, so I am not sure if they are going to be more comfortable or less comfortable with my tattoos. I plan on covering them while at work but not on my time off

[Captain Obvious]

[youtuber]

[I'm no Picasso]

I've been using G Dragon in a lesson plan this week, and my students have absolutely no idea that he has multiple tattoos. Odd. I told them to check it out on the internet when they got home -- they didn't believe me.