Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fermentation]

[Burndog]

[dharma bum]

i agree with burndog.

[redaxe]

[lookingforworkinasia]

I like how he addressed how immigrants of different genders are viewed and treated. While I've been fortunate enough to have only been the target of racial discrimination on a few occasions, all of which were very minor instances, I'm aware others haven't been so lucky. In this respect, women of any nationality are far more discriminated against than their male counterparts.

I don't consider myself a feminist, but I would like to see more awareness on how women are oppressed here so maybe measures can be taken to correct it.

[Konglishman]

I am glad that Dr. Hussain has brought the assault aspect of this case into full light. Further, he is quite correct in condemning the Korean media for generally ignoring this.

The article is well written. However, there are a couple of things that I would have worded differently. First, I assume that he meant to say "This is not an isolated incident." Second, I would not have ended the article with "The onus lies with the Western expats."

I will go ahead and focus on the second statement. I think that the reality is that many Western expats would fully welcome bridges of understanding and communication between the different segments of the foreign population living in Korea. So, I say to Dr. Hussain, "Please, do not believe otherwise due to some of the negative vitriol that has been directed towards you via the blogosphere. Those bloggers, in question, do not represent me or even the majority of Western expats."

[asylum seeker]

I find this guy's constant need to mention 'western expats' annoying. I'm white myself and I was having lunch with a Korean female language exchange partner one time when, out of the blue, an ajoshi threw a cup of water at me and then proceeded to swear at me in Korean for several minutes before walking out of the restaurant. I'm sure I'm not the only white person this kind of thing has happened to. In general, I agree that we are probably treated better but he shouldn't try and make out that our problems here are always trivial either. There are some Koreans who have just as much contempt for white people as for dark-skinned foreigners.

[dirving]

[dirving]

[crossmr]

[dirving]

You raise a good point about the racial diversity of Westerners living in Korea. For instance, many Gyopos have reported being kicked around for being different than their local cousins.

[Konglishman]

[calicoe]

Mr. Hussain:

If you are reading, I want to congratulate you on a job well done. Your article was also very good. I have been cheering for you and your female co-worker since day one.

I am a person who has worked with Asian migrants in another Asian country. They were treated worse than dogs, and thrown in jail and detained for years without any rights. I helped them resettle to another country. I have also worked for social justice and women's issues my entire adult life.

I am a female, Western expat here. I have no reason to take the side of male, Western expats. Much of what you say about the differences and degree of discrimination are true. However, I believe you do have a blind spot in your analysis. In the gendered discrimination, white, Western, male expats also feel the discrimination. Also, they can be assaulted just walking down the street. As a consequence, we are all subjected to abuse at any time, without proper protection and even criminalization by the police, hospitals and courts, simply for being foreign and abused by a Korean national. As a woman, if I am sexually assaulted here, I have to worry about the police, and the hospital staff. As Western males, if they are assaulted, they have to also worry about the police, and being criminalized, much like you.

So yes, day-to-day hassles are less severe, but when we seek the support of the police in the face of violence by a Korean national, none of us have fared very well.

So, in fact, the onus seems to be on all of us, Mr. Hussain.

Thank you for your courage.

[crossmr]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

It might be a useful exercise to build bridges rather than burning them by contacting Hussain and explaining that yes, the problems of western expats are similar even if generally to a lesser degree, and that the online abuse he has experienced is nontypical.

Nevertheless, Hussain is a professor and not a coal miner. He ought to be able to make this distinction. As it stands, he comes off as arrogant by making himself a martyr and belittling other expats. How to win friends and influence people: antagonize everyone in the country.