Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eIn07912]

The first rule of thumb for Korea any newbie learns is to just "nod and smile" when it comes to work or dealing with some Koreans. We learn this to placate some of the more hostile or intrusive locals and to, in general, make our own lives easier.

I thought it might be appropriate then, to expand further upon this line of reasoning and outline a few questions that get commonly asked by Koreans to foreigners. The true motivations behind asking some of these cliche' or repetitive questions is largely unknown to visitors and thus, providing the wrong answer (which may well be your honest opinion) could create a more difficult situation than one already finds himself in.

I'll start with a few and then I encourage you to list a few you have experienced or that others might find helpful.

K(orean): "What is your favorite Korean food?"
F(oreigner): "Gim Chi is delicious, but maybe a little bit too spicy for me."

Notice above, using the non-standard "G" instead of the more popular "K" when pronouncing this national icon of cuisine. This is because, when hearing native Koreans pronounce it, a hybrid "GK" sound can be heard. When foreigners use the "K" it sounds lazy. Even though the full "G" sound is not entirely correct, many times it is interpreted as at least attempting to say the word correctly, and often earns the speaker bonus points for effort. By declaring that the food can be too spicy for your inferior taste buds, you are stroking the ego of questioner, as Koreans often celebrate their desire to eat unnecessarily spicy food. It might be wise to use a variation of the dish such as "Gim chi ji gae" or "Gim chi bo gum bab" to show you have eaten a wide variety of their dishes and through careful consideration, chosen your favorite.

K:"What is your favorite country?"
F:"Well I am (insert your nationality here), but I also love Korea."

First off, why this question gets asked so much is beyond my understanding. None the less, it certainly crops up from time to time, most often by students or coworkers, but on occasions by superiors. Now, it is perfectly acceptable to list your own country as your favorite. This is viewed respectably by the locals in that you have a broad mind enough to explore a foreign land and culture first hand (something they tend to admire in others, but rarely see the need participate in themselves), but that you still hold allegiance to your own home land, which is also locally perceived as your family. But your #2 better be Korea. It doesn't matter if you hate it here or even like another country slightly more than you like Korea, any other combination of answers will only seem quietly dismissive to the inquirer and may secretly stoke his subsurface nationalism into a rage. Also, by stating your nationality and then declaring that you "love" Korea you have cleverly announced your own patriotism to your home land, but reserved the affectionate and powerful word "love" for his country. Double bonus points for you ching gu!

K:"How long have you been in Korea?"
F:The foreigner at this point continues his smile, then slightly turns his head to the right, while directing his eye line diagonally up and to the right. This is subconcious cue that you are searching your frontal lobes for the right word. Slightly squint your eyes as if you're trying to pronouncing it correctly and mutter "Yook dal (6 months)."

This is the perfect answer for everyone in this situation. It doesn't matter if you've been here 2 weeks, 2 years, or longer. The six month zone is a comfortable place to be. Any shorter and the person asking will feel he has to represent his entire country to you. He will go out of his to be overly kind and accommodating to you. He will do this with a smile even though it may be causing him some inner stress. Longer, and he will feel you are settled in enough that your "green" has worn off, and he can dispense with the formalities and treat you like he would any other stranger on the street. This time period also works well if you have a limited Korean language ability and have been here for a few years (like myself.) Some people choose not to learn Korean or never get around to it for any one or two of several reasons. This is nothing to be ashamed of. But why let this person know that? No need at all. Also, If your Korean ability is even at the most elementary level, it looks like you've been studying your butt off for six months to learn the language (provided you've thrown a few other common phrases into the conversation before hand. Phrases like "migook ssarum, ib ni da" I'm American people. "Ma shi sae yo" Delicious. "Chik jin / Oo wae jeon / Ja wae jeon" Go straight / Turn right / Turn left.. best used with taxi drivers or in discussions involving directions.)

[asams]

Re: the first answer about how kimchi is spicy - it seems that every foreigner could wear a sign that says "I can eat spicy food" Koreans would still claim that kimchi is too spicy for us. I think it makes them feel good that they can do something we can't do.

[GoldMember]

Do you like Korean women?

Oh I have a girlfriend she is (insert non Korean nationality here).

Do you like Korean beer?

Oh yes I love Korean beer. I especially like Asahi.

What do you like about Korea?

Korea is FANTASTIC, it is very close to Japan, so I can go there often.

[Old Gil]

just say 불닭도먹을수있거든요. They will leave you alone about the spicy food. Or they won't. Who knows what the hell is going on in this country.

[MattAwesome]

42

[bluntedstuntman]

those are the perfect answers, for all you brown-nosers out there.

seriously, have the courage of your convictions.
if you dont like kimchi, tell them you dont like it.

if you're trying to score points, at the cost of your self respect, you've already lost.

[RyanInKorea]

[Khenan]

[PatrickGHBusan]

K: Are you socially inept and closed minded?
F: Slightly turns head to the right, while directing his eye line diagonally up and to the right. Accessing frontal lobes. 'Yeah' and Gimchi is good...but a little spicy...I am from (Country) but like Korea...

K: What?
F: Oh sorry I only can manage rote responses in order to avoid social interactions. I only focus on myself here...why would different people with no link between them..oh I did not mean people I meant Koreans....ask me the same question? Don't you Koreans all know me?

K: Ok....moving away slowly from the wayguk...as his vision is based on movement.


Better idea OP: go back to your arts and crafts days and make yourself a sign you can hang on yourself.

It could read: I AM UNIQUE. YOU ARE NOT. I ANSWERED THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ALREADY (INSERT QUESTIONS YOU ANSWERED).

Far easier than what you propose...

[Chambertin]

Why do so, so, SO many people equate self respect with being a complete ass-hat in all situations?

Self respect and social respect are two very different things.

Let me phrase this in words that may be easier to understand.
If you hold in a fart then you have to live with the discomfort internally.

If you fart then you will spread the discomfort to all those in smelling range, but you have significantly less discomfort as you are the creator of the stink.

So choosing to fart means that you respect your own comfort more than the others around you, which is ok. This can be seen as holding self respect higher than respect for those around you.

Now there are two options,
A: let it out slowly and easily as to not make a noise attempting to respect the social status you have in the group while keeping the self respect on top.

B: force it out creating a ripping long annoying noise as well as the smell also destroying any social respect you have in the group. (for some reason many also try to deny that they are the origin of the fart further compounding the loss of respect.)

It seems many people choose B just to be the bigger jerk. It is completely possible to maintain self respect without being the jackass who just farted loudly.
Hope that helps clear it up.

Korea is more like the US than unlike the US the only difference is that we are now the foreigner and subject to the same racism placed upon all those who came to the US.
Get over it and stop fueling their hatred of us with your "self respect" that only leads to "social destruction"

Bottom line, I think the answers hold interesting advice, and dont lead to any loss of the "self respect" that people want to protect so much.

[discostu333]

Honestly what a load of rubbish!

[seoulsucker]

[runthegauntlet]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Sheeesh, what a bunch of grouches. I think the OP is being sarcastic.

Q: "What do you think of Dokdo?"
A: I plan to go there for my vacation on a tour boat and chant Korean slogans.

Q: "Have you ever been to Jeju-do?"
A: Oh, the Hawaii of Korea! Of course, I've been there. It is just the same as Hawaii, with its wide variety of foods, cultures, and its welcoming tourist infrastructure.

Q: "What is your favorite place in Korea?"
A: All of them. Each location in Korea is as spectacularly, incredibly beautiful as any other. Especially Seoul, which has just as many attractive sights as Paris. And the temple complexes throughout the country, each with a unique design and original style, unlike any other. And the interesting, risk-taking civic architecture. How did they know my favorite color is Concrete Grey?

[2000zerozero]

AHAAAAHAAAHAHA!

*whew*

I guess I was just in the right mood for this. Thanks for the laugh, OP and Moldy Rutabaga.