Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Seoulio]

I am getting flack and being called a noob on another thread as I maintain that I do not get (pretty much) any stares from Koreans as I go about my daily business.

Now since I do not think I am special, I can not fathom for a second that I am the only one.

Any others out there who ( generally) do not get the stares?

[Sergio Stefanuto]

How tall are you? Makes all the difference. I'm 188cm and got stared at a lot - although didn't care. It's understandable - it's not every day they see a tall white man. However, a guy I knew in Korea said he also didn't get stared at, but he's very small, wears glasses, blends in and is also largely oblivious to his surroundings, thanks to his eccentric and distinctly dubious personality.

[Globutron]

I'm 6'1'' and... I don't get stared at any more than I did in England really. Sometimes people have something to look at about me, but most the time nobody shares interest.

I hear it's a location thing too. In the middle of Itaewon, it's the Koreans that will be stared at...A korean in Itaewon? Preposterous.

[HalfJapanese]

If one is so concerned about being started at, perhaps one option is to look like the local people and try to blend in.

Do things such as:
1. Dye your hair black and get a haircut that is similar to the locals.
2. Wear a suite and carry around a brief case.
3. Wear black/plastic framed glasses
4. Don't open your eyes all the way; keep them squinted a little.
5. Mimic the way the locals walk.
6. Pick up smoking.
7. Learn the manners, etiquettes, and protocols for the different types of situations within the society.

[oldfatfarang]

I'm stared at constantly in Korea. Even today, walking to the bus station, two different Koreans stopped and gawked at me.

I find that if I'm not conscious of staring, it's because I'm preoccupied - or that I'm unconsciously looking at the ground to avoid the stares.

I think the staring problem is worse for people who haven't lived semi anonymous lives in big cities. Where I come from, people walk tall, look around and ahead, they make eye contact etc. So someone like me (who's trained to be observant, certainly sees heaps of stares in Korea).

Man, I hate those "What are you doing in K" stares from the 40+ guys.

[eamo]

Small kids and old people will stare at me now and then.

[Fox]

I'm about 178 centimeters, brown curly hair, very pale skin, and I don't particularly get stared at. I did get randomly struck on the arm the other day by a very old Korean man, but that's an exception rather than a rule.

[MattAwesome]

another stupid staring thread.

[sulperman]

This is an easy one-

Seoul=no staring (unless you are on the outskirts of the city, are really fat, are really ugly or odd looking or are really hot- and I think you all know which one(s) apply to you)

Every other place=possibility of staring (especially if you are really fat, are really ugly or odd looking or are really hot).

Case closed.

[AsiaESLbound]

[oskinny1]

[reactionary]

I'm sure I do get more looks than a Korean person. If a Korean went to a 99% white city in the world, they'd probably get a few looks too. The thing is I just don't pay attention to it anymore. It probably bothers attractive women when I stare at them more than it bothers me when some random Korean stares at me.

[nautilus]

[Seoulio]

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

Another AWESOME staring thread. 1001 for me.

http://1000awesomethings.com/