Korean Job Discussion Forums

[anamika]

A friend of a friend (both are Korean) will not let anyone, including close friends, photograph him. I started asking around about this and, at least in my anecdotal, limited experience of asking, it seems surprisingly common that there are Koreans who, if they don't outright refuse all photographs, are at least squeamish about it and try to avoid being in photos as much as possible.

I'm trying to understand this. From what I can tell so far, it seems to be a culturally acceptable way to say 'I'm not photogenic'. But the few people I've talked to about it couldn't articulate their reasons very clearly (if it matters, they are not at all ugly). Of course, I realize that not everyone who refuses to be photographed will have the same reason, but I wonder if there is a reason that is most common.

Can anyone shed some light on this (and obviously, I hope that people can explain this in a helpful and non-inflammatory way)? Also, I'm curious if this is a phenomenon in China or Japan, or if it's specific to Korea. Thanks.

[Css]

Seems completely the opposite to my experience...Almost every korean i know takes endless photos of themselves and their everyday lives..Usually to throw up on cyworld or some such site..

ive never seen so many people carrying cameras than ive seen in korea...theyre everywhere..and nice ones too..im jealous.

never met a korean who refused to pose for a pic ive been taking...

[mmstyle]

Actually, my BIL is like that (not Korean). He hates having his photo taken. (His bad luck, he is married to a former pro photographer who still takes photos constantly, but at least she makes him look good!)

Like the above poster, I am more familiar with Koreans taken photos of themselves with their cell phones and cameras non-stop. I think some people just hate looking at photos of themselves.

[anamika]

[cj1976]

I hate having my photo taken because I simply cannot smile on demand without looking slightly deranged.

[diver]

Maybe he has some physical handicap (a slight palsy?) that prevents him from making the "V" sign and he doesn't want to lose face?

[geldedgoat]

In my experience, Koreans have very little qualms about having their pictures taken. The only thing that bothers many of them is having their picture taken and someone other than themselves inspecting it first.

[sulperman]

[ticktocktocktick]

Last year I had a bunch of 2nd grade middle school girls who used to spend their lunch time pleading with me for candy (teeechuuur candeeeee!)

One day I had a camera in my hand when they showed up, and I pointed it at them. I've never seen so much running and screaming in my life. The next day the same happened again. They stoped bothering me after the third day!

[southernman]

Some cutures believe that tp have a photo taken takes a bit of the person's soul as well, primitive cultures to be sure.

I used to hate my photo being taken when I was out drinking, I've just never gotten around to pefecting my poses in the mirror to see what works or not

But it seems like most western teachers here carry around cameras all the time so I basically don't really give a toss anymore and just remove my name from the facebook photos of the less flattering ones.

I'm not sure about Korean's I've only ever witnessed one student not wanting her photo taken, she was shy so that might have been it

[coralreefer_1]

I hope what I am about to say doesn't come off in the wrong way, but I think at least a small portion of what the OP experiences may be at least in part to WHO is taking the photograph.

We all pretty much understand that the thousands of times we are told "you are so handsome/beautiful" or "your face is so small, or your eyes are so big" is mostly empty lip service, but in some ways may make other Koreans feel that their picture may be regarded as less attractive.

Those same school girls from an above post probably take pictures of themselves and each other several times a day, but put a foreigner behind the camera and suddenly many may feel that their looks at that particular moment may not be up to their own self-imposed standard of how they should look in a picture that may be viewed by a foreigner.

I know this isn't exactly what the OP is referring to when they tell about their friend that NEVER had a picture taken, but I think what I have said above may play a role in many other situations also.