Korean Job Discussion Forums

BriTunes · Joined: 12 Jan 2010

So I have been here a few years, and after some jovial darts where I taught this guy how to play Phoenix darts, he knows very little English but proceeded to but me shots from the 300,000 bottle of aged whisky...but he speaks very limited English, but is the #2 gangster in my city of roughly 300,000. Amazingly, after we agreed to have samgyupsal next week everyone in the seemed to treat me better. So is this a blessing or a curse? He mentioned he would "OK" me dating Korean girls (since we are both single and I mentioned the difficultly of dating as a waygook in a small town.) do I blow the #2 gangster, (who is really laid back and friendly) off, or do I make him a pal? He just paid my 60,000 tab BTW.

BaldTeacher · Joined: 02 Feb 2010

Make the man your pal, definitely. Just be sure that you don't give him any doubts that you're a stand-up guy.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Sleepy in Seoul · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 9:55 am Post subject:

tfunk · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland

If he's a gangster then he probably earns money by morally dubious means. People suffer, he gets paid and part of his reward is a token waygook friend.

Mariella713 · Joined: 22 May 2010

excaza · Joined: 27 Aug 2010

I have a sneaking suspicion that he wants something.

Then again, where's the harm some food, drink, and darts?

calicoe · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Location: South Korea

It's sort of like saying "my friend, the wild bear." Things are great when things are great, but what happens if something goes wrong?

Anyway, I would say enjoy the friendship, because you literally don't have a choice now. Any backing away that you do with this friendship would have to be slowly, and imperceptibly, because you can't just cut it off without the risk of offending and making him lose face - DON'T EVER cause him to lose face. The problem there, is that we don't always know we are doing it.

Risky indeed. And, if he does want something, who knows what it could be. Anyway, enjoy it for what it is, always be generous in spirit, and if he asks a dodgy favor of you, play the innocent foreigner card and the fact that it's illegal for you (because just about everything is anyway).

When you go home, bring him back some nice whisky or something. It's cool to have a high-placed friend, but, I hope he's not involved in human trafficking or misery, because that would suck.

madoka · Joined: 27 Mar 2008

calicoe · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Location: South Korea

hehehe - didn't mean to use the unfortunate word "suck" in my post, lol.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

A guy that I worked with was in a similar situation as yours. He moved away from Seoul to a small town and made friends with the local gangster. Nothing bad came of his friendship. Why not go with it? You'll learn some Korean, get to hang, and it isn't like the guy is going to get all nasty...as you said, you live in a small town.

The parents of where you work though might get concerned...so don't go hitting room salons and stuff.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Is this the first time you've rubbed elbows with the underbelly? I'd say if you enjoy chilling with him then rock and roll.

chellovek · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

I remember meeting a guy making similar claims to me a couple of years back, also in a town of 300,000. Maybe it's the same guy?

Louis VI · Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom

Don't settle for less than #1.

illvibetip · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Location: south korea

yeah sounds really cool and fun and everything doesnt it!

my advice wud be dont owe anyone! Especially in korean culture - you may think theyre treatin you like a king - they might think otherwise. (havent you seen the godfather? you dont get anything for free).

2 you might think its super funny now to be hanging out with 'gangsters', but you wait until later when you dont want to hang about with them anymore (becasue of what ever reason) and they wont let you move on. Thats really cool when that happens. (on the plus side - you are a foreigner so can sneak off quite easy).

Also on the plus side, if you need someone shaking up - again they will do (but you will owe them).

What Im saying is - everytime you fart and they dont say anything - theyll be adding it to your tab.

And theyll always find you if you peeve them off.

(that is assuming theyre really gansters becasue korean think thyere from the fecking 'west sai-eed' half the time. But actually, the delusional ones in my expereince are more dangerous. In real life - you dont know who the real gansters are becasue they keep a low profile. The idiots do all the leg work and go around shouting about it - theyre also the one that do the prison time)

Have fun!