Korean Job Discussion Forums

travel zen · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Location: Good old Toronto, Canada

While travelling Asia some years ago, I didn't see as much bowing and scrapping to white foreigners as I would suppose...seeing how many Asians, especially older ones were doing this in the West.

In India, this seems to be ingrained in the psychie of older people. My Indian gf used to hate when her father acted sheepish as cloying to any white person whom he would meet.

I had the same stories from Korean and Chinese girlfriends. This may be a generational thing when colonialism was still a reality taught in the schools.

in Asia today, it may have something to to with percieved wealth.

Caffeinated · Joined: 11 Feb 2010

Do average white guys with beautiful Asian girlfriends count? If so, yes. Laughing

recessiontime · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:48 pm Post subject:

In Japan a lot of the make-up for women targets the "beautiful white" look that Japanese women want to achieve. Not sure though if this has much to do with Europeans as this was a big thing before the Japanese met any Europeans in feudal times

visitorq · Joined: 11 Jan 2008

recessiontime · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:40 pm Post subject:

also in China darkness is associated with social status. Dark skin is sort of like being in the laborer class working out in the sun all the time. Lighter skin is then associated with higher social status because these people are doing cushy indoor work.

francesz · Joined: 18 Feb 2011

I lived in Cambodia about two years ago. I happen to have exceptionally pasty white skin regardless of whether I'm in a tropical climate--yes, pasty even by white standards--and everywhere I went people would remark on it. I couldn't go shopping for clothing without a salesperson commenting on how the color of the outfit would accentuate my skin color. Out in the countryside, people would literally run up to me and touch my skin because they didn't believe it was real! What a complete 180 from all the teasing I received as a child for my complexion...

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

ThingsComeAround · Joined: 07 Nov 2008

I'd call bollocks on the 'dark skin = out in the sun'. Most Koreans in the States had good skin and some even had freckles (really cute girl I knew had lots). I come to Korea, freckles is seen as some 'skin problem'. Rolling Eyes

Ever walk in your neighborhood Homeplus or Emart? There seem to be more white models than Korean. In Korea. Why is this so, especially since most seem to want us to limit our time in country?

I'm sure in some parts of Africa or extreme rural parts of South America, they don't get many whites and you are more 'exotic'. I went to Russia and ,benig dark-skinned, I got lots of attention from random people- mostly good- in the Asian areas.

hondaicivic · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Location: Daegu, South Korea

travel zen · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Location: Good old Toronto, Canada

A good half of Russia is in Asia.

From what I saw in India and China (areas with extreme reaction to colour in my opinion) it may be a matter of race and propaganda.

With people under 40, being either a blonde girl or a black guy seems to be considered cool and desireable.

With people over 40, it seems to be the opposite in both cases.

I remember walking down the street and all of the women looking not at my face, but staring at my crotch as they walked by! Propaganda.

I saw 2 blonde French gals having a hard time fending off about 8 or 9 guys on a bus trying to grope them. A few other instances, always blonde.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003