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BananaBan
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
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 Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:42 pm Post subject: Would i be discriminated against in Korea? |
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I am Caucasian, however, i am not the typical pale looking type. I was born in Canada, but my ethnic background is of a darker European type. I have an olive skin colour complexion, i guess you could say its similar to this guy's colour: (think Mediterranean, Italian-ish)
http://img.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joe-manganiello-naked-true-blood__oPt.jpg
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/4OAaTm9WNRZ/PUMA+Social+Club+LA+Launch+Event+Arrivals/4OF_3-Clq2F/Joe+Manganiello
I have read stuff like English teachers being looked down upon for a variety of reasons, but specifically due to how they look. Would a parent tell my boss they dont want me teaching their kids? Do hogwon bosses dislike darker caucasions?
Will people on the street give me dirty looks/stir up controversy with me on a more frequent basis?
and of course, will i be at a disadvantage when looking for a date with the local girls? (keep in mind, im not into the club/bar type girls or the one-night stand types)
I am also over 6 feet tall, slim body type and i dont dress like the stereotyped college student (t-shirt, worn out jeans, non-clean shaven etc) |
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Kimchifart
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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| You'll be ostracized. Life will be hell here, think South Africa in the 60's. |
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chrisinkorea2011
Joined: 16 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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you should be fine considering that ive seen some UGLY @$$ people here teaching and they still survive lol
one of the most important rules of korea is that you MUST MUST develop a thick skin to take any and all comments. If you are even remotely fat be prepared to be called fat EVEN by little kids. it happens here, people are a product of their environment. NOW thats not to say they are not sweet good kids, because there are plenty of those too.
Just be prepared for words and comments of any nature and you will be fine |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Giving you the benefit of the doubt and treating this like a serious question: not at all. |
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BananaBan
Joined: 16 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| Giving you the benefit of the doubt and treating this like a serious question: not at all. |
i just graduated, i want a change of pace and to add a mix to my routine life. after reading alot of stuff on discrimination/not too pleasant things across many websites, you cant blame me for wanting to make sure i wont have a sucky time half the world away. |
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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You'll be fine. I've befriended non white NETs here, hung with them and the vast majority have no issues or very little issues. Yes, things can and do happen as they do everywhere including Canada but that affects whites as well. My friends date Korean girls as well. A few quite successfully and more than the vast majority of teachers.
You'll be fine. Your stay here is largely up to you. If you're a well adjusted, normal guy, you'll do fine. Even the weird ones amongst us do well. The bar is low. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| BananaBan wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| Giving you the benefit of the doubt and treating this like a serious question: not at all. |
i just graduated, i want a change of pace and to add a mix to my routine life. after reading alot of stuff on discrimination/not too pleasant things across many websites, you cant blame me for wanting to make sure i wont have a sucky time half the world away. |
While there is a hagwon preference for blonde with blue eyes, if you look white you're not going to have any problems. This reminds me of the time some white-looking Mexican-American girl came on here crying racism because her boss said she was white.
| sirius black wrote: |
You'll be fine. I've befriended non white NETs here, hung with them and the vast majority have no issues or very little issues. Yes, things can and do happen as they do everywhere including Canada but that affects whites as well. My friends date Korean girls as well. A few quite successfully and more than the vast majority of teachers.
You'll be fine. Your stay here is largely up to you. If you're a well adjusted, normal guy, you'll do fine. Even the weird ones amongst us do well. The bar is low. |
It's a moot point considering that the vast majority of Koreans will consider the OP white if he has the looks he claims he does, whether his actual ethnic background be Caucasian, Latino, or Middle Eastern. |
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smithy
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: Would i be discriminated against in Korea? |
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TLDR, but
| BananaBan wrote: |
| Would i be discriminated against in Korea? |
Yes. |
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TellyRules986
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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OP: You are freaking out for no reason. You won't be discriminated against more than anyone else is. You won't be stared at more than anyone else. As for dating the local women: Generally speaking, Asian women love white men. It doesn't matter what you look like. So relax
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 12:55 am Post subject: |
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OP, you'll be fine, but here is the advice I give anyone thinking of coming to Korea.
Can you deal with being an albino in Canadian society? That is sideways glances, back of the head stares, a group of people stop talking when you enter a room? Non-Korean-looking people get similar attention in Korea, so you do need thick skin to exist here happily.
Imagine showing up to a party where when you walk in the music cuts out and everyone turns to look at you. Unfortunately non-Koreans intrisically are outsiders and always will be; the degree of your 'whiteness' plays less of a factor, although sometimes the darker your skin is, even less respect you'll receive. |
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Enigma
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 4:01 am Post subject: |
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I'm also Canadian and I'm darker than that dude in the picture you linked to. I've been in Korea about 3.5 years, and never once has it been an issue for me.
As others have noted, you will stand out regardless. Kids will occasionally point out that you're a foreigner. Some will say hello to you, some of them because they just want to say hi, and some because they're trying to impress their friends.
But to be honest, I rarely notice people looking at me anymore. I wouldn't let it keep you from making the trip over. |
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Hiromi C
Joined: 28 May 2011
Location: Gwanak-gu, Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:37 am Post subject: |
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Koreans' ability to differentiate between the various ethnicities of Caucasians is basically nil.
Also, my Chinese-American ex-girlfriend didn't seem to have problems landing a job here. About the only person I know who had issues because of race is me, and if my name didn't broadcast the fact that I'm Japanese-American, I doubt I'd have that issue, either. |
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| sirius black wrote: |
You'll be fine. I've befriended non white NETs here, hung with them and the vast majority have no issues or very little issues. Yes, things can and do happen as they do everywhere including Canada but that affects whites as well. My friends date Korean girls as well. A few quite successfully and more than the vast majority of teachers.
You'll be fine. Your stay here is largely up to you. If you're a well adjusted, normal guy, you'll do fine. Even the weird ones amongst us do well. The bar is low. |
It's a moot point considering that the vast majority of Koreans will consider the OP white if he has the looks he claims he does, whether his actual ethnic background be Caucasian, Latino, or Middle Eastern. |
With regards to the OP, probaby yes, but others will do a search and read this and such similar threads. They will get what I believe is the wrong impression. I would even say that its often a plus being a black guy. Specifically with teens. I recall being at an english camp, 5 of us, one black guy and the kids treated him like a rock star. They grew up with Obama, Michael Jackson, Will Smith, etc. Older Koreans I can see being a bit of the opposite.
Again, what I've seen first hand from non white frieds and what they've told me, I would tell someone who didn't look caucasian to come to Korea. Will there or could there be the odd incident? Sure, but it could be anywhere. Bigger cities probably better than smaller ones but generally speaking, not a problem.
Have any non white NETs been on here saying its bad? You may find one or two perhaps but I'd be surprised if out of 10, more than 1 or 2 would be critical. |
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BooG690
Joined: 14 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm an olive-skinned teacher here. I haven't had a tough time here (yet). The children have commented on the color of my skin...and that's about it. The comments weren't hurtful in any way. They just pointed out that my skin was 'brown.' |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Would i be discriminated against in Korea? |
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| BananaBan wrote: |
I am Caucasian, however, i am not the typical pale looking type. I was born in Canada, but my ethnic background is of a darker European type. I have an olive skin colour complexion, i guess you could say its similar to this guy's colour: (think Mediterranean, Italian-ish)
http://img.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joe-manganiello-naked-true-blood__oPt.jpg
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/4OAaTm9WNRZ/PUMA+Social+Club+LA+Launch+Event+Arrivals/4OF_3-Clq2F/Joe+Manganiello
I have read stuff like English teachers being looked down upon for a variety of reasons, but specifically due to how they look. Would a parent tell my boss they dont want me teaching their kids? Do hogwon bosses dislike darker caucasions?
Will people on the street give me dirty looks/stir up controversy with me on a more frequent basis?
and of course, will i be at a disadvantage when looking for a date with the local girls? (keep in mind, im not into the club/bar type girls or the one-night stand types)
I am also over 6 feet tall, slim body type and i dont dress like the stereotyped college student (t-shirt, worn out jeans, non-clean shaven etc) |
I use to hear a lot about this too. Even my own recruiter warning me that employers wanted pretty blond haired blue eyed young North American females. I think this was 2006ish. The Seoul market was becoming satured with teachers, until EPIK opened their doors beginning in 2007 and 2008. Basically, no experience means you may not be able to be as picky about location. Looks discrimination is not what it once was. Being inexperienced is the greatest disadvantage. Be prepared to accept anywhere. You can always move later on.
Koreans do seem to like tallness. I have this 6 foot something buddy and some Koreans just gawk at him. I actually had to come to Korea to feel kind of short. Ha ha. Actually average height I guess. Never hurt me with the ladies though. Koreans like slim, but fatties will get hired. Morbidly obese might have some problems getting hired but can eventually land a job if they are patient. Read a blog here of a 30's something bald guy quitting a bad hakwon job and quickly getting another.
Most of what I had come to believe based on recruiters being "straight" with me, what I had read on here, and heard from some Koreans had led me to believe in this type of discrimination too. It can be out there. For every jerk Korean that thinks this primitive way, there's 3 or 4 more that either won't care or won't care enough that they won't still hire you. If you look really abnormal, stay out of the countryside where thinking is still evolving. That is where you'd get the most comments on being bald, fat, dark, etc.
As for the looks thing, this was probably true in the 1990's up until about 10 years ago. In the cities, most people are more educated and polite enough that these things wouldn't matter. In a small country town or a small city less than 200,000, you take your chances. Avoid Korean owned hakwons there by all means. You will get a very time warped view of Korean life as it was in Seoul back in the 1990's.
I left such a town that I lived in for a couple of years during the late 2000's decade. I'll tell you spot on that it was reminiscent of descriptions of Seoul in the 1990's. (Think there a blog here on that very topic.) Adjumma's in flowery pants selling vegetables, c0$%blocking when it comes to dating Korean women, comments about your appearance, etc.
On the other hand, if you are a pretty good looking guy or gal, people in these same country towns will be in awe of you. These can be some very kind people, but they can also be some real racist ba$tards! Sorry about going off on a tangent. Looked at the pics, a little tanned complexion is fine. I got Irish background but got asked before if I were Italian because of tanning and slight complexion under the eyes. K chicks didn't seem to mind my tanned appearance that I get in summer.
Teach in any city above 300,000 people and you'll be fine. Buses connect to everywhere in the country. Make sure you find out where your nearest labor board and pension office are just in case you get a bad boss. Find out the name in Korean, copy and paste into www.naver.com for your city, follow the map and you're there.
Essentially, what I've discovered is if you're a fun guy, younger women won't care even if you have a little bit of weight on (as long as it's not too much). Ive even seen some K chicks end up with bald or balding guys (but that's a relatively new phenominon). Over 35ish women may still still cling to a more traditional view where being skinny as a rail is good and having lots of hair on top is divine.
But younger ones seem less shallow. More exposure to foriegners, I guess, and more trips abroad to make them more open minded.
I've gotten racism and I'm a white guy. Can happen to all of us here. But bigger cities will mean less and less. I've definately seen it going down in just the few years I've been here. Use to be black guys would have a hard time dating here, but not so much any more. Especially in larger cities. (I'd say it'd be best for them to stick to Metropolitan cities) Guess it's most important how you carry yourself and how much you take care of your appearance reasonably. Good luck. |
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