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Threequalseven
Joined: 08 May 2012
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 Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 3:23 am Post subject: Getting laughed at by Koreans? |
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Does this happen to people? I was walking home today with my girlfriend (also foreign) and a guy maybe mid 20's to early 30's looks at me then smiles and laughs to his friend, clearly at my expense. I live in a small city of about 250,000 people, so foreigners aren't nearly as common here as in Seoul or Busan. But it's still irritating, and this certainly isn't the first time. I'm not even bothered if he thinks I look funny or something and laughs to his friend afterward. It's the fact that he feels no shame for laughing at me right in front of my face. And for what anyway? What could possibly be so damn funny? I'm a pretty normal looking guy. Is it because I can grow facial hair?
Anyway, there's this type of guy and then guy pushing 50. Walk into a store, ask for something in Korean, maybe mispronounce one vowel, then hear ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ in the background. But I'm not bothered by this guy because he's obviously just being a jerk. It's the brash zero-boundaries attitude that really stains my opinion of this place. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 3:31 am Post subject: |
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If someone's rude/willing to be up in your face and laugh at you, I think you're within your (moral) rights to call them on it.
That being said, I can;t count the number of times where I thought someone's action was because of A... only to see B walk around the corner. I'd put odds on him laughing at you as you describe it... but I always leave room for there being something else. |
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cabeza
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:00 am Post subject: |
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This morning I was buying some drinks at the local CU convinience store. There were two early 20s clerks behind the counter snickering like little girls after i asked for a plastic bag in admitedly my bad Korean. I heard the laughter erupt as i walked out the door.
I don't know. It didn't really bother me. Two moon faced goons acting like 10 year olds. I guess if i was in a bad mood it could have really annoyed me.
It is rude, but I guess we get desensitized to that kind of carry on after a while. Have to, to stay sane. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:03 am Post subject: Re: Getting laughed at by Koreans? |
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| Threequalseven wrote: |
Does this happen to people? I was walking home today with my girlfriend (also foreign) and a guy maybe mid 20's to early 30's looks at me then smiles and laughs to his friend, clearly at my expense. I live in a small city of about 250,000 people, so foreigners aren't nearly as common here as in Seoul or Busan. But it's still irritating, and this certainly isn't the first time. I'm not even bothered if he thinks I look funny or something and laughs to his friend afterward. It's the fact that he feels no shame for laughing at me right in front of my face. And for what anyway? What could possibly be so damn funny? I'm a pretty normal looking guy. Is it because I can grow facial hair?
Anyway, there's this type of guy and then guy pushing 50. Walk into a store, ask for something in Korean, maybe mispronounce one vowel, then hear ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ in the background. But I'm not bothered by this guy because he's obviously just being a jerk. It's the brash zero-boundaries attitude that really stains my opinion of this place. |
Its insecure ajosshi behavior.
You'll find it everywhere among Korean men. Basically they feel threatened by foreign guys so they react in numerous different ways to make themselves feel in control of what they regard as their turf.
Usually it manifests as belligerent indifference but it can also be barely-perceptible put-downs or condescension.
The average Korean guy has a PhD in coc*blocking. With majors in one-upmanship and passive aggression. They lie awake at night dreaming up ways to make foreigners look silly.
Its a game they play. If you let them get to you then you'll walk around in a permanent rage. Instead, subtly return the favor. My favorite is to talk banmal to them. Greet them with "anyong" the same way you'd talk to a 6 yr old. |
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FDNY
Joined: 27 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:18 am Post subject: |
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I think they were laughing at you because you were with a white chick in Korea. Kind of like driving a Ford on the Autobahn.  |
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IPayInCash
Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:19 am Post subject: |
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Yea I'm with the guy above me.
When I get stares with my girl by ajosshis I just wave to them and say hello. It pisses them off even more because they know their mind games are failing miserably and I'm killing them with kindness. I'm being the bigger man by not letting them inside my head. Then my girlfriend usually laughs and the ajosshis face turns read with anger. Never fails.
As for Koreans laughing when you speak Korean, this is COMMON in Korea. And another reason why this place will never be a first world country. I would never even think of laughing at someone's face if they were attempting to speak my language. I've asked NUMEROUS Koreans why they laugh at foreigners trying to speak Korean, and Koreans always reply: because they are surprised we try to speak their language and laughter is their way of dealing with their reaction (because they're so shy here? Remember?).
I'm 5050 on whether I should call them out on it. On one hand it could set them straight. On the other hand this is such a racist country I don't see the point.
As for OP, next time someone laughs at your face like that, just laugh right back at them. I guarantee you it will piss them off. Whatever emotion they expect you to feel, do the complete opposite. Kill them with kindness. Koreans hate kindness. It's not the Korean way. |
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sligo
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| cabeza wrote: |
This morning I was buying some drinks at the local CU convinience store. There were two early 20s clerks behind the counter snickering like little girls after i asked for a plastic bag in admitedly my bad Korean. I heard the laughter erupt as i walked out the door.
I don't know. It didn't really bother me. Two moon faced goons acting like 10 year olds. I guess if i was in a bad mood it could have really annoyed me.
It is rude, but I guess we get desensitized to that kind of carry on after a while. Have to, to stay sane. |
I would put money on them not laughing at you, but at the situation. I work at a uni, and a lot of my students have part time jobs, most at convenience stores. Many have told me that they feel very nervous when a non-Korean walks in, as they are scared to use English, and afraid to look stupid if they don't understand. So, when you spoke Korean it would have been a relief. They way Koreans show nervousness and relief is through laughing and smiling. It sounds strange, but their laughter was more likely to be a compliment than an insult.
As for the the guy who laughed at mispronunciation, he was most likely a twunt! |
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IPayInCash
Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:26 am Post subject: |
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[quote="sligo"]
| cabeza wrote: |
| They way Koreans show nervousness and relief is through laughing and smiling. It sounds strange, but their laughter was more likely to be a compliment than an insult. |
Only an apologist would spin getting laughed at as a compliment. |
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sligo
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:41 am Post subject: |
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[quote="IPayInCash"]
| sligo wrote: |
| cabeza wrote: |
| They way Koreans show nervousness and relief is through laughing and smiling. It sounds strange, but their laughter was more likely to be a compliment than an insult. |
Only an apologist would spin getting laughed at as a compliment. |
They didn't laugh at him, they laughed after he left. That is slightly different! |
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PigeonFart
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:53 am Post subject: |
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Reading this thread made me angry by reminding me of similar experiences when i lived outside Seoul.
Seoul really does have less local idiots as described by the OP, they're still here....but significantly less. |
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waynehead
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Location: Jongno
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:20 am Post subject: |
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The better I've gotten at Korean (and I'm far from good, mind, but better than your average waeg), the more I've come to realize that incidents I used to perceive as others somehow making fun/laughing at me were just me misunderstanding the situation.
Just my .02.
That said, if there are waeg-ridiculing jerks to be found in this country (or any other) they're likely 17-21 year olds. Lord knows I was an idiot/jerk at that age, too. |
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War Eagle
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:54 am Post subject: |
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The levels of maturity and racism already in this thread put to shame whatever you THINK it is the Korean people are exhibiting. Not to mention your perceptions of people's actions are completely screwy.
No wonder you guys are so bitter. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| IPayInCash wrote: |
Yea I'm with the guy above me.
When I get stares with my girl by ajosshis I just wave to them and say hello. It pisses them off even more because they know their mind games are failing miserably and I'm killing them with kindness. I'm being the bigger man by not letting them inside my head. Then my girlfriend usually laughs and the ajosshis face turns read with anger. Never fails.
As for Koreans laughing when you speak Korean, this is COMMON in Korea. And another reason why this place will never be a first world country. I would never even think of laughing at someone's face if they were attempting to speak my language. I've asked NUMEROUS Koreans why they laugh at foreigners trying to speak Korean, and Koreans always reply: because they are surprised we try to speak their language and laughter is their way of dealing with their reaction (because they're so shy here? Remember?).
I'm 5050 on whether I should call them out on it. On one hand it could set them straight. On the other hand this is such a racist country I don't see the point.
As for OP, next time someone laughs at your face like that, just laugh right back at them. I guarantee you it will piss them off. Whatever emotion they expect you to feel, do the complete opposite. Kill them with kindness. Koreans hate kindness. It's not the Korean way. |
U got it.
On the rare occasion that I am already in a foul mood, they have sometimes been enough to push me over the edge and I just yelled in their faces at the top of my voice, in english. Don't even bother to speak their language if it gets to that. Way to hear a pin drop in a department store.
But usually if I sense myself getting riled I will exit the situation. |
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Paddycakes
Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:07 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe the OP's fly was down... |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:12 am Post subject: |
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| War Eagle wrote: |
| Not to mention your perceptions of people's actions are completely screwy. |
I agree that sometimes you can mispercieve someones intention, usually with things that are standard in Korea but considered rude anywhere else. eg bumping against people. Not usually any malicious intent. After years here, you come to know the difference.
But with most things... trust your gut, it doesn't usually lie. Anyone should intuitively know if someone is trying to score points off them.
Worst I saw like this was one of my waeg pals was invited to play at a soccer match. But none of his team passed the ball to him for 90 minutes. Talk about humiliated.
Ajosshis can be bitchier than a cheerleaders changing room.
Its like dallas on steroids. Result of a society obsessed with hierarchy but where fistfights are banned. |
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