Korean Job Discussion Forums

Stain · Joined: 08 Jan 2014

waterbob"]Dave's really has gone downhill. Spliff regularly trolled so much better with just one obnoxiously unhelpful sentence. Now we get massively unreadable blobs of text.[/quote]
Yeah you should know about trolling. I've only stated what I experienced in Canada and somehow that's trolling and unreadable. You are clearly disturbed and twisted since you get off on slighting others for no reason. How pathetic. And by the looks of your profile pic you are....[/quote]

Jondo, you sure told him. How does it feel to win?

chellovek · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

I thought the interesting aspect of the post, if it's not a troll, is that the angry husband was saying "Where are you from? Where are you from? I'm from Korea!" etc. As if being from Korea confers some special status in that particular place and situation.

rkc76sf · Joined: 02 Nov 2008

coralreefer_1 · Joined: 19 Jan 2009

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Having spent well over 20 years here, I've found that:

1. You can indeed put your head down and just go. Most useful lesson I learned my first 6 months here. The biggest person wins. If you do get bumped into, and that'll happend less than you'd think, apologies all around and drive on. It's crowded.

But, having said this, you ARE expected to be on the watch for preoccupied people moving, turning around, etc. There is no western concept of 'Watch where you're going.' Unfortunately, this also apparently extends to driving.

2. It often helps to simply ask, 'Didn't you see the line?' Or to say loud enough for others to hear, 'Let's not cut in line." And smile when you say it.

3. In crowded places where a lot of people are waiting, I've had fun by just saying, 'Wow, ALL these people are waiting and you (or your group) just plan(s) on getting in now? Wow!'

In general, even though Koreans don't like this behaviour either, they will not get into it in public, and if they do, well, refer to the reaction of your 'rude' wife's hubby. It went past a potential bump and tray spill to a matter of face. There's an exression in Korean that goes, 'People die because of face.' ALWAYS speak in the politest Korean, and ALWAYS nail them hard if they don't (unless they happen to be a LOT older than you, but, at any rate, in that instance, you shouldn't be having the conversation to begin with because you're wrong by default).

You could say that it's built into the culture based on coming up the hard way when even the basics were tough to come by. Waiting = Go hungry. Add to this the majority of kids brought up in single child households who, correspondingly, now think that the world revolves around them.

But, in the end, it's a cultural difference. If you find yourself asking, "WHY DON'T THEY....?' or 'WHY DO THEY HAVE TO ALWAYS...?' it's a sign that you're perceiving everything, or at least the isolated event, through your own cultural glasses. Welcome to culture shock. It helps to study the subject a bit to learn a few ways to help ease the transition. It's a never ending process.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Having spent well over 20 years here, I've found that:

1. You can indeed put your head down and just go. Most useful lesson I learned my first 6 months here. The biggest person wins. If you do get bumped into, and that'll happend less than you'd think, apologies all around and drive on. It's crowded.

But, having said this, you ARE expected to be on the watch for preoccupied people moving, turning around, etc. There is no western concept of 'Watch where you're going.' Unfortunately, this also apparently extends to driving.

2. It often helps to simply ask, 'Didn't you see the line?' Or to say loud enough for others to hear, 'Let's not cut in line." And smile when you say it.

3. In crowded places where a lot of people are waiting, I've had fun by just saying, 'Wow, ALL these people are waiting and you (or your group) just plan(s) on getting in now? Wow!'

In general, even though Koreans don't like this behaviour either, they will not get into it in public, and if they do, well, refer to the reaction of your 'rude' wife's hubby. It went past a potential bump and tray spill to a matter of face. There's an exression in Korean that goes, 'People die because of face.' ALWAYS speak in the politest Korean, and ALWAYS nail them hard if they don't (unless they happen to be a LOT older than you, but, at any rate, in that instance, you shouldn't be having the conversation to begin with because you're wrong by default).

You could say that it's built into the culture based on coming up the hard way when even the basics were tough to come by. Waiting = Go hungry. Add to this the majority of kids brought up in single child households who, correspondingly, now think that the world revolves around them.

But, in the end, it's a cultural difference. If you find yourself asking, "WHY DON'T THEY....?' or 'WHY DO THEY HAVE TO ALWAYS...?' it's a sign that you're perceiving everything, or at least the isolated event, through your own cultural glasses. Welcome to culture shock. It helps to study the subject a bit to learn a few ways to help ease the transition. It's a never ending process.

And, yes, you should break your writing up into pararaphs even on an on-line forum. Not snarky, just common sense that should be accepted as good advice.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:30 pm Post subject:

Me, I refuse to kowtow to people on account of cultural differences on a matter as simple as walking down the damn sidewalk or hallway. I can play ball with most anything else but not the walking. I've gotten to the point where I will put the ball back in their court and stick out a strategically aimed elbow. I don't invade their space by doing so, it's just positioned to discourage a person from plowing into me. Now it's up to them if they want an elbow to the face or not.

I try walking on the left, people walk on the right. Switch to right, they switch to left. Get a bit dynamic, everyone stonewalls to the point where I might as well just play hopscotch.

And not to defend OP or anything but...

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I mentioned 'western' because of the OP. Still, China (and Hong Kong) aren't here, so, there again, you have cultural differences.

Concerning being on the watch all the while? Once you've been here a while, it's not something you dwell on, it's something that comes stress free.

At any rate, different people handle things in different ways. I just threw my point of view out there. No worries.

wonkavite62 · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Location: Jeollanamdo, South Korea.

Where should I begin? You don't mention why you live in Seoul, whether, it's teaching or business-related, but some jobs can be stressful, and add to the stress of living in a big city like Seoul. Seoul can be exciting too, but that's another issue. Being of Korean origin means you may have been exposed to some aspects of Korean culture, and I presume the language. But culture shock is still possible. Don't underestimate that.
I have had some quite good experiences here, however. So, I remember talking to a group of backpackers in Thailand. I was having a great time. I met this girl who said she was Korean American, and we chatted. She says her Korean relatives could not conceive why anyone would want to leave home and go backpacking for 6 months, like she did. It would mean falling behind in the social struggle! She might miss out on work, and lose money!
She spoke of the stress her wealthy Korean relatives, from Gangnam, would put themselves through, and in her eyes, it was just not worthwhile to live long-term in Korea. She explained all the exam pressure was focussed on getting into just 2 or 3 top Korean universities-and most people fail at this. She herself was a graduate of Georgetown University, so had done rather well. For her the USA was just far easier to deal with.
I have known culture shock myself. Try to find enjoyable easy activities to do while you are here. Instead of fretting too much when something goes wrong, try to let go and do something you like. Set attainable targets. Don't assume success. And try to do cultural stuff, and social activities with Koreans or foreigners. I always thought certain western pubs in Itaewon were a good place to unwind.

Died By Bear · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 10:21 am Post subject:

There's a very well known Korean expression that goes along the lines of: "Don't let yourself get dirtied by shit when dealing with shit people" or something like that - keep that in mind when you find yourself having to stoop to their level. It's hard to avoid sometimes, and we've all been guilty of allowing at least one or two of the annoyances get to us at one time or another.