Korean Job Discussion Forums

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Do you lump all Koreans together?

Do you like to make broad statements about the stupidity of all Koreans based on the actions of a few?

I do sometimes.

Then I remember that there are 45,000,000 Koreans, and only 30,000,000 Canadians, and I don't often lump Canadians.

I also have more sympathy for Koreans when I think that 150% of the population of Canada is living in a land area smaller than Nova Scotia and New Brunswick put together.

Can you imagine how hard it would be to fly out of Halifax in July, or get a decent spot on a beach during the same period, if 45,000,000 people lived in the Maritimes? Yikes.

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

marista99 · Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Location: Incheon

By contrast, New York City has a density of about 19,000 people per sq km. The state of Massachusetts is 232/sq km. California, 83 per sq km.

So Korea is crowded, but definitely not the most crowded place on earth Very Happy

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Seoul and Kyonggi do would bring that poplation density a bit higher for sure! Half the country's people on 10% or less of its land.

Also think how much of Newfoundland and all of Canada is empty and uninhabitable.

Still the amount of space there and lack of it here is one of the (if not THE) big differences.

Bangladesh, India, China.... anyone?

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

chi-chi · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

mods you may delete

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

I used to do this "lumping" and I justified it by the way Koreans are so homogenous in body and mind.

There was a time when the majority of Koreans DID think and act alike, and that is the way they wanted it. A very 'conformist' society, facilitating "lumping", nay, encouraging it themselves. No "�մ�" please!!! Group mentality prevailed.

I had many years of classes with 30~40 year-old ajoomas who would preface every opinion they gave with "Well, Koreans think like this..." or "In Korea, we...."

Even students of all ages have frequently given me such a response. At least something to the tune of "Everyone in Korea does this" or "Everyone in Korea says this"

I really though these were self-"lumping" statements, so I did it too.

Over the last couple of years, I have seen the changes going on in Korea. Even since I came here in '96 things have changed greatly in regard to individualism.

I try not to "lump" them together anymore, although with the older generations, cetain attitudes and behavior are prevalent and predictable...dunno if this is fertile "lumping" grounds, but it often feels like it.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Kwangjuchicken