Korean Job Discussion Forums

Kain067 · Joined: 21 May 2004

Just wondering about this. Sometimes I am. I feel like I'm "failing" in my Korean assimilation when I do. And sometimes it feels like everyone is looking at me and thinking, ah, that's right, that's exactly where we thought you'd go, that's where you belong.

But sometimes I am not. I think, Koreans form entire "Koreatowns" in America, and if that is not considered failing in any way, then surely going to a familiar restaurant to eat isn't. And I also am sometimes damn proud of the golden arches, and just what they have accomplished on a global scale. No McKim's in my home neighborhood, that's for sure.

I go to McDonald's about once a week (it is one of three Western restaurants in my entire city) and sometimes feel ashamed and sometimes don't. I can never decide what I SHOULD feel. So what about you?

Kain067 · Joined: 21 May 2004

PS - if you never go to McDonald's, then take the question as, WOULD you be ashamed to walk into a McDonald's? Why don't you go? Is it for moral reasons that you would be ashamed to go? Or do you just not like it and wouldn't be ashamed to go if you did? You can still vote if you've never stepped foot in a Mickey D's.

peppermint · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 1:15 am Post subject:

Korean assimilation? I think anyone who tries to assimilate here is doomed to failure. I don't see a reason to try to become Korean when I'm perfectly happy being a wandering Canuck.

I think we need to shoot for integration- learning enough about the culture to be able to work comfortably within it, while maintaining our identities as people and as indivuals from our home nations. When that's the goal, what someone eats seems pretty unimportant.

Edit: realized I didn't answer the question, Embarassed

I don't go to Rotten Ronnies much 'cause I don't like burgers but I do eat lots of western food. Do I feel guilty about it- not at all.

Kain067 · Joined: 21 May 2004

ummm... thanks but you didn't vote!

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I feel ashamed because it's like admitting that it's good food.

Burger King, on the other hand, I can walk into no problem.

inkoreaforgood · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Location: Inchon

Whenever I walk into a McDonalds, I think "Geez, alot of Koreans here!!".

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��

When I read the title of the thread, I was going to vote yes for the same reason as Beaver. Then I read the post and realized what the question is getting at, so I voted no.

At this point, fast food is a big part of Korean life. Eating an occasional fast food meal means that you are just like the average Korean under the age of 40.

I'm so assimilated that I actually like Lotteria.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Yes. Totally. My feeling is generally a) I don't want to look like a stereotype b) I can eat McSqueekies any time I'm living back in North America. Why eat there when I can get better cheaper food anywhere in Korea?

If I want my slab of burger meat, I will go to Burger King, however.

tomwaits · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Location: PC Bong

Ashamed is a bit strong but...yes. I think it's McDonalds specific though--I'm embarrassed to go at home..For some reason I don't feel odd going to Hardees or Subway.

As for assimilation---what you say would be true if there was a street of "Mom's Diner" and "Joe's Fish-Chip" type places. Going to Mcd's here and there is the "local" thing to do,..

desultude · Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 6:19 am Post subject:

Fast food is crap. Look at our ex-president, mid-fifties and having coronary bypass surgery. He loved McDonalds.

No, I'm not ashamed because I don't go there. "Western" food in Korea is an abomination- from Outback to McDonalds. I tell my students that to judge western food by what they get in Korea is like judging Korean food based on what we are served on Korean airlines.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

No shame in going to McDonalds. DEFINITELY no shame in choosing western clothing brands over Korean ones either. Also no shame in listening to non-Korean music. What is there really to be ashamed of? If you do something that Koreans don't approve of, they'll let you know, and since you probably aren't Korean, it will be forgiven (or at least expected) anyway.

Bunnymonster · Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Location: Tokyo

Yeah no more shame than I felt walking into a McDs back home. Still refuse to eat anything in there though.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

I prefer food.

little mixed girl · Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Location: shin hyesung's bed~

last summer i avoided mcdonalds at all costs.
not because i hate it, but because it seemed very cliche and touristy.
and also cuz there's a mcdonalds right by my house in the states.

this year i was going to do the same, but dangit if many of the ppl i was out with were lured into mcdonalds by the 300won ice cream.
it's some mighty fine ice cream.

i kinda felt the same way about burger king, but burger king is just so GOOD!!!!
i went there more times this summer than last.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

The only time I've been into mickey ds here was when I took my students there for our end of class party, and they chose the location of said party. The koreans made me do it Evil or Very Mad

In general I stay away from all western fast food here. However occasionally I go into subway or scholtzky's when I'm in itaewon. I do like a good forgein meal (whether it be western, thai, greek, middle eastern etc.) and I'm willing to pay for it so once a week I usually treat myself to good dinner out somewhere. But mostly if I'm out and need some food to eat I'm happy to eat korean.