Korean Job Discussion Forums

manlyboy · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:14 pm Post subject:

Ice-T: "Crime is sexy."

Very true. If women refused to sleep with criminals, there wouldn't be any crime.

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

manlyboy · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:39 pm Post subject:

skindleshanks · Joined: 10 May 2004

I've run into gangsters a couple of times (once in the sauna), and they've been quite friendly to me, trying out their English, gettin me to use whatever Korean I know, asking me if I'm scared of gangsters (I can't remember how I answered that one!).

Anyway, left me with a fairly positive impression overall.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

Interesting what is being said about the Yakuza. I worked very closely, for 15 years, with men who had came out of Triad gangs in Hong Kong. Of course, one can not quit the Triads, it is a looong story. I know of the brutality and heard it rumored that the Yakuza give respect to the Triads.
All the Triads I knew were of the street level, mostly fighters. I have no idea if they indulge in the same practice as you mentioned. I do know the the fighters are covered in Tattoos, usually of Chinese gods to protect them. I also think the Triads are more present worldwide.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

A couple of gangstas work out in my gym often, always early in the morning when nobody else is around.
I first realised hwen I noticed one in the changeing rooms- tattooed all over his back with the dragon, in a similar style to Japanese tattoo. He definitely has a very cool and confident aura about him, and works out harder than most..
I was wondering, do gangsters here have a long tradition? are they just copycats of the Japanese/western stereotype? what are the gang names, and do they kill eachother in turf wars often? What weapons do they use?

The only other Korean gangsta I knew was the husband of my girlfriend. He'd actually stabbed her one time...before fleeing abroad, she gave me his sword, a replica engraved samurai, which I promptly sold. Wether it had ever been used for any crime I have no idea.