Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

Rapiers The dating "chaperone" phenomenon thread got me thinking.

This is a bit of a generalisation, but I'm starting to think that a lot of people who stay in Korea tend to be a bit more socially conservative (although I realise that there are plenty of liberal posters out there).

Ie. they tend to have issues with the whole social revolutions that happened in the west in the late 60s and 70s and thus find korean society an attractive hark back to pre second wave feminism, civil rights era. I find comments like the ones in that thread, that k girls haven't been polluted by that damn feminism etc. an interesting take on things.

Perhaps more of it has to do with being raised by former hippies in a fairly liberal nation, new zealand so perhaps Korea has broadened my horizons in terms of meeting people with different personal philsophies. Then I was exposed to back home.

[paperbag princess]

i do think that the expats who stay are more conservative, as anyone who is more liberal will run away screaming after a while. i know that i won't be able to take much more of this wretched place.

[kangnamdragon]

The conservative culture of Korea is a big part of why I stay here. The liberal teachers come and go, but I think it is hard for them to really integrate into Korean society. I don't see how I could relate to my coworkers if I were a liberal. I actually think the younger generation in Korea is becomming too liberal, but they are certainly not as bad as people in the States. There seems to big a generation gap between myself and Koreans who are 10 years younger. Most Korean friends my age did not grow up learning English, yet younger people I have met have been too influenced by western culture.

maybe do a poll for those who have been here over 5 years...I am definately more conservative than most teachers I meet. I am tired of so many Kerry supporters telling me not to forget to vote. They don't even realize that it is possible I would vote for Bush. Most Americans I meet here just assume everyone is more liberal, from what I have seen.

[captain kirk]

I kind of took more to my Grandparents than my parents, and I get their 'vibe' from the old ways, conservative, honour-bound folk in Korea. It's a good point that the new generation might be too liberal. Lots of live for the moment consumer-oriented money talks and makes good times thinking there. But the down to the earth set remind me of my Grandparents. Modest, straight talking, old rules, law and order. Natural. Yes, I like it. Safe and can do my own thing. Compared to a free-thinking place, both the old set and the new 'hedonism' both don't cut it. Can 'unfold' inward, but not really outward, socially. To be able to do that would be the benefit of leaving here. Then again 'the world' is one's circle of friends. The Eye recently said, re; Kwanjuchicken's 'kidnapping', he always thought Koreans were big on drama and short on action, and maybe that's changing.

[Manner of Speaking]

I don't think a skeptical opinion of feminism and a conservative view of the world need to walk in lockstep with each other.

[Zed]

It's hard for anyone to integrate into Korean society, KD.
Don't you feel you'll always be on the outside looking in no matter what you do here? (And yes, I realise that there are many other cultures that are like that.)

[indytrucks]

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[FUBAR]

I've been here for a few years, and don't see myself as being conservative. Most of my political views are pretty liberal which can make for some pretty interesting times at home when I get together with some my well off convservative relatives.

However, I think that if you sleep with somebody on the first date, you and her are "slutty". Spin it anyway you want, but that is my opinion. I will save that debate for the other thread.

[matthewwoodford]

I'd like to think you need to be broad-minded and independent to stay here, and being broad-minded strikes me as a liberal quality, but then people mean many different things by 'liberal' and 'conservative'.

I think the OP has a good point though, and the people she's talking about are generally people I can't stand.

[panthermodern]

In my experience; such that is it is: Foreigners who stay in Korea for the long term are very individualistic and were most likely the types who did not work and play well with others in the real world.

Or, they are married to a Korean national.

That's my opinion ...

[jaderedux]

Hmmm? Been here four years. Screaming Liberal or better liberatarian (sp) as it were. Socially anyway. Free speech fanatic. 2nd Amendment proponent. (Yes I love my guns) Prefer that government "ain't" the only folks with firepower. (Don't start whining and flaming it is my opinion and I don't expect everyone to agree with it .) The government can keep their hands and laws off my ovaries. George Bush is a danger too all I hold dear. Drugs aren't the problem....the laws are the problem. Prefer pot smokers to drinkers any day. We done lost the war on drugs Bubba!

Okay that being said I find the random hookups and casual attitude toward sex among some expats scary. I was raised that one should respect your body. Your body isn't a toy or something to give away to scratch an itch. Of course that is just me. Sex is so intensely personal why would you want to get naked with a virtual stranger is completely beyond my comprehension....but again that is a personal choice.

I am conservative with my person and body. Very very Liberal about other things. (shrug) Don't know if it is an easy classification.

Jade

[peemil]

Should read... "Are people who stay here insane?"

[kangnamdragon]

[kangnamdragon]