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A Foreigner's Experience in Korea
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peppermint



Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:16 pm    Post subject: Re: A Foreigner's Experience in Korea Reply with quote

Mashimaro wrote:

I know full well there is xenophobia and racism in korea BUT
there might be a logical explanation for the person being refused an 'electronics item' in the OP. If by chance the person was trying to buy a cell phone, then I believe a foreigner can't register for a phone on their own..


I've had a cell phone contract in my own name since 2002, and there's been a mountain of posts about where the best places to get one are. I think the rules for foreigners here are loosening, gradually but it's just lip service if people either arent' informed or insist on adhereing to the old discriminatory rules.
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pet lover



Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Location: not in Seoul

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This post serves no purpose.

Last edited by pet lover on Sun Feb 20, 2005 5:31 am; edited 1 time in total
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kimchikowboy



Joined: 24 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know there is some racism as I've been refused entry into clubs in the past as well. But there are also logical explanations for the instances cited. Someone has already mentioned that galbi places typically cater to groups (some places make you order at least two, sometimes three portions minimum). So that might be a cause.
As for the electrical dillemma, it might also be a case of language problems. The person might have been trying to say that the electronic device wouldn't work in America because of plug and power differences.
And Koreans laugh when they are embarrassed, so if one demands to see the manager and the Korean doesn't understand, the person would probably laugh out of nervousness.
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Swiss James



Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

they laugh as an apology too and to try and calm someone down if they're angry too.
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chiaa



Joined: 23 Aug 2003

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like the no meat thing. That is funny.

Knowing this country...They might have not actually had any meat and could not comprehend that they could have gotten some across the street.Rolling Eyes


Schlozkys had no turkey for many weeks.

BK a couple of times didnt have any whopper patties.

The list can go on and on.


http://www.whatthebook.com[/url]
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dogbert



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't you ever run out of books?
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chiaa



Joined: 23 Aug 2003

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

dogbert wrote:
Don't you ever run out of books?


All the damn time...
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Wangja



Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 4:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Never happened to me in 6 years.
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Teufelswacht



Joined: 06 Sep 2004
Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The in-laws run a restaurant and have fresh meat delivered every morning. The meat that is delivered is used the same day. Sometimes they run out of meat when they have had more customers on a particular day than they had anticipated. I have personally watched them turn away many Korean customers over the years when they ran out of meat. Could they run down the street and get more meat? Sure. But why? Running out of meat is the best darn excuse for being able to close early when they have busted their butts all day and half the night.

I am not saying that the "meat" incident wasn't what the poster described. It's just that I have seen many Koreans turned away from a restaurant for the same reason.
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captain kirk



Joined: 29 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It happens periodically. The people are just being beeps. I prefer to leave it at that, a localized thing. They'd want you to be as miserable as possible and hate them, hopefully 'all Korea' back. That's the kind of beeps such mischevious poopoo heads can be sometimes. Smile Flush and move on.
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jurassic5



Joined: 02 Apr 2003
Location: PA

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
In the midst of these contradictions, I must say, I am quite confused as to what this country really wants. Does it want to be a sophisticated and cosmopolitan member of the international community and the host to many hubs of foreign commerce or does it want to close its doors to the world, like North Korea has done for the past half century, and become a frog, so to speak, in an isolated well? The choice obviously has to be made by the people of this country.

Editorial from above

what Cho Se-hyon wrote is very true. i enjoyed reading this article.

yeah, there's nothing like getting charged more at an "american" style hip-hop club because we're foreigners. i always ask the doormen if they would charge snoop, dre, and eminem the same price as they are charing me...
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pecan



Joined: 01 Jul 2004

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:57 pm    Post subject: Two-tiered pricing... Reply with quote

Korea does not have the monopoly on two-tiered pricing. It is global!

In the states, we have a local price and a tourist price. Most companies these days get away with it by offering "memberships" or by giving "benefits" to frequent customers. Practically every rail company offers 5% or more to people with a membership and more to the elderly. Senior citizens in the states get quite a break on pricing, but you do not hear people complaining about "age" discrimination. Frequent fliers or people with great travel agents get better prices than those that do not fly as often, but you do not hear people complaining about it.

What is your deal?

Do you close your eyes to how things work outside of Korea, so you can conveniently whine about how things are unfair here when they are really not much different from the rest of the world?

Nut
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casey's moon



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

At the risk of agreeing with Pecan, I actually find that Korea tends to be less into two-tier pricing than most countries. Also, for every incident of a foreigner being treated badly because of their foreignness (not a word, but should be), there is another story of the opposite.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it isn't particularly prevalent.

I was once refused entry to a nightclub (probably better for me in the end anyway, as I hate those places) and was FURIOUS. It was in Gunsan, which has an American military base, and I guess there had been some incidents. BUT, refusing me on the basis of "No -- Korean only," was despicable and racist to me. But that was almost 3 years ago, and I only remember it now because of this thread. A second incident hasn't occurred.

How many times have I been given something extra just because I made an effort to speak in Korean in the market? How many people are just beaming to see my husband and I come back to their restaurant?

It's strange to me that one person (the article from the OP) had so many experiences involving serious prejudice in Korea.
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Wangja



Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 4:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

casey's moon wrote:
At the risk of agreeing with Pecan, I actually find that Korea tends to be less into two-tier pricing than most countries. Also, for every incident of a foreigner being treated badly because of their foreignness (not a word, but should be), there is another story of the opposite.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it isn't particularly prevalent.

I was once refused entry to a nightclub (probably better for me in the end anyway, as I hate those places) and was FURIOUS. It was in Gunsan, which has an American military base, and I guess there had been some incidents. BUT, refusing me on the basis of "No -- Korean only," was despicable and racist to me. But that was almost 3 years ago, and I only remember it now because of this thread. A second incident hasn't occurre

How many times have I been given something extra just because I made an effort to speak in Korean in the market? How many people are just beaming to see my husband and I come back to their restaurant?

It's strange to me that one person (the article from the OP) had so many experiences involving serious prejudice in Korea.


Pretty much the same for me (except for the "Night Club" thingee) .... having lived and worked in 15 countries I have to say that this is the warmest and most welcoming I have found. Every effort I make to speak Korean makes me believe that the listener thinks I must be a brain scientist to have worked it out .... and yes the great number of kindesses and items of "service" over the years is unmatched in any other country of which I have experience.

Viva Korea ....
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pet lover



Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Location: not in Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This post serves no purpose.

Last edited by pet lover on Sun Feb 20, 2005 5:30 am; edited 1 time in total
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