Korean Job Discussion Forums

marsha marsha marsha

Someday when you are standing at a crosswalk and see a Korean girl carrying a shopping bag from an expensive store, peek at what she has in there. 9 times out of 10, it is her lunch or things that belong in a purse. I realized that Korean women carry around expensive bags just so people will think they have just been shopping there. Cracks me up!
One of my Korean friends, who now lives in America, once told me that she and her friends would go to the coffee shops in expensive hotels and stay for hours drinking one cup of coffee just to be seen there and so they could say they went there.
How bizarre is this behaviour, especially the bag thing? I mean are you really impressed by a person that was just shopping at Shinsegae??
Says a lot about this society...

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

In your world, do people not carry things around in plastic bags simply because it's easier than carrying the item(s) without a bag?

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

I know I rip of Korea a lot, but I do the bag thing too. It is good for fitting in, and all the locals know that 9 out of 10 times, it is nothing important in the bag too. fashion, fashion, fashion.

steroidmaximus · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: GangWon-Do

I trigged on to the bag thing my first year in. . .now I do it as well. I still have bags from Beanpole and Tiffiny's, stuff bought almost a year ago.

Homer · Guest

Is this a big deal or a "comment on the society"?

Thats a a bit much. Perhaps they carry stuff in there because its more practical.
People keep plastic bags you know, they use them for their lunches a lot.
didn't know a lunch belonged in a purse...must be one of those over sized purses then.

marsha marsha marsha · Posted: Sat May 17, 2003 4:09 pm Post subject: The point...

They aren't carrying around Grand Mary or EMart bags. It is the label they are trying to show off. I do not go to an expensive shop and then keep the bag so I can make people think I have just been shopping there. To use any old bag is one thing but to carry one as a social status thing is an entirely different matter.

Canuck · Joined: 05 Apr 2003

Thats the difference. They carry nice bags, you probably dont care if you look like a slob so you carry an old plastic bag. The REAL question is why YOU have a problem with trying to look good.

marsha marsha marsha · Posted: Sat May 17, 2003 4:42 pm Post subject: Ah dude

Canuck, you need to step off. You don't even know me. I was making a freakin innocent comment about a subject I had recently discussed with my Korean friends who admitted to doing this and in hindsight (after moving to a western country) thought it was quite stupid on their part.

My handbags are nice thank you very much.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I carry around two "Hong Kong Duty-Free" airport bags in the subway and cough a lot.

I usually get the seat I want.

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Canuck · Joined: 05 Apr 2003

Why is that? Would you rather see them walking around with a black plastic bag? If they put an effort into trying to look nice, why would they carry around an ugly bag? It seems that the people who have huge issues with Korean women's appearance are the frumpy North American slobs. Just cause brown socks and sandals are a fashion rage in Canada or ugly tights and dirty sneakers being the fashion rage in Amerrica, doesnt mean people all over the world should shoot for the slob look.

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Good looking bags don't necessarily say "Prada" on them. If all they were interested in were a pleasant appearance you'd see textile and leather bags used to haul around lunch. This is all about showing that you shop someplace that's expensive; and that is pretentiousness.