Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mercury]

Now I have traveld quite a bit. I have observed people, cultures, big countries, small countries. What I cannot figure out is the insecurity that goes on here in Korea. Last night I was having a beer, minding my own business, there was a table of Korean men behind me with some girls. One comes over and pours me some beer, and invites me over to arm wrestle him. I smile, say no, he insists. I go over, win, go back to my table. Soon the whole table of guys is coming over trying to get me to arm wrestle them. I beat 3 guys, my wrist is worn out, I smile, go back to my beer, the first guy I beat comes over and says "one more".


This is not the only thing. I have never heard so many people fish for compliments! When I was in Rome I never heard "do you like pizza, isn't it delicious". Mexicans never brag about tacos........"senior, do you like tacos, oh, isn't it spicy......." French people never ask me if I like "French cuisine" Not even in the Philippines!

I have never met anyone in a country that wears their feelings on their sleeves as much as they do here. If I complain about one thing, the person turns into a DEFENDER OF KOREA. They get angry, try to explain, I recently told a teacher that I wish Korea had a water system where we could drink the water. The teacher got all upset. She said "you do not understand the history of Korea, they could not make water system because of war, and we had invaders" I was like "what?"

And so, there is the one side of having the mentality of a victim here. We are poor, we were oppressed, we need special treatment, we are small country.etc.............

On the other hand they want to beat ANYBODY, at ANYGAME, and if they win they are in your face! I have a Canadian friend who told me that Koreans were really gloating the fact that they won so many gold medals at the last olympic games and Canada did not. My friend told me that he really did not care if Canada won or lost, but the Korean neighbor of his was crying when the American gymnest won the gold medal! Actually crying!


What is it with the people here? I have been to the Bahamas, the people are secure, cool, great people. Australians are confident, cool. The English, the Irish, the Thais, the Kenyens, the Japanese, this is the only group of people that seems to really need such recognition. Even a friendly game of pool becomes a spectacular contest down the street at the pool room. Geezzzzzzzzzzzz, I like competition, but too much can make a person crazy.

I

[Real Reality]

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
Overall living conditions, including education, housing, medical care, transportation, immigration, and access to the Internet are pointed to as inconveniences. Not only inconveniences caused by different systems and customs in Korea, but also special discriminating practices, such as the practice of submitting two years of monthly rent in advance like a deposit, which is required of foreigners just because they are foreigners, are ubiquitous. "Even though Korea has achieved some degree of globalization in going abroad, it has still a long way to go for globalization in embracing foreigners inward," said foreigners residing in Korea.

An official in the International Cooperation Division of Seoul City admitted, "The same complaints regarding visas, transportation, education, and environment are raised every year without being solved, due to the lack of cooperation from government agencies involved and their passive attitudes."
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

Do You Need Therapy?
Professor Chey would like Koreans to "look inside" and explore their inner worlds. When she returned from the United States nine years ago, she noticed a lot of anger and stress in Seoul. "Koreans tend to think the problem is caused by someone else, that it does not lie within the Self," she said. Just about every Korean suffers from soul-deadening mental, physical or emotional tiredness.

"But first of all we must do complete self-examination. Our history testifies that Korean people have lacked serious self-examination," Professor Rhee Dong-shick explained. Due to political hard times, dirty money and competition people feel that they are not being treated nicely.
by Lizette Potgieter, Korea Times
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/200403/kt2004031817153511680.htm

According to a recent survey, as many as 90 percent of Korea's youth think they live in a country that's corrupt, and a considerable number of them say they're ready to join the club if the occasions calls for it later in life. Our society has become rotten to the core. Unnecessary regulations should be reduced, and bureaucrats should be given less authority to interpret the law.
Chosun Ilbo
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200310/200310080034.html

[Swiss James]

oh christ, you've set RR off now

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[eamo]

The arm wrestling thing is funny because I've seen that scenario so often.

[Swiss James]

I agree that Koreans feel they have a lot to prove, and yeah they are kind of insecure- maybe getting less so though, I remember a few years ago people would regularly ask me whether I thought Korea was a third world country, haven't had that question in a long time.

On a side note, none of the guys in my office can beat me at arm wrestling now, and boy do I rub it in their faces every time we drink together.

[Gwangjuboy]

If they do well at sport they lack any grace.

[Deconstructor]

Koreans are insecure only when dealing with Westerners. This is partly because they�ve romanticized the West and the English language to the point of absurdity. Furthermore, Koreans are new to the modern world; their economy is only 30 years old. I think they're still going through growing pains. Have you listened to their music? It is so nauseatingly romantic, that one wants to bash either the radio or one's own head. Have you noticed how shy Koreans are? It will disappear as they become as cutthroat in capitalism as we are.

I notice certain childish innocence about Koreans, which, I think is the result of inexperience. They�ll grow out of it. On the other hand, maybe they shouldn�t. It�s not like what we�ve achieved in the West is so desirable.

[jajdude]

It is strange. Well I understand a little korean. And I hear conversation shifts due to my presence. Waygook appears, and you hear conversation shift. I'd call that insecurity. Or perhaps a county that is simply not so interactive with Earth.

My guess: 99% of Koreans need 99% Korean everything 99% OF THE TIME.

[mindmetoo]

Another reason Koreans remind me of Canadians. "Oh, isn't Canada great? Don't you notice how safe it is, not dangerous like America. Yeah, Canada is great..."

[Hollywoodaction]

[Tiger Beer]

[casey's moon]

[manlyboy]

I have had/seen this exact same conversation several times:

Westerner: Koreans are very sensitive.

Korean: WE ARE NOT! WE ARE NOT!

Westerner: Look at you. You're being sensitive right now.

Korean: (pauses) YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND US!

[Sooke]