Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thorin]

We had four ������ (?) from Manchuria visit our office today. I was impressed to find out they all spoke fluent Korean but all my coworkers can talk about is how they look mixed and how they have a slight Chinese accent. I'm beginning to think I'll never be accepted as a real Korean.

[peony]

awww chin up! maybe one day

(������)

[Sucker]

Prior to the Japanese takeover of Korea, a portion of what is now considered to be China was Korean territory and the people living there were Koreans. Indeed, most people living there today are still Koreans. Most Korean-Chinese come from this region and thus speak Korean as a first language.

[thorin]

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

During my Korean package trip to Beijing for Seollal 2004, most of the speakers at the various places we went to were ������. Most of the Koreans on the tour would laugh hysterically at their accents as they were talking. The guides would stop to ask if the tourists if they could understand their accent, the tourists would nod and say '��', then start laughing hysterically again as started speaking again. It was pretty disheartening as I thought the tourists would show more respect to people of the 'same' blood. I felt really sorry for the guides, having to put up with that day-in-day from arrogant South Korean tourists.

To me, the guides' accents did sound quite a bit softer and milder then the average Seoul adjoshi, and they seemed to use very polite verb endings. But it wasn't all that different and certainly wasn't anything to laugh hysterically over, not for me anyway.

On a different note, many of the ������ guides spoke decent English and I often had a brief chat with them after their speeches. They seem to be very nice, humble, genuine people.

[peony]

[tzechuk]

No offense to korean folks here but it is my understanding that Korean people tend to look down on ethnic Korean Chinese.

Someone (was it mirth or RR?) posted very recently articles about the lives of these Korean-chinese in Korea. Let me see if I can dig them up.

[Derrek]

Yeah, nothing more frustrating than trying to learn Korean and being laughed at when I speak it.

Sometimes I ask, "but did you understand me?"

"Sure, it's just funny/so cute/etc.!"

Very disheartening.



Can you imagine the fit Koreans would have (and do have) if you were to laugh at little Seung Min's English?

[tzechuk]

[Mashimaro]