Korean Job Discussion Forums

coolsage

I realize that phenomena such as the change of seasons, traffic on the streets, pedestrians on the sidewalks, other people occupying the same elevator/escalator/subway seem to come as a perpetual surprise to the locals, but surely their ancient lore has prepared them for the oncoming of ...the Sun. No doubt their ancestors didn't possess plastic bookboxes to shield them from those nasty rays. (The ajumas have it down; with the visors and the waddle, they resemble ducks off to a feeding.) But what is up with the younger women, who, frankly, would look sexier sporting a pair of Ray-Bans than clutching a chunk of plastic or paper over their little eyes? Is there some cultural caveat about shielding one's eyes from the sun in such a blatant manner as to be effective? Did Confucious have something to say on this topic? I'm mighty curious.

MissCanada · Joined: 26 Jul 2004

I love the "ajumma visor". I think everyone should wear one, even the young girls. I'll stick with my sunglasses.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

It's their entire face they want shielded. Besides, it would be far less comedic... Wink

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Even the males don't wear shades. That's something I can't figure out. Every block has 2 optical stores and half the store is devoted to sunglasses. But do Koreans were sunglasses?

My gf bought a pair and actually wears them. She bloodly well spent $300 on them too. I couldn't believe it. A female friend wears them regularly. But in general, it's rare to see.

I've got little clip ons for my glasses. My students seem amazed by this invention. Freaks them right out.

PolyChronic Time Girl · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Location: Korea Exited

This is something I heard, just heard, so don't shoot the messenger: women in Korea don't wear sunglasses because SUPPOSEDLY it is risque and not considered "appropriate"....men will get the wrong impression if they wear them on the streets because it used to be the sign of a prostitute. Again, I heard this from a Korean female friend who warned me not to wear my sunglasses....but then again, maybe she was just simply jealous of my cool specs Cool

winnie · Joined: 08 May 2005 Location: the forest

I think there is much truth to what was said by another poster....the whole face has to be WHITE.....everyone needs whitening sauce-uh.

Funny, I had gotten a tan last week(by sitting on my apt roof, GASP), and some students told me my face looked "a little black" or burned....so I explained in greater detail.

But I never wear sunglasses, I just feel too self-conscious...like something huge is on my face....same goes for hats...weird thing I have. I don't like to draw any attention to myself.

My bf wheres shades all the time, and the K-teachers told him he looked like a bus driver....(associated with lower class/blue collar maybe?) Confused

PolyChronic Time Girl · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Location: Korea Exited

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Hmmm... I wear sunglasses. My k-husband wears sunglasses ALL THE TIME. No one's ever said that he looked like a bus driver or anything.. but then again, his sunglasses are brown not black... and ray ban, so may be that makes a difference?

I think the younger generation wear sunglasses.. I have k-friends who wear shades.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

A few Korean dudes/dudettes wear those big, pop-singer, orange/yellow sunglasses if they think they're a bit hot in the looks department.

peppermint · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:41 pm Post subject:

My co-teacher complimented me on mine the other day, so maybe your friend is just a bit old school, PCTG?

natemk · Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Location: center field

Weird. I see a ton of Koreans (men and women) wearing sunglasses in Gwangju.

I just dont understand why they wear them to the bars? So many people wear them. Back home they would be heckled for such things.

canadian_in_korea · Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Location: South Korea

I've heard two reasons why they don't wear sunglasses....1...if you hide your eyes you are being sneaky or trying to hide something....the second...is simply that the korean side profile isn't complimented by sunglasses....my husband was always fascinated when I wore sunglasses....seeing as how most korean people will tell you when something doesn't look good, perhaps korean women have been told this often..?

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

this thread was done 2 years ago: Darth Visor

harryh · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: south of Seoul

My girlfriend doesn't wear sunglasses as her nose is tiny and they slide down..... poor girl. She hates sunglasses!

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004

Not many Koreans wear sunglasses, and even the ones who do, wear those pale, see-through ones.

I believe it all has to do with the Korean cultural ethos of nunchi, "eye measure." That is, being able to sense another person's kibun, or mood\state of mind.

If you can't see someone's eyes, it's hard to get a good nunchi on a person.

So, hiding your eyes behind sunglasses is the height of rudness in Korea.