Korean Job Discussion Forums

mike in brasil · Joined: 09 Jun 2003

My friend is African American and also wants to work in Korea.

Are Caucasian foreigners treated differently than the Brothers?

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

desultude · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 3:36 pm Post subject:

It depends on the circumstances and location. We have a couple of black instructors here where I teach in Taegu, and, aside from even more staring than we white folks get, they have been treated fine. I teach at a university.

There is an African man here from our university who has learned Korean so fluently that he now has a local television show. He is treated as a celebrity.

The racism experienced in the U.S. and abroad is under-estimated, and that here is over-estimated. But the reality is that Korea is not the most open society, and in the countryside sometimes it feels like people have never seen a real live non-korean. Also, I understand that racism is worse in Seoul, and that it is worse in Hogwans with children.

But I would wait to hear from some of the Black posters here at Dave's before coming to a conclusion.

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

Scorpio is right on the money.And that stuff about National Geographic and bone through the nose...very funny(well, NOT REALLY. of course)Unfortunately,what he says is regrettably very true.Racism is not at all limited to WASP society in the US. It is an ugly phenomenon in various parts of the world.I remember one comment from an(otherwise) nice native here"Oh,THEM! Well, it has not been too long since they came down out of the trees!" So you get the idea.Scorpio hit the nail right on the head.There may be some isolated exceptions here and there.... but VERY isolated.Yes,it IS VERY UGLY! And then they lecture Americans sometimes about being "racists"! The hypocrisy is the hardest part of all... Rolling Eyes

Dude Love · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

Most schools wouldn't hire black people. But mine has three and they're just as popular as the other teachers. People must remember that people are more likely to moan about a bad situation that to celebrate a good one. Tell your soul brother buddy to give it a shot. Have him line up a job before coming. If he doesn't like it, he can leave. It's just that simple.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

There's a rather length thread on this

Here
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=3523

and also a current one in the Q and A section
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=5362

CLG