Korean Job Discussion Forums

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

I find that Koreans seem to be split 50/50 when it comes to helping a foreigner.

Half look terriffied and run away (i see this as due to the language barrier rather than them not wanting to help)

The other half not only help me but SHOW me precisely where to go or what to do.

I'm blown away by the lengths some people here will go to help a waigook. Tonight I missed the last train home.So one Korean person walked me to the bus station. Then another couple not only told me which bus to get but WAITED with me, missing their bus to ensure I got on ok.

This attitude would never last in London.

I have my fair share of Ajosshi evils but things like this make me really reatful of korean people on the whole.

Also my korean mate got up at 1.30 to pay for my taxi as my card stops working after 10pm. It was only 4,000 won but it was a life saver. What should I get him as thanks?

spidey112233 · Joined: 21 Jul 2005

2 bottles of soju Very Happy

Hagwon Muppet · Joined: 18 Mar 2003

NearlyKorean · Joined: 15 Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ

They are not all bad. They are not all good either (I don't think the op was saying that) Just like anywhere, some are good and some are bad...

I do find some high on talk and low on action. Generally speaking Koreans are friendly and will try to help a foriegner.

KiteOperations · Joined: 09 Jul 2005

sweet.
uhmm, give a hug.

Hagwon Muppet · Joined: 18 Mar 2003

peony · Joined: 30 Mar 2005

take him out to dinner or a beer, i think thats the best repayment for a favor

babtangee · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 10:11 am Post subject:

peony · Joined: 30 Mar 2005

kermo · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:26 pm Post subject:

I saw an incident yesterday night that made me think of y'all.

It was early evening, and I was in a bar with a few friends. A very young girl was prancing around the entrance as we paid for the drinks. She noticed one of my friends, who is very rotund (especially by Korean standards) and started to point and jeer at her in a sort of roar. My friend hadn't noticed yet, so I imitated her, and roared back in a friendly way (hoping to distract her).

Just then, another buddy (a former weightlifter with a shaved head and "vacation beard") looked over my shoulder, and roared again. This one sent her scuttling back to her parents, laughing as she ran.

I watched as she spoke to them and pointed to us. She must have been making some comment about the freaky waegooks because both of them took a swat at her posterior and scolded her. Then they looked at us, smiled and bobbed their heads.

My first thought was: Aw, how nice of them to teach her some manners on behalf of us foreigners.
My second thought was: I bet those folks at Dave's don't hear enough about parents who make this sort of effort.

mount real · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Koreans are great but I don't like the church-going ones....too many lies and issues. Same for the foreigners who do that too. (Cue the judgemental Christians!)

ed4444 · Joined: 12 Oct 2004

I think the further into the countryside you go the more helpful Korean people become.

There is a xenophobic first reaction but after they realise you are not planning on kidnapping people for experiments in your UFO, they are extremely kind and helpful. Especially the ajummas.

One of my best memories in Korea was standing at a bus stop in the middle of a heavy rainy season downpour without an umbrella. An old woman from a nearby house opened her door and saw my drowned sad self. She said something and wandered back into her house.

One Minute later she reappeared with an umbrella and insisted I take it. I am not sure that would happen often at home.

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

We all have stories about rude Koreans, but I'm really glad someone put up this thread. Overall, I've been treated more kindly by people here than anywhere else in the word.

I remember when I was new in Korea. One day I was standing on a packed subway with a heavy bag. A grandmother who was sitting down gently took my bag from me and rested it on her lap for the duration of my trip. I was stunned! It's a simple gesture that I'm sure has happened to almost everyone here at least once (it's happened several times since), but it really made a difference to me for that trip. It also opened my eyes to the kindness of people here. Yes, there are some rude, pushy ajummas and some stinky dirty ajosshies... but there are a lot more very kind people who will go the extra mile (or sometimes many extra miles) to help you.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Agreed. It's good to have a clear-eyed thread like this sneak its way in here, until the next guy shows up in a bad mood and decides to project his issues onto the whole Korean population.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

On the bus to Seoul the other day a young Phillipino guy got on but all he had was manwon and the bus driver was angry and going to throw him off because he didnt have anything smaller. A young Korean woman(college aged) paid the 800 won fare and refused his money when he tried to give her manwon.

At the post office yesterday I was mailing a large package of souveniers and stuff back home and the postal worker was having some difficulty figuring out what he had to do. I laughed and told him not to worry about it.( I ended up filling out the wrong form twice and the third time was the right one) He was apologetic and gave me a gift from a box behind the counter, toothpaste and a toothbrush...I thought "what a nice thing to do"

I think it all depends on the person but on the whole I find most Koreans to be kind people.