Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lao Wai]

Hey there,

I'm curious as to what many of you think about Korean home decorating or style. In Canada and the U.S., the networks have been taken over by home decoration/renovation shows. So, it seems to be what people are talking a lot about nowadays.

When I lived in Korea (Busan) a couple of years ago, I found that Koreans don't really pay much attention to the aesthetics of their homes...on the inside, or on the outside. Now, obviously if you live in a huge apartment complex it's hard to do anything about the outside of your house, but even the houses I saw looked pretty crappy on the outside. I mean, I always thought "would putting some flower boxes under your windows really break the bank?"...or "how about some small potted trees?".

Also, the inside of Korean apartments and houses don't seem to be all that appealing either. From what I've seen in person and on Korean t.v., the apartments have terrible florescent lighting, bare walls (if not bare, a lone calendar hanging from a pink plastic Hello Kitty hook). Also, the furniture was usually hard,orange or aqua marine pleather.

It's not just personal residences either. I found that many new buildings that were built quickly faded in with the old due to the fact that the siding and windows were never cleaned, and the original plants placed around the building left to die. I thought that this was an Asian thing that was unavoidable due to pollution. However, when I moved to a Chinese city, I noticed a lot more care was taken by the municipality as well as the citizens to make the best of their city. In my neighborhood, the houses and apartment buildings had flowers and potted trees around them, and the skyscrapers were gleaming due to regular cleaning.

I guess the reason I've noticed this is because my parents have always had a very good decorating style. Over the years they have really renovated their house so that is is very warm and inviting i.e. put down hardwood floors, nice paint on the walls, crown moulding, nice lamps, etc. I guess "simple" would be a good way to describe it.

I can understand if the lack of style is due to financial constraints. I mean, I wouldn't win any style awards for the dive apartments I had during university. Or, if it's a cultural issue (i.e. perhaps they don't like Western furnishings). But, I don't think the cultural thing flies so much when, I saw beautiful Asian furnishings and paintings when I would go to to furniture stores in the Korean markets. You could make a Korean house or apartment look great using that stuff alone. I remember when I saw a flashback scene from the t.v. show "Lost" that took place at the Korean female's house. It looked quite "Asiany" but really nice. And I thought...I've NEVER seen a Korean house look like that. Granted...she is rich in the show.

I also remember when my parents would send me photos from home and the Korean teachers at my school would gush over my parent's house and say how much they love western decorations.

Now, before anybody tells me about the orange shag carpet that's still in their parent's living room...I know, people have nasty homes in the west too. BUT, that orange shag was in style at one point in time, it just isn't anymore.

On a strange note, I did notice that quite a few bars and restaurants popping up in Korea that had great decor. Nice dark wood, furnishings, potted bamboo plants. I made the comment to a Korean friend that I'd like to have an apartment incorporating some of these ideas...he said "no way" that it wouldn't feel like a house.

Anyway, maybe things have changed since I've left. Any insights?

[sarahsarah]

I think Korea just needs an Ikea.

[riley]

My question is it just a cultural thing about furniture? My in-laws have a sofa but tend to just sit on the floor or on blankets on the floor. The sofa isn't used too much. Has anyone else noticed this? On the other hand, the house doesn't have a lot of clutter.

[Ya-ta Boy]

In the dozen or so homes I've been in where they had a couch, only one family actually sat on it. The rest just use them as a back rest, I guess.

I mentioned to a good friend that he and his family never sat on the couch when I was there. He said they never did. So I asked why they bought the thing. He said he wasn't sure. It's just that foreigners in magazines have them. The next time I came for a visit, the couch was gone.

[tacon101]

[plattwaz]

Most Korean homes I have been in are quite nice -- as in, the furnishings are quality, expensive pieces - there are just very few of them. All but one of the homes I have been in have a HUGE massive living room and it's empty.

One other thing I have noticed is that the really wealthy people whose homes I have been in all include at least one room that has a full wall in the bedroom with shelves in that mother-of-pearl shelving that you see all through Insadong. (And while I think that a small jewellry box is pretty, anything larger than that looks horrible).

[tzechuk]

[helly]

I've heard that many places, not just Kosney, are selling assembled Ikea products at huge mark-ups as luxury items. My wife saw the same table that we bought our son in the states for about 50 bucks for 250 in Seoul.

[plattwaz]

[krats1976]

[eamo]

It's the one thing I hate about spending the day at my in-law's. No chairs to sit on and bright flourescent lights all the time.

Yet, I notice everyone is trying to get comfortable. It's not just my whitey ass that hurts from sitting on the floor all day. My wife's family are also constantly changing position to be more comfortable. Get a frickin" sofa!! And a lamp!!

The only time my family at home turned on the main living room lights was when we lost something and had to look for it!! The warm glow of the TV was usually enough light for my family. And maybe a chintzy lamp that my mum bought. With tassles and stuff.

[Satori]

Maybe the culture here is still fresh from recovering from the poverty of a peasant farming culture, and thus are still quite utilitarian about things like furniture. In time they will move on to seeing the aesthetic and artistic side of it.

However one thing I can't excuse is the flouro lights. Whether you're poor or not, ambeince is important! It sets the whole mood of the evening. Flouro light is just horrible, and hard on the eyes, and makes it impossible to relax. Flouro lights in homes is just inexcusable.