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coffeeman
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:15 pm Post subject: The Crazy Things Koreans Say Thread |
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Have you noticed that many Koreans like to make generalizations sound like facts? Every Korean is an expert on Korean thinking. Have you heard anything from a Korean recently that made your head nod (left and right)? Post it here.
Yesterday a Korean university teacher told me that Brokeback Mountain didn't do well in Korea because it is a slow-moving film and Koreans like fast-paced movies. 
I didn't argue with him. I just said "Yeah" (whatever). What he didn��t take into consideration was that not ALL Korean films are thrilling either. Take these Korean blockbusters for example; The Way Home, My Teacher Mr. Kim, and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. The reason has more to do with the bad taste of the public. The average Korean seems to prefer America's cheesepuff entertainment like the WWE and the film King Kong (which probably made much more money than B.B. Mountain). The gay theme may have scared away a few people, but I don't think that was the main problem. Only a very small percentage of Koreans like art films like B.B. Mountain.
Last edited by coffeeman on Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:46 am; edited 2 times in total |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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as someone said on another thread, try asking a korean male for HIS opinion on any particular issue. the answer is usually "Korean's think...."
and, no, i'm not stalking you, coffeman.  |
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Corporal
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I've also noticed that many Westerners like to make generalizations sound like facts. |
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indytrucks
Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: The Shelf
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| I've noticed that. |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:43 am Post subject: |
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yeah, here we go again. so when do generalizations begin to ring true? when they are backed up by higher than average frequency?
in that case, color me guilty. what's your explanation? |
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coffeeman
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:56 am Post subject: |
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| the eye wrote: |
as someone said on another thread, try asking a korean male for HIS opinion on any particular issue. the answer is usually "Korean's think...."
and, no, i'm not stalking you, coffeman. |
It's ironic don't you think that one Korean would even think of speaking for all Koreans when there's so much disagreement in this country about so many things. As you have no doubt seen many times, when Koreans argue, things often get ugly. Like a friend of mine says, "It's a good thing people don't have guns here!"
Hey The Eye! Aren't you from The Ministry Of Information? I know you're watching me!  |
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noelinkorea
Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: Shinchon, Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:09 am Post subject: |
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And yet when I went to the movie (BB Mountain) the cinema was near full - and that was at 5pm with loads of old people there, and no foreigners in sight (well...no non-Asians).
Incidentally, I am gay and I found the movie rather slow...and I'm not even Korean... |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| coffeeman wrote: |
| It's ironic don't you think that one Korean would even think of speaking for all Koreans when there's so much disagreement in this country about so many things. |
It took me a few months to realize that the reason for this sort of speech pattern is that Korea is a collectivist society wherein group-think is strongly encouraged, if not socially required. If you know any Korean at all, you'll have noticed that you don't say "my father", you say "our father". Our brother, our language, our country, our beliefs.
If you talk to any person who speaks in generalizations about Korean opinions and point out that not ALL Koreans think that way, chances are s/he'll concede your point, but be a bit confused at why you'd mention it. At least, that's what I've found.
You just need to remember that you come from an individualist society. Comprehending the motivations of people living in a collectivist society is quite often a difficult, if not insurmountable, task. |
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Lemonade
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:31 am Post subject: Re: The Crazy Things Koreans Say Thread |
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| coffeeman wrote: |
| Have you noticed that many Koreans like to make generalizations sound like facts? Every Korean is an expert on Korean thinking. |
Yeah, like this quote, "it must be really hard for you living here in Korea. Koreans HATE foreigners."
I cannot agree, nor argue, nor sound shocked.
Here's another quote, "yes, I like this food because I'm Korean. Koreans like this food."
Okay 
And yet another, "Koreans only like eat Korean food. We think all other food like hamburger is just snack."
Alright, so all non-Korean food is like "hamburger" and the Koreans I see eating at TGIF and Outback don't really like the food. They are out eating snacks..... like A T-Bone steak..... just a snack. hmmmmmm
Here's another famous one, "Korean girl is very small."
Yet I see plenty of overweight and even obese Korean females every single day either in my classes or compelete strangers on the street.
Oh here's the contradictory quotes that make your head spin: "Korean is very kind and gentle people." "People are very rude in Seoul."
HUH?! |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:52 am Post subject: |
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| I was kind of taken aback by the guy last month who told me that he works hard to provide for his family "because I am Korean". That was his first and only reason. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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I can clone things well because I can use chopsticks.
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Lemonade wrote: |
| "Korean is very kind and gentle people." |
I've heard that one as well - 'gentle and tender' in my case.
Beleive it or not, the statement followed a discussion about bees. I remarked that bees/wasps in Korea aren't aggressive unlike wasps in England (a wasp in England will sting you without provocation and they attack you). Co-teacher's response was "I think that's because Korean people are very tender and gentle, whereas England is an aggressive country that invades other countries".
My response was simply that Koreans aren't very tender and gentle to dogs.
That did the trick. |
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bellum99
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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They practice a form of double-think in Korea. They say every possible positive thing even when they know it is not true (they seem to actually believe it's true and untrue at the same time).
1: Koreans don't bring Aids to Korea
2: Korea doesn't have divorce
3: Korean men don't go to the hookers
4: Korean women are all great mothers
5: Korean people work harder than any other people
and so many more. Just do what I do and smile and nod. |
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coffeeman
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
I can clone things well because I can use chopsticks.
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A Korean teacher at my school marvels at my chopstick handling. If I were rich, I'd like to fly him to any western country and sit him down in a Chinese restaurant. He'd be stunned when he sees 3/4 of the non-asian customers eating effortlessly with chopsticks.
In Toronto, I had a elderly Korean woman working in a convenience store tell me that if I married a Korean woman, the marriage would never work out. "Our culture and thinking is too different." I'll forgive her for that one because she's old and probably doesn't get around much. Really sweet lady though. |
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flotsam
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="SPINOZA"]
| Lemonade wrote: |
"
My response was simply that Koreans aren't very tender and gentle to dogs. |
Yes. But one of my favorite generalizations is:
"Oh, we don't do that anymore. That is a thing of the past."
To which I always reply:
"But I have eaten it with Koreans on several occasions."
Then, one of several things happens:
1. Nervous laughter, "you so silly" look and change of subject. (I don't let them get away and repeat above statement until another reaction is manifested.)
2. Stuttering, shaking version of, "Uh..well..perhaps...somewhere...uh..." At which point I break in with, "You mean you haven't tried it yourself?" Which results in shuttering, shaking version of....
3. Total mental and physical shutdown. This requires the efforts of a shaman to undo.
4. "Phew. Let's go get some lunch."
Number 4s are always the ones that end up as good friends. |
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