Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pligganease]

How is Korean society like 1950's North America? I don't mean the technology. I mean the mentality of the society. Here are some of my ideas...

1. Prevalence of instant coffee. I don't know why, but this shows me that the society has just found it, and that it will be about 20 years before people realize it's crap and start going to Starbucks for the ability to make it at home.

2. Gender roles (i.e. moms stay at home, men go to work) I told a student the other day that one of my best female friends is a doctor, and he said, "Oh, doctor is a man's job." That sort of stuff...

3. Desire to get married as soon as possible in order to have children. 'Nuff said.

4. Popularity of Korean dramas, much like the emergence of TV soaps in the 50's, complete with horrible acting and melodrama.

Anyone else have any ideas?

[I-am-me]

funny to read your post. I had just been thinking the same thing. I was watching a korean drama and it reminds me of the 50's era type shows like the Beavers. The clothing and the acting about the same. I agree..it is somewhat like the 50's. Due to their fast economy,,they are catching up at a fast pace to what america went through. They will have the good and the bad.

[out of context]

Don't forget the drinking.

To me it seems more like the early 1970's in North America, though--the younger generation is showing a reaction against the older values and questioning the basic assumptions of the social structure, but the older generation and their values still maintain the power base. Movements for things like women's rights are still outside of the mainstream, but they're gaining momentum and there's an increasing willingness to deal with taboo subjects in popular culture. However, a more traditional and sanitized mass culture still prevails. Of course, the farther away you get from the cities, the further back in time you move.

[Tarmangani]

I would argue that it is more like the 1980's. The male flock of seagals man perm hair-don'ts, the Miami Vice pink suits and jumpers, and the Back to the Future hole in the jeans fashion line really makes me think back to all the bad music, bad television, and bad movies from that era everytime I head downtown in Korea.

[Old fat expat]

I agree totally.

The drinking culture reminds me of the 50s-60s American Dean Martin stuff; or NZs 60s-70s culture. The taste in fashions, women dressing immaculately with perms and such, so well lampooned by the B-52s in the 1980s-making fun of the earlier generation.

And coffee.

Add to the list wine: Koreans appear to prefere Black Tower, Chanti, and Boones Farm. This is the stuff hoisted on NZ in the 70s (NZ wine has come along way since these times).

And Beer (the U.S. used to have about 5 major brands-just like Korea-until the 80s. I can't wait until Korea starts to get some serious diversity in its tastes and supports micro brews.

I think there is some sort of cultural progression societies go through (not my idea, see Durkhiem) and Korea is in the middle of their great change.

[Ya-ta Boy]

The biggest similarity I see is about sex. Everyone's doin' it but you aren't supposed to talk about it.

[crazylemongirl]

[indytrucks]

[seoulsucker]

If this truly is the case, I can't wait to see Korean hippies start to surface in 10 years or so.

[laogaiguk]

[xingyiman]

[xingyiman]

Oh, and I almost forgot..... The quickest way to stop a 90's condescending apologist when they start to rip on 80's music. 3 words - Billy Ray Cyrus

[John Henry]

I'm going to say the blatent racism and acceptability of discrimination. I sometimes feel like a "black man" in the 50's.

[laogaiguk]

[SPINOZA]