Korean Job Discussion Forums

[esetters21]

I am coming to Korea next week from America. I'll have to be honest in that I have enjoyed the culture here my whole adult life from college on. The freshman 15...forget about it. I drank too much beer. For that matter, I continue to enjoy my favorite beverage. My question is how do Koreans perceive non-Koreans that are not as thin as the norm? I am not saying that I am a fat-ass, but I am bigger than average. Let me be clear that I am still very athletic, just heavier than my playing weight in college athletics.

[kingplaya4]

Well, I'm not in Korea yet, but based on a small sample size of about thirty Korean exchange students at my high school, I think their vertically challengendness is way overplayed. I am 5'8 and all the guys except one were taller than me. (I'd say they averaged about 6' tall). They all had thin to athletic builds, but I have no idea what they would think of big boned Westerners.

[Satori]

They tend to think someone is fat at a lighter weight than we do, ie they are less tolerant of it. Whats more they tend to be less shy about mentioning it to you too!

[esetters21]

I figured this to be the case. It is a shame that people regardless of cultural and ethnic background are so damn judgemental. I'll suck it up though as I plan to study martial arts while there as my form of exercise and weight loss. Any idea of what martial art is prevalent in Korea?

[seoulsucker]