Korean Job Discussion Forums

LexLibra · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Location: in the library

Here's what I don't get: why are Koreans obsessed with having the exact same thing all of the time, with absolutely no variations allowed? My Honey always gets seafood salad when we go to this take-home buffet. So I offered to make him seafood salad at home. He refused to eat it because it wasn't exactly the same as the kind we get at the buffet. I got to thinking and he has done this before. He refuses to eat hamburgers off the grill because they don't taste like McDonald's hamburgers. Rolling Eyes

We went to Uno's once and he didn't eat the pasta because the sauce didn't taste exactly like the kind I use at home (which is Prego, so he doesn't distinguish between quality variations, he's just upset because it's not EXACTLY the same). To be fair, whenever he makes kimchi-jjigye or anything else, it always tastes exactly the same (which makes me marvel). So my question is this: has anyone else noticed this in Korean friends/SO/spouses before? If so, what is at the root of it? Why would he eschew a far superior home-grilled burger because it doesn't taste like a pre-fab McD's one? Why snub quality because it doesn't match the crap you usually eat/buy/get? Help me out here.

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Meh who knows its Korea.

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

tomato · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:08 am Post subject:

LexLibra, I'm that way too.
I seem to be a victim of the Asperger syndrome,
and I have read that this is a common trait among Aspies.

Could it be that your mate is also an Aspie?

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

LexLibra · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Location: in the library

Please don't hijack my thread. I'm no Korea-hater. But in fact I believe I am asking why this preference for sameness permeates Korean culture, from "couple outfits" to every company man wearing the same suit with the same shoes/haircut/winter coat/glasses, to so many halmonie wanting the same tight-curl perm, etc. And now I have noticed that my Korean husband only eats food that tastes exactly like what he has been exposed to before. You can see where this leaves me as wife and cook. I cannot produce a hamburger that tastes like McDonald's (nor would I want to), and I am sorry that he is shutting himself off from trying something new and better. My big picture question was: why? And have you noticed the same thing? No need to assume I am bashing Koreans with my question.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Didn't say you were Korea bashing... Ah.. I asked if you were generalizing based on one person, which is a pretty incredulous thing to do. So, the answer is yes, then?

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Have you tried http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/home.asp? You can actually get the same taste for a lot of fast food and commercially made food.

LexLibra · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Location: in the library

Quinella, I was asking YOU if you had similar experiences. I wasn't making any statements. So you have not, and don't think this kind of thing is endemic? I will therefore accept that only my husband and a few people who are referred to as "Aspies" have this trait. Glad I asked.

plattwaz · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Location: <Write something dumb here>

Yes, I have noticed the sameness of Koreans -- the things you mentioned, as well as other things, which of course at 7am as I get ready for work, escape me. But I do spend a lot of time rolling my eyes about it.

It's annoying, but I'm just glad I do not have to fit into that mold -- that's my conclusion every time.

As for your husband, well what we do at my house is that one of us cooks. You don't want it, don't like it -- make your own!