Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

After reading some posts regarding foreigner/korean confrontations, I felt hesistant to begin this thread. However, I am extremely interested in hearing peoples opinion on this topic, and perhaps alert others to potential issues. Here are the facts (based on my rememberances and others testimony):

1. At Gangnam NB last week Wednesday. Relatively busy. I rarely drink, but had a stressful week and consumed 3-4 drinks over 6 hours.

2. My Korean is limited, but I sometimes engage in Korean pick up lines with Korean women for fun. This night I was getting more attention from Korean women than usual.

3. One korean girl (obviously drunk) kept standing in front of me looking at me. I spoke to her in Korean. Her english was nonexistent. She got bored and left.

4. The same Korean girl came back again and this time I forwarded her to my Korean friend. She talked briefly with him and ran off to some Korean male (perhaps boyfriend or friend).

5. My foreigner friends left to go to the bathroom (two black and one latin). I turned to talk to my Korean friend. Someone hit me from behind. Being stunned and somewhat intoxicated, I turned to face my attacker swinging. Other Korean guys held me from advancing.

6. Some Korean males escorted me to the stairs to leave.

7. I got in a Taxi and proceeded onto the main street. Soon after, 5-6 Korean males stopped the Taxi. They told the Taxi driver not to go, and attempted to force me out of the cab. I attempted to thwart their punches and kicks, urging the taxi driver to go in Korean.

8. I was bleeding profusely from my eye and lower lip. Not surprisingly, the taxi driver charged me double.

9. The following day I attended to the hospital and received 8 stitches above my eye and 2 in my lower lip. The doctor informed me that I had been cut with some form of metal object, since the wounds were extremely deep.

The questions I have are:

1. Should I file a police report? My Korean friend claimed that he would explain what happened to the police. I also spoke with a colleague who is the Head Police Chief for Foreign Affairs in Seoul. Furthermore, the assailant is a regular patron of Gangnam NB.

2. What chances do I have to reclaim damages for medical expenses, time off work etc.? (If we catch the guy)

3. Is this an isolated incident or do similiar occurences happen in Seoul? My colleagues have reported similar stories (usually involving jealous Korean men over some Korean woman).

4. Is this a result of the inherent racism towards foreigners (particulary American soldiers which I am not but look like one) from Korean males or just another insecure Korean male venting angst?

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

[ronnie]

First off...that sucks dude.

I'm sorry to hear about that. That sounds like it was totally uncalled for. It was probably a mixture of drunken misplaced rage and a little bit of xenophobia or just outright racism fueled by alcohol.

My suggestion, file the police report with your Korean friend, don't expect anything to happen, but on the off chance that it does, it'll have been worth it.

[Corporal]

Waaaah, your life is so rough. Go get drunk and hit on the locals with your crappy pick-up lines. That's smart. Waaah, some of the guys got mad and beat you up. Waaah, you had to pay the taxi driver double for bleeding all over his car. What a racist country. Hub of Asia my ass.

[shakuhachi]

[RACETRAITOR]

By the sound of your story, I get the impression you don't know how to talk to Koreans. I can't imagine what sort of pickup lines you used, but as a general rule, never use anything that has possibly been in Maxim. Their reaction was pretty bad, and even though the police probably can't help don't let it stop you from going to them, but don't let this stop you from learning a lesson.

[the eye]

If what you wrote is 100% true, you'd be an idiot for NOT pursuing this with the police.
Also, why do you percieve this as racism? The girl you were hitting on could have been causing the problem when her boyfriend asked what was going on. She probably told him a hell of a story, and he came at you with his friends.

Here's what i don't understand...

1. You had 3-4 drinks over 6 hours and were noticeably intoxicated? Even lightweights could handle that.

2. Your 3 friends were in the bathroom at the same time? Since when do 3 guys go to the bathroom together?

3. Someone hit you from behind. Where? Your head? Body? If you were doing nothing wrong, why was your immediate reaction to turn around swinging. I would have been confused about it, and assess the situation. Wouldn't a normal reaction be to first try to locate who did it, then start swinging Sounds like you were ready to rumble.

4. Why didn't your Korean friend go with you outside, or at least mediate the situation? He stayed in the club while you were ascorted out?

5. Why did you just decide to get into a cab while all your friends were still inside?

6. Where were the bouncers during all this?

[stumptown]

[Mowie]

Sorry to hear about your incident.

Even if you used a few pick up lines, it doesn't justify being blindsided with an object and chased down by a group. COWARDS!!!

I have seen similar incidents, usually uncalled for. Often, it is just a show....raising a chair or bottle...but it is bad news when they follow through.

It was probably a result of being drunk. However, there may have been a racist element to it, hard to tell. It does happen.

Good luck and try to sit with your back to the wall in the future.

[Troll_Bait]

Recently, there was another expose about foreign English teachers on TV.

Someone took a hidden camera to Hongdae and caught some idiots on camera talking about how "easy" Korean women are.

Maybe the guys saw this "documentary" or any of the others that trash us all with the same broad brush.

The racists who run Korean TV can now congratulate themselves on achieving their goal. Korea has now become a dangerous place for foreigners.

[seoulsucker]

**** Gangnam NB. Sorry, it's a cool club, but after several instances of mistreatment by the staff, I refuse to set foot in that place.

After admitting 6 of my Korean friends into the empty VIP area, the entire group was turned down for bottle service once they realized that there was a non-Korean in tow. Their excuse? "It's too full right now."

I've also personally witnessed unjustified harrassment of non-Korean customers by staff and other Korean patrons.

As far as filing a report, GOOD ******* LUCK. The legal system is incredibly biased, and despite your friend's best efforts, there will be an army of employees who will blindly defend the actions of their Korean customers. I've had friends in cases like this who ended up PAYING because they were assaulted.

Since you were hospitalized, I'd give it a shot, but don't get your hopes up. An apology from the management would be be an upset victory.

Mod Edit: Edited for language.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[diver]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Oh, aren't you wise.

[crazylemongirl]

This is the male equivalent of me walking around the dodgy parts of Itaewon drunk in a crop top and mini-skirt 3am in the morning; that situation was just asking for trouble.

Don't write off to racism what can be explained by stupidity...