Korean Job Discussion Forums

Papa Smurf · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Seoul

Not sure if protective is the right word....but you know what i mean.

I've been to a few asian countries (Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam) and never experienced the type of attitude you can get from some Korean men for being with Korean women.

In Singapore I was actually encouraged to pick up the local women by numerous local guys. I was goaded for not hooking up because "you are English so it's easy for you."

So what is the deal with certain Korean men?

DrewAgain · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Canada

It's not just a Korean phenomenon. Many men from lots of countries are protective over "their" women. This especially being true of "Old World" countries.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I'm protective over my ****. Before I throw them to the street the next morning that is.

Mod Edit: Edited for language.

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

There are some exceptions. I have a co-worker (mid 40s) who introduced me to a female friend of his in her early 20s. After we met, he asked me what I thought of her and if I'd like her number.

I hear other stories like this once in a while. Overall though, I think you have a point. There's no rational reason for this kind of protectionism, at least that I can see.

SirFink · Joined: 05 Mar 2006

I know two Korean men who are always trying to hook me up with Korean women. It's like they've made it their mission to find me a Korean girlfriend. They offer suggestions on how to meet them, how to date them, where to meet them, etc.

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Mashimaro · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: location, location

two words.. inferiority complex

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

I would bet that 90% of the men that find offence with Western men and Korean women are single. I wouldn't say Korean men have a problem with it. I have a bunch of Korean friends, and they are all in relationships and think it is really cool my girlfriend is Korean and are really nice to her. Why are they nice about it? Because we aren't in competition. Competition often brings out the worst in people and when single guys in Korea already have a limited pool, with more guys than girls, they get competitive and foreigners are an easy target as they have a much bigger dating pool to choose from, yet choose to choose from the limited Korean one.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Actually as a woman, I think it's an inate male thing to be protective of women they perceive as being part of 'their' group. Sometimes it's been good, like when I had a guy harrassing me at varsity and my male friends got wind of it they went down and told him if he didn't quit it then he'd have them to answer to. However sometimes it can be a problem, like when I've been out on dates with Korean guys and I've had western males asking me if I was 'ok' or telling me that korean men are wife beaters and I need to be careful and one thoughtful fellow was happy to tell me that I must spend a lot of time being sexually unsatisfied as all Korean men have 'pencil dicks.'

I think it's very easy to preach tolerance and diversity in dating if you are a male dating a woman from another country, but it's another thing to accept it when it's your sister/daughter/niece/female friend bringing home a man from an ethnic group you don't approve of. I know my dad, despite his liberal leanings, would have trouble with me bringing home a man who wasn't white. But then he also read my sister's white boyfriend the riot act when she bought him home. Seems despite our differences there are things that are the same the world over.

canuckistan · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

Try macking on some chiquitas in Afghanistan Wink

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

People on this board are in love with the idea that Korean men worry about foreigners dating their women. It's both flattering to their self image and allows them to carry on with their bloated persecution complex. The issue is overblown.

I once had a cabby give me his DAUGHTER's phone number after showing me her picture on his cellphone.

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

IMO....(not like anyone is asking... Laughing

), I think it's the areas that many foreigners hang out in. Most of the negative stories I hear are from Dave's. Also, those stories almost always entail a foreigner/Korean confrontation in one of the following areas:

-Gangnam
-Itaewon
-Hongdae

Furthermore, they almost always occur at night, in a club, around a club, etc.

Obviously people, when drunk, are belligerent. Also, their inhibitions are out the window. Consequently and inevitably, you'll run into a chap or two that want to scruff. For whatever reason, you become their target (considering the type of people that hang out in some of the more prominent areas in Seoul).

I say avoid these areas and go somewhere else. I must be crazy to think that if these areas are known for having such a high degree of violence (when it comes to foreigners), that naturally, one would try to avoid it rather than insisting on trying to continue to attend the locations of choice in the area.