Korean Job Discussion Forums

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

I went out with my laser tag team Wink

last night and when the subject came up, I couldn't FOR THE LIFE of me, think of descriptive attributes of a Korean "nerd".

I'm not talking about the ubiquitous "Wan-tta"...I'm talking, specifically "nerd".

Am I wrong or does it seem to me that Korean students aren't really judgemental in terms of activities people partake in (I was told that going to the "Man-hwa" was not a bad thing).

So whaddya think"? What is a "Korean Nerd"?

Papa Smurf · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Seoul

I once called my girlfriend a nerd when she wore her specatcles for the first time. I'm immature like that. When she asked me what a nerd was, trying to explain was quite difficult.

gang ah jee · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: city of paper

I've tried explaining the concept of nerd to Koreans before, and it all goes fine until we get to the 'negative connotation' part - 'but he studies all the time. I think he's very good!' - etc. But worse, notice that there are no jocks, just sports nerds?

cheem · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

That's an interesting question. It seems most of the activities that Westerners traditionally view as nerdy (studying, computer games, D&D, etc) are either ubiquitous or non-existent here. Koreans seem to judge their peers, not so much on their hobbies, but on how well they conform; hence the "wangta" definition.

gang ah jee · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: city of paper

coolsage · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:22 am Post subject:

The guys with the pink shirts and purses pretty much says it all.

indiercj · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

I think "looser" is another word quite difficult to explain in Korean terms.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

NAVFC · Joined: 10 May 2006

There is a Korean word for nerd. I can not type Hangul on this computer but it sounds like
"gongbu puh-le" with the last e being the ay type E sound.

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

NAVFC · Joined: 10 May 2006

bnrockin · Joined: 27 Feb 2006

At the English language institute that I work at, I noticed that they don't really say anything bad about the people that we would call nerds, and in fact, they often smoke and talk with them. The "nerds" usually are not, however, invited to parties a lot of the time from what I can tell. So I guess I do see some social distinctions, but I don't hear much disrespect.

bobbyhanlon · Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Location: 서울

yeah, its just not a bad thing here. you could say 공부벌레 or 모범생 but they're not actually considered negative, in fact i heard many girls say they like a guy who is 모범생. there's another word, 찐따, but thats just a general word for a loser (not a looser Smile

i think koreans have realised that nerds are the ones who will have all the money in ten years time, so they tend to respect it.