Korean Job Discussion Forums

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

Why are koreans such sore losers? Today I watched a wrestling match and the korean refused the referee when he was asked to join in declaring the winner. He deserved to lose after that attitude. I even hate kids attitudes. After Iran beat Korea in soccer they just said everything negative against them and called the referee unfair. It's just not good sportsmanship! Shocked

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I can only attribute it to nationalism because ordinarily, Koreans are great sports. In years and years of watching (adult) students play jo-koo and soccer almost everyday, I have only seen one person get angry.

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

I think a lot of people on these posts make the mistake of when they see a Korean do something bad, they assume all Koreans do it, or it is an accepted behavior.

I play baseball on weekends in a league with only Koreans, I am the only non-korean. I played college baseball in the states, so without being modest, I am pretty good compared to them. I pitch, and you can tell they are frustrated some foreigner is dominating them. After the game, I always am treated very well, the other team shakes my hand, the umpire says good job, never has anyone complained or did something unsportsmanlike.

a few weeks ago in the playoffs, i pulled my hamstring but tried to pitch anyways, my team has no other pitcher. I couldnt pitch well, and they hit pretty well, so they scored a ton. I think the final score was 14-4. Again, after the game, no one said anything to rub it in my face, they knew i was hurt and they looked almost apologetic because that had happened.

Now compare this to the carp Terrel Owens pulls every night. Or Chad Johnson, or countless NBA players. Look at the stuff Shaq says everyday, or after losses he blames the ref, his injuries, his coaches, and teammates.

I dont think all americans are like this, and I hope Koreans dont think all Americans are spoiled brats. Just like in the World Baseball Classic, after Kim gave up a homerun that virtually lost the game for Korea in the semi-finals, he drilled the next japanese hitter. any baseball player knows that pitch was intentional. that made me mad, and at that point i stopped rooting for Korea, but I really dont think all Koreans are like this.

Granted, they like to make excuses for their national teams' losses, but for sportsmanship, i would say in my experience, they are better sports than many americans i have played against.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I agree with what was posted. With friends, usually they are good sports.

When it comes to nationalism-related anything, they aren't. Especially soccer, and more especially when playing against Japan or another team they deem 'inferior'. Take Iran or Iraq for example.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Which were the Olympics where the Korean boxing entourage went ape-poo after they lost and there was a big melee.

1984 or 1988?

The Hierophant · Joined: 13 Sep 2005

poet13 · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:59 pm Post subject:

I agree with the poster who said that among friends, Koreans are great sports, but I'm actually getting kind of sick of the Korean soccer players.
Throwing themselves on the ground, cheap shots, hystrionics with the referees. Honestly, just play the damn game. I stopped watching soccer a bunch of years ago when the ability to convincinly portray yourself as mortally wounded became more important than skill and strategy. I think one of the best things that has happened to soccer in years is the flag for diving.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

after our final game, in which we lost in the playoffs, we went to eat, any they made sure I understood i was our team's MVP, and they appreciated me being on the team, and wanted me to play next season. I was upset because i had pitched pourly in the most important game of the season, and they again made sure i understood that we wouldnt have gotten that far without me. i appreciated that.

Mowie · Joined: 28 Feb 2003

Good posts antonio.

I am sure that there are situations like ajgeddes' do occur, and should be frowned upon. However, my experiences have been more like antonio's. Nationalism and media are likely contributors to the Olympic, World Cup, Asian Games... reactions.

I am not a soccer fan at all (the diving and acting are the main reasons why), but IMO the Korean team played with good sportsmanship in 2002. Several times i saw the Korean player immediately jump to his feet and attempt to rejoin the play after a tackle. The more recent teams, however, seem to follow the lead of that little weasel with blond hair.

As for recreational levels of competition, I find Koreans to be good sports. Especially compared to home.

Not directly related to the Op..but...I find that Koreans like "flashy" plays more.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

alinkorea · Joined: 02 May 2005

I agree with some of the previous posters. Whenever I play soccer (most weekends) with or versus Koreans, they are very fair. Fairer sportsmen than me. I've played in football leagues in a good few countries and Koreans are as fair sportsmen as I've seen
But when they watch sports involving Korea!! Totally blinkered. Korea lost to Iraq recently in a meaningless Asian Games match. The Korean sports press got very hot under the collar. The Swiss were personae non gratae for a long time for having the audacity to score two perfectly legal goals in the World Cup. Email campaigns to FIFA......oh dear.