Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kiddirts]

Has anyone done a stint in Japan but come to Korea and prefer this life better?...in terms of women, culture, people, teaching, all-around living...or is it always the other way around...I know you can save much more money in Korea than in Japan...but in the one day I was there for a Visa run...the people seemed so much nicer. I think I had 4 old ladies smile at me on the train and around town in just one afternoon...hereI have yet to have an Ajumma smile at me in 3 months, also the women seemed nicer and the people seemed more eager to help...just really friendly. For people that have done both, what do you think...and do you think that for the most part, people do prefer Japan over Korea? Also, what's the Visa deal over there...Americans still have to leave after 3 months? I'm falling in love with this overpay for underworking...may try a time over there as well...

[Tiger Beer]

Generally, I think the natural inclination is for people teaching in Korea to head over to Japan, and not so much vice-versa.

However, at my workplace alone, there are two who've done stints in Japan, and also another guy who lives in my neighborhood. (I also have another good friend who lived in Japan for 3 years before coming over here, and he's been here with no intention of ever returning to Japan, next stop for him is mainland China).

Each one seemed to have a different story. The one who lived in Japan for 3 years is a language-absorbing monster with the intention of being fluent in Japanese, Korean, and next Chinese.

The other few wandered over here for exact reasons unknown. One of which is engaged to a Korean now, and says he finds Koreans more friendlier if you speak Korean, than Japanese if you speak Japanese. (My language-absorbing monster friend actually says the same thing).

For the most part however, I think people float westward across the East Sea and into the Sea of Japan.. rather than vice-versa.. generally. However, most of those I know who taught in Japan and are now in Korea, don't really talk about 'getting back' as much as the ones who go to Japan on visa-runs and get a visual taste of the place talk about getting back.

That being said, I've developed a sudden curiousity about Japan after having written it off many times before in the past.. I've been across on brief visits four times, and hoping I can manage a 5th visit over Chuseok if its at all possible..

[Coffeecup]

Well Kiddirts, let's see what I can say...

Japanese think they know humbleness and humility, but not so compared to Koreans. Koreans are more down to earth, the Japanese are way up in the sky like they're high on some helium.

Pro-Korea:
Koreans -- real. Japanese -- fake, or 'faker' in comparison.
Koreans -- generally will tell you to your face. Jpns -- will never ever tell you, because they don't need to. You will find out by way of the final outcome.
Koreans -- down to earth. Jpns -- pretentious.
Koreans -- some food good. Jpns -- most of it tastes bitter or vinegary.
Koreans -- often warm. Jpns -- generally cold.
Korea -- many things found cheaper. Japan -- you know the answer.
Korea -- you'll know if you're going to be fired or finished because of a built up sense. Japan -- again, you'll be figuring out "what happened?" after you've long since been home. (This is to say the least, bad).
Korea -- the pain is nuclear, it's sudden. Jpns -- the doom is like a biochemical attack, while you're smiling away at all your "friends" the pain is seeping up like a bio-chemical after-effect.

Pro-Japan:
Koreans -- more rude. Jpns -- everything is polite.
Koreans -- more like 3rd world (that's both good & bad). Jpn -- more like 1st (both good & bad).
Japan -- high quality, perfection in their work -- as though the whole world were watching and their reputation is all that matters -- even if no one was watching it would still be all that matters.
Korea -- a nation of never ending struggle. Japan -- perhaps top of the world and one of the most unanimously 'adored' people on the planet, even though they always get an evil laugh at how people always think they're "so nice" and so kind. In otherwords, if there is anyone that will be the first to tell you they are not, it would they themselves. (#1 mistake on a date, do not tell a Japanese girl you think Japanese are nice -- she'll know you are gullible and as naive as a Jr. High schooler.)
Korea -- business service seems to vary, and always a risk of scam artists in every field. Japan -- hardly any variation, perhaps every little tiny store or business you go to is very trustworthy.

Have spent 10+ years directly involved with the Japanese which is my whole adult life. I studied there on a one year university exchange as well, speak r+w the language and lived a long time among them in Hawaii and CA. However, I am not the final source on the matter! But in your experiences one will find some agreement on just about everything I've said.

In comparison to the Koreans, the Japanese are even more perfectionist. Every little sneeze or hiccup is noticed. The koreans seem more relaxed about these social behaviors. While the Koreans may embody the fascism of Asian behaviour and ideology, the Japanese have it perfected to a lazer. Are you used to slamming doors or plopping your feet up at the table? In Japan that would be considered to be about gutter level or lower. Do you still use toilet paper when you eat? Believe me, the Jpns don't even use it to blow their nose with the stigma of where tp is really used.

In Japan, hardly anything is to be enjoyed. Everything is there for presentation. If it is visable to other people, then it must be at it's best, because while eye-contact is almost non-existent, everything is noticed like there's nothing else to do.

Koreans -- can see you out the side of their eyes and see you when they want to. Jpns -- have eyes in front and in back of their heads and it seems like they don't blink because blinking would be inefficient.

Think the Koreans don't "include" you in their culture? At least you realize it. In Japan, you'll always feel like you're riding that middle gray line, but the 'pain' that "these people don't give a damn about me" won't hit until you've wiped out real hard. In the meantime you'll be yucking and chuckling and giggling along with their game, thinking "they're really so cute." They're more shrewd and precise about "them" and "you," shrewd meaning "effectively clever." The Japanese will put you to sleep, meanwhile they are always on their toes

With Koreans, you bargain and tug-and-pull and give them a piece of your mind in the process, almost like a New York thing. With the Japanese, there's only one way: you do what they've planned or prepared for you, or there simply is no other way. Discussing another "way" is like walking through a concrete wall -- it doesn't happen and isn't in the itenerary.

Would I recommend doing a stint in Japan? Absolutely, so you can do a comparison on it yourself, and contrast your experiences.

[Tiger Beer]

Basically thats the same impression I've had with Japanese as well. I never know what they are thinking, and then later after the fact, you realize you said something wrong. (Actually, you just never know). But you can just kind of tell..

Its almost impossible to say anything wrong to a Korean. Whatever you say they seem to hmm-haw over it for awhile and get back to you on it. Always, whatever it is. Koreans are some of the most honest straight-forward and often times in-your-face kind of people I've ever met in my life, and I have to say while I didn't like it at first, I've become alot like them in that respect now. (Just say whatever is on my mind with brutal honesty).

The other things I've noticed however, is that if anyone is annoyed when Koreans giggle or cover their face when embarrassed, it is absolutely nothing compared to Japanese. Thev've mastered that art form beyond belief. Also the ultra polite thing. They thank you for walking into their store, for ordering food, for leaving as well, absolutely everything.

One thing I just thought of however, is that while both Japanese and Korean women are attractive and whatever else. Japanese guys are actually very cool and easily able to hangout with them without effort. Korean guys can be too intense to hangout with and lack the fun and the laid-back sense of humor that I've noticed with Japanese guys in particular. Plus more times with Japanese, the topic of sex seems to drift in and out of conversation usually initiated by them, whereas in Korea, you'd never see that happen.

[Coffeecup]

Tiger said:

[Kiddirts]

All in all, would you prefer to date Japanese chicks? Are they easier? Are they the money-hungry women that I've met over here? Do looks play as important a role as they do here? What's the dating scene like over there...do you get nasty looks by older men and ajummas alike if you are walking or holding hands with an asian girl?

[Homer]

Coffeecup,

Interesting list. It does cover the differences.


Kiddirts,

Is your main criteria for evaluating Korea and Japan "the chicks"?
If so thats a sad, sad comment on you mate.

Let me save you the trouble dirts...

There are nice women in Korea.
There are not nice women in Korea.
There are nice women in Japan
There are not nice women in Japan.
...............................USA
...........................................USA
...............................(Insert any country on the planet)
...........................................(Insert any country on the planet)

Was that clear enough kiddirts?

[sickboy]

Nihon wa ichiban desu.

Korea blows in comparrison, in every category, except saving money.

No amount of facts or reason will change my opinion,

-sick

[duanemyhre]

[little mixed girl]

....

[sickboy]

Show offs!!!!!!

Still, it is 100X better than my Korean,

sick

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Wow another pissing contest

mazshdai cho mukotzku!

[Coffeecup]

Duanemyhre, I guess we don't need to worry about filters in Japanese on here huh..

Kiddirts, haha.. "Japanese chicks? Are they easier?"... It would pain me to tell people they are and then watch as he spends several months in difficulty wondering why he isn't getting any except for every once in awhile. But really I have to say "easier relative to what?" Really not trying to be rude, but the question, while totally legitimate, just seems too broad and isn't specific enough... "What's the dating scene like over there..." To be honest, I really just stuck to myself mostly in my life around the Japanese. Actually, that's the way most all Westerners live their lives when amongst the Japanese -- quite seperated from one another. It's like, "I am having my Japanese experience, no matter how rotten fair or pleasant, and you are having your experience, so let's each have our own experience by ourselves, after all we're here to be amongst the Japanese." If you don't know what I mean by that, you'll sense it almost immediately once you get there. Oh so anyways in response to your question "dating scene" I was going to say that I don't know what the "scene" is like because we Westerners didn't have the initiative to report our situations so really don't know what most people experience. I've had an occasional weekend where I was convinced I was a true romantic gentleman like an Errol Flynn, and most other times was like scraping my teeth on the ground.

"Are they the money-hungry women that I've met over here?" That's a more theoretical question. Are they blatant about it? No. Is there still a roundabout, growing movement of Asiatic Hillary Clinton-style male bashing? Yes.

"do you get nasty looks by older men and ajummas alike if you are walking or holding hands with an asian girl?" Again, your mind does not seem to be quite placed there. Generally speaking "dirty looks" would not fit into the Japanese sphere and would only be seldom. The Japanese are more tricky and clever about their behaviors towards others. But after some months, the glass smiles, whispering to one another and making conversation about the foreigner will perhaps amount to the equivalent of scowls you would get in Korea and could be irritating. But yes the good news is that, nope they don't wrinkle their faces in any similarity much at all as the Koreans, generally speaking that is. Oh maybe the better way to put it is that in behavioral display they and Koreans are potentially (?) complete opposites. But the severity is still there.

Homer, well I thought your explanation "people are the same everywhere" was at least a little bit on the overly simplistic side, but no prob.

Well anyways I guess if anyone else has had much experience around both the Jpns and Koreans and can make direct comparisons between Korea and Japan then please speak up.

[duanemyhre]

So... firuta wa nai!

mina wa kashikoi na

This is fun!

Japanese chicks worth having are only easy if you understand the culture and look like Brad Pitt. Since most Japanese girls think foreign guys look like famous movie stars, we already have a good start. Speaking Japanese will also push up your percentages quite a bit.

Japan is amazing! I have seen some butt ugly nerds, who could barely speak any Japanese, hook up with drop dead gorgeous Japanese babes! Back in the states, they would be lucky if they could date one of Jerry�s kids.

I miss Japan!

[Homer]

Coffee,

I did not say "people are the same everywhere"...I said there are different kinds of people everywhere...meaning good, bad, nice, rude...and so on.
The attitudes differ but no country has "more rude people" than another.

Your post was excellent. I showed that the attitudes might be similar in Korea and Japan on certain issues but the way to go about it, i.e. the cultural norms and habits, differ.
I completely agree with that.

The Kid needs to use perspective and to look at things with more attention.