Korean Job Discussion Forums

JMO · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

Packie Bonner can do whatever the f*ck he wants.

BreakfastInBed · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do

It may be a meaningless, hollow gesture to many, but the symbolism isn't lost on everyone. I would never expect a citizen of another country to salute or pledge allegiance to the flag of my country. It's unreasonable and unacceptable to expect it of foreign citizens living and working here at the host country's behest. I owe respect to this nation and its laws, but not allegiance. I've never heard of anyone being asked to salute/put hand over heart, but if I ever am I will most certainly decline and explain with extraordinary politeness why I cannot in good conscience do so.

Sorry for the humorlessness. I'm usually the last one you'd accuse of patriotism.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I make my students put their right hand over their heart, but I don't myself. I'm not Korean.

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

I stand respectfully but I don't put my hand over my heart. I don't consider myself patriotic in the least bit but I will do it during the American national anthem.

Justin Hale · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express

I always totally refuse to put my hand on my heart for the Korean national anthem due largely to the exclusiveness of Korean nationalism. Anyone can be a Brit, or an American, or a Canadian, or Dutch, but Koreanness has very strict, base and primitive rules. You won't even be considered Korean if you're white (or black) and born, bred in Korea, speak Korean fluently. That's totally contrary to sanity, decency, civility and reason. Koreans don't think you're weird or rude (to their credit because people in our countries posit the total opposite) - they think it's perfectly natural - so I've never seen reason to bother.

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

it's like holding a cross up to a vampire. you have to believe in it to make it real. if you don't it's an empty gesture.

i stand because i don't want to spend 2 hours explaining to a bunch of retards why i don't care enough about my country to stand up. if i put my hand over my heart it's because of the shit i ate the night before.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Hand over heart? That's pretty lame. I take my hat off and stand. Why though?

Strange when you think about it.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I don't really think you should put your hand over your heart for the national anthem of another country. That seems wrong to me.

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

heck i wont even do it at home for the us national anthem and pledge. i just stand respectfully because i object to the use of the word "god" in it.

when i go back to teaching in texas, i may though be asking for a whole lot of trouble

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Koreans dont expect it of us & as a foreigner I'd feel silly doing the hand over heart thing. I'll stand respectfully though.

As far as anthems go, I think its pretty cool.

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

For my own national anthem, and when I'm not saluting, of course.

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

I just stand at attention for the Korean anthem, but I like to sing it. It's a bit easier than the drinking song we have for a national anthem in the States.