Korean Job Discussion Forums

[isisaredead]

[Sticks]

[NohopeSeriously]

[litebear]

[northway]

[ajosshi]

[danwom]

American Gyopo here. For most of my life I didn't know much about the Korean language nor the culture. I literally could not order boolgogi in Korean. At that point I was more fluent in Japanese that I learned from anime... In April 2010 I began watching Korean dramas(several hundred hours...) and listening to K-pop. I then dated a F.O.B. Korean girl (she was crazy, but super sweet and cute).

I've learned some Korean but people can usually tell that I'm a gyopo. They call me "미쿡 사람"(mi kook saram) instead of "미국 사람" (mi gook saram) as a way to make fun of the way gyopos tend to mispronounce ㅋ,ㄱ,ㄲ,ㅂ,ㅃ,ㅍ, etc. It gets a little annoying but they usually say this affectionately. Most girls think it's cute when I misuse a word or say something completely out of context.

It was very seldom that someone would condescend on me for my terrible terrible Korean. But I think this is due to my attitude. They could see me trying. If I didn't know the word, I'd struggling to figure out a way to convey my message in Korean and I think they appreciated the effort.

My gyopo friend who barely speaks any Korean asked some university students for directions in English. They gave us pretty good directions but, as soon as we left I overheard them saying in Korean, "... Those Korean fellows can't even speak the language..." in a very condescending tone.

If it looks like you're abandoning (regardless of your circumstances) your Korean heritage, expect some hate. Koreans are extremely nationalistic; they will be quick to see you as a traitor. My advice is to learn the Korean language and culture. Show your effort and Koreans will take a liking to you.

[pkjh]

For all those gyopos who can't speak Korean well, don't get scared off by this thread. As long as you aren't some wuss, who gets offended easily, you'll be fine. Koreans are naturally critical anyways, and you're parents were probably similar. Don't worry, grow a thick skin and you'll be fine. The only thing you'll have to worry about is the humidity in the summer.

[methdxman]

People from differing backgrounds will undoubtedly have different experiences in countries. Yes, if you're a gyopo, you might get some sh** for not speaking Korean well, etc.

But what it comes down to is grit and adaptability. The ability to roll with punches, etc. The reason why you hear horror stories from gyopos is that they show tons of weakness and get stepped on. This has nothing to do being gyopo. Sure, being gyopo and not being at Korean at all opens you up for attacks, but it doesn't guarantee them. Acting like a victim and being weak will get you crushed in any country.

You'll see gyopos with varying degrees of cultural/linguistic exposure that have a huge range of experiences. But we like to conveniently blame everything on something.

A black person with some balls will adapt here a lot better than a ball-less gyopo.

Finally, if you're a gyopo and people are shocked that your Korean sucks, who cares? Just roll with it. The minute that you develop a complex about it is the minute that you set yourself up for failure.

[robinsoncrusoe]

[rainism]

every gyopo I've met here has "complained" or stated in one way or another that their biggest frustration is being expected to be fully "Korean", even beyond simply speaking the language.

I'm referring to cultural norms, manner of thinking and behavior, etc etc.
Even the ones that are fully familiar with these due to their "Korean" upbringing back stateside, and understand them, etc don't particularly care to be/act this way themselves, especially all the time.

even though they understand the Korean mentality, most of them have adopted an American/Canadian one for themselves and they don't like it if forced/expected to restrict themselves to the native one.

how they handle it depends on their resiliency and their personalities. Some are more sensitive than others. I remember one guy at orientation, shortly after his arriving here, poor guy knew almost no Korean, was raised very much in an American manner and seemed very sensitive to boot. I remember him literally crying his heart out, as in real, wet tears. I wonder now what ever became of him and how long he was able to last.

[Stout]

[rainism]

[Stout]

Well, I hoped he managed to work things out for himself. Sounds like he could've used some toughening up to swat away some of those flies himself. maybe a taekwon do class or two.

[alljokingaside]

US A-merican gyo-po, here. Passable Korean-language skills. More l. comprehension than speaking, though piss poor still.

Being able to mingle with the crowd can be nice at times. Just stay quiet and listen to the asshat in front of you talk garbage while keeping yourself from laughing as long as you can. It can be like a game.

Other days, you can blow a few FOP minds while they talk about you or whatever you're doing/holding, let them go on while playing ignorant, then butt in with a comment. Thus, BLOWING THEIR MINDS (true story involving waffles. Mmm, waffles)

If you want your alien status to resound through the masses, then just say something in a loud voice and the surrounding Koreans will inevitably repel themselves, slowly and automatically like someone doing the sprinkler in a disco, while the foreigners will...well, think you might not be Korean. And the foreigner-seeking K-women...it's a mixed bag of skittles.

Speak as little Korean as possible if you want to blend in, like for getting discounts or if you suspect that the merchant/service provider (teehee, service) would screw you because you're not included in that so-oft-invoked "woori."

Though with the summer tan, longish hair, and "unfashionable" choice of style (eg sadly, I don't rock no bowtie, chicken hair, or popped collars, especially the popped collars; I laughed my way through and at that phase during my college days), I'm taken more for SE Asian these days...