Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Corea]

Ok, I've read a few posts of late that have went into details about how the poster is sick of hearing some of the ridiculous claims Koreans make. And we all know how 'Korean Sparking' and 'The Hub of Asia' is the running forum joke. But I've got a question for you all - when do you actually hear these things being said in Korea?

When was the last time you were at dinner with a korean and they leaned over and said "You know, Korea is the hub of Asia" ?




Personally, I can tell you where I see/hear that stuff the most. For me, it either comes from

a) this site
b) 'that' site - http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?showforum=4
c) low quality newspapers
d) Hogwons*

*When I first came to Korea I worked in a hogwon and was literally bombarded with the oddest assortment of 'Korea facts' my first dinner here. Everything from 'Koreans are more intelligent because of using chopsticks" to "Kimchi prevents SARS".

Once I was here for over a year though, I noticed how these comments quickly started to disappear. Maybe it was because if someone said them to me I'd say "Hold on...", but I also think it was because I started to venture out and spend more time with 'professional Koreans' than those working in Hogwons.

So, when and where do you guys actually come across most of these types of comments?

[Smee]

Just want to point out that Korea's papers may be low quality, but they're all we have. So the KT, KH, and Chosun are laughably bad, but it's not like these actually set out to be tabloids. They're the official press.

The number one source of boasting in my experience has come from the papers and media. Number two has been students, but I guess they can be excused a little. Beyond those two, I've gotten most of my ridiculous comments from coworkers in public schools. They are most often founts of ridiculously ignorant comments about foreigneres. Foreigners don't like coffee, foreigners don't like tea, foreigners can't eat kimchi, foreigners don't like to travel, foreigners are violent toward students, foreigners molest students, etc.

But they do come out with boasting claims, too. The old "four seasons" bit, the claims about IQ, claims about jeong. Not every day of course, but enough to warrant mention.

[seoul101]

Quite often in my adult classes actually.. however when they start making outrageous claims I tent to change the course of the conversation for obvious reasons (i.e. my sanity).

It's usually from older people or those who have little travel and/or experience with foreigners. Those who've traveled or studied abroad I find much more open and unbiased regarding their opinions of Korea and other countries..

Just my findings!

[mateomiguel]

I go visit the house of some friends of mine regularly. Well, mostly I visit their kids. Then eventually we all sit down for dinner. Sometimes the husband doesn't make it home in time for dinner, but sometimes he does. When he does, he says stuff like this ALL THE TIME. I've been visiting their house for 2 years now and he still insists on telling me about the health benefits of kimchi. And yes, he has seriously told me with a straight face the Korea is the Hub of Asia.

It really bothers me, because the wife and I are really good friends by now and talk about all sorts of interesting, deep, philosophical topics. But then when the husband comes home I still gotta hear stuff like "Did you know Korea has four seasons?" Its like he forgets that I've been to his house before.

Recently he actually made me visibly angry, and I could tell because of the reaction of the wife. Oops. He asked me, "Why can't other foreigners be like you?" I said, "what do you mean?" And he said, "Other foreigners just do drugs all the time, but you don't." I started off by saying, "No, they don't." And then went on some sort of rant about sensationalistic Korean media that I don't really remember.

[Captain Corea]

[poet13]

The last and only time I went out to a beef dinner with work people, the most sane, and western teacher of all asked me several tiems to compare american and korean beef. I demured each time, saying that I hadn't had western beef in many years, but agreed that the Koran beed was tasty. Finally he just asked me to agree that Korean beef was far superior. I couldn't resist. I told him my favorite was japenese kobe beef....but that korean beef was tasty. He didn't say another word.

[nobbyken]

My wife often apologises about bad behaviour from Koreans.
I suggest that people living in cities tend to have less friendlier attitudes to those in the country areas.

People are genuinely amazed that we can comfortably eat kimchi and other spicy foods. I think in school textbooks it states that foreigners can't eat spicy food, so many believe it to be fact. After a few months of the red pepper, your taste becomes accustomed to it. Same goes for chopsticks, like most things, can be difficult until you learn. Toddlers here use forks as they can't master chopsticks, maybe a link is made with foreigners who use forks daily.

Tact got thrown out the window, in the same bag as logic.

[eamo]

I've never really heard direct bragging from Koreans.....but if you ask them yourself about some of the Korean myths......

kimchi prevents serious diseases,
fan death,
China is a dirty cesspit,
foreigners can't eat spicy food,
Koreans can speak english better if they have tounge surgery,
Korea had a glorious and noble history
etc

They do actually believe these things when you ask them. But, again, I don't really hear Koreans openly bragging about this stuff. Maybe once or twice in 8 years.

[Yaya]

I'd say Koreans who have not lived abroad tend to brag more, since it's probably an underlying insecurity they have since they haven't had the chance to go abroad.

That said, I've heard more bragging from expats who say they make X amount of money or have this awesome job, blah blah blah. The amount of BSing by expats almost rivals that of Koreans.

[Benicio]

Generally, we would hear these things in English as they are talking to us.

Where do I start?
I have the most contact with my university students, so I'll start there. They usually spew out the stuff they were taught by their teachers.
-Koreans are very kind hearted!
-Korean food is the best/healthiest!
-Korean dance-pop/ballads are the best music!
-Korea is the pride of Asia! (said after 2002 World Cup)

My boss:
-Korean culture is superior because of the belief/practice of Confucianism! (he gave a 30 minute speech on this to our foreign staff as we all rolled our eyes at a pre-semester meeting)
-Korean teachers are better because they do not act informally with students like ALL foreign teachers do!
-Foriegn teachers should not go overseas during vacation time. They should stay in Korea to see all the wonderful/beautiful sights.
-Koreans are superior because they don't need vacation time. Foreigners are lazy because they ask for too much vacation.

Other people:
-Koreans are more respectful than foreigners. They respect elders, but foreigners do not!
-Koreans are kind because they give up their seats to elders on the bus/subway! (apparently, they believe foreigners don't do this)
-Koreans are very moral. Those love hotels are for foreigners! (yes, I was actually told this)
-Koreans are very moral. All those prostitutes are because of American soldiers!


That's a few of the outlandish things I can list at the moment. These are things they brag about Korea/Koreans, but it shows a lot of ignorance/non-thought.

One that gets me is asking my students if they won the lottery and could buy a house anywhere in the world, where would they want to live.
8/10 times they say Kangnam, Seoul!
Really?
That's the best place in the world they can think of?
In serious need of some mind expanding!
Kangnam sucks!

*I don't work in a hagwon. I work in a highly rated university and I still get some of the numbskullery.

[poet13]

"Korea had a glorious and noble history "

"Korea! The sparkling doormat of Asia."

[Benicio]

Forgot about the "Korea has a long history" one.
As if other countries don't.

Anyway, as the OP pointed out, most people you meet won't do this.
Most people in this country won't talk to you because you are a foreigner and they either don't speak your language and/or don't feel comfortable communicating with you. They are a shy/insecure bunch!

Well, of the minority that you will meet, most of them won't go off on how great Korea is. Some will, though.
Those are the ones who stick in our memory.
My real Korean friends don't do this to me. Of the just regular people I meet, I usually don't have strong memories of the people who were just being normal.

It's like those videos where they want to show how stupid Americans are- they go around on the street and video them asking questions of history, geography and whatnot. They edit out the ones who answer correctly and just make a highlight tape of the idiots.
Well, our brains/memories do that too. We forget about a lot of the normal, regular people, but the real jackass idiots stick out in a highlight tape in our minds.

[Captain Corea]

[Newbie]

How did Arirang not make it on to your list of where you hear Korean's bragging? Not that I think we should let arirang represent your average Korean, but the propaganda they spew would make the Nazis jealous.

[anyangoldboy]

People only believe the bad stuff about you...Not the good stuff that you've done cause bad stuff is more juicy to listen and gossip about