Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ytuque]

I am finding that Koreans routinely underestimate my age by 10 years and overestimate my weight by 10 kgs. How old, tall, and heavy are common questions that I get from the locals. They do ok with height.

It was explained to me by a young Korean that they intentionally tell people they look much younger. They think this is very polite. However, they usually add 10 kgs to my weight with the probable implication that I am fat. BTW, I weigh in at 86 kgs. I have a heavier build than most Korean men but so do most German school girls. Apparently, it isn't a problem to make comments about weight. (numerous posts about this)

I understand the what they are doing with age, but what is happening with weight? Are they just bad at guessing weight, or is there something else at work here?

[nomad-ish]

^ personally, i think it's because they just expect that all foreigners are overweight or big, so when they see you they unintentionally overestimate

for example, for the first little while, my korean co-teachers were going on and on about how i was too thin and should eat more to be healthy (although we were about the same size). anyways, i came to the conclusion that they believe all western foreigners are larger and to be western and not, there's something wrong!

[sheba]

I found that adults guessed my weight to be much lower than it is, although I expected it was because Koreans dont seem to carry weight well (smaller bone structure??)..... another teacher at my school was about the same size as me but significantly lighter. My students guessed my weight really low!!

As for age, adults say I look younger, but my students thought i was a bit older... can be a good thing though.

[Jeaves]

I met a few friends in Hongdae about 4 months back for a friend's b-day. One of her guy-friends who I had never met before wouldn't stop telling me how "slim" I was and how shocking it was... "cus foreigners are usually overweight and do not take care of themselves." I simply said that when you bike, run, and hike all over Seoul you tend to keep the weight off.

More often than not I've got a full beard going. I keep it well groomed and on the shorter side... but this ended up getting me called "ahjosshi" quite often and people thinking that I was around 30ish (I'm 25). I also was asked if I was "al Qaeda" and "Terrorist" a few times... pretty sure they wanted to say Middle Eastern but... yea, was interesting

What do you think?

[billybrobby]

This is why they don't have state fairs.

[red_devil]

Maybe they just read the numerous articles and reports saying Americans are the fattest people in the world?

[ciccone_youth]

i also believe it's because they think foreigners are all bigger.

one time i was shopping and trying on dresses, and the sales girl saw me and went: "oooooh, you so thin!!!! usually foreigners bigger."

[DrOctagon]

[sojusucks]

Many Koreans are extrememly angered if you don't guess an age that is younger than they actually are. This is a very, very serious issue. So, yes, it's polite and will keep people from hating you (I have heard many Koreans at my school that complained about people saying that they were older than they actually are).

As for weight, notice the general lack of muscle mass. Koreans are familiar with wieghing in a lot of muscles. They probably assume we are similar to them -- so because we are larger and they are not familiar with muscle mass, we must be unhealthier than they are.

Don't worry about what Koreans think. If you do, you will go insane. But don't let them poke you: that is a big no-no.

[sojusucks]

Oh, you can also impress Koreans with your shoe size or hand sizes (if it is larger).

Don't bother mentioning shirt, pant, jacket sizes, etc. They will assume that you are fat.

[samd]

[curyybunny]

People in Korea think that I am from The Philippines :?:
Even though I weigh 55 kg I often get comments that I am fat and that I need to go on a diet.