Korean Job Discussion Forums

bjonothan · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Location: All over the place

Last night I was out with one of my students. He is kind of a work in progress for me (one of the main parts of my job is preparing students to go overseas for work/school/immigration). We had a few beers and then he started telling me about how he thinks that Koreans are somehow superior to others. He then went on to tell me that Koreans think that whites are at the top of the tree, followed by eastern asians, southern asians and then blacks.

I have spent years teaching Koreans and I have heard it all before. However, do any of you actually get used to it? I am a bit hung over today and can't get it off my mind. It is less of a surprise than it was when I first went to Korea about 8 years ago.

My only reaction was to tell him that it is racist and a bad way to think. What would your reaction be? I am sure most if not all of you will have something to say about this or have a similar experience.

EzeWong · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

I would personally have left it alone. He can think what he wants, but as long as he isn't taking action on that thought, I'd prefer not to let it bother me.

EVERYONE discriminates. Especially based on looks. If we had truly famous ugly people (Brian peeps doesn't count) then I might think otherwise. But I've come to realize that people base like 70% of their additude towards you based on looks. You can probably catch yourself doing it, and you won't realize it. Irritiating and unfair.

This just shows how easy it is to discriminate. It's a human mechanism for survival to determine which people in the social group can be threats. Which is why we percieve "cute" people to be innocent and not dangerous.

Racial discrimination used to bother the hell out of me. I used to get into verbal fights and in one particular time it almost escalated to physical.

But it's pretty much harmless unless they try to impose it on people. Sure I can think that Whites or Asians are the superior race. It's a stupid illogical thought, but then... so are most of our beliefs out there. As long as I don't harm, verbally abuse, or kill anyone with this thought, then they have the right to their opinion.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

the extent and limits of hierarchy as well as equality are culturally defined

we draw the lines one way, they another

each thinking their drawing is right

that's just the way it is

Countrygirl · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Location: in the classroom

I've also encountered 'racism' and 'reverse racism' from Koreans. It's a strange feeling to have people treat you a certain way based on your skin colour and language, but it happens all the time to us foreigners in Korea.

Koreans who've moved overseas often change their point of view for the better. Unfortunately, Koreans often believe what they are told without questioning it, ie. fan death. so they can't change their way of thinking easily.

I think that I am more shocked by how narrow minded my relative's point of view is about the world. I just never noticed it before. But if you never travel, I guess it's harder to think outside the box.

smedini · Joined: 02 Apr 2008

Sure, we've all heard such, ahem, stuff before, but the craziest I've ever heard, came from a couple of housewives I had to teach - all they wanted was slang they could use, nothing more...they looked me straight in the eye and in no uncertain terms told me that Korean mothers love their children more than any other mothers in the world love their children Rolling Eyes

...

~smedini

Woden · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Location: Eurasia

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: Koreans are the best!

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

[quote="bjonothan"]
My only reaction was to tell him that it is racist and a bad way to think. What would your reaction be? [/quote

I would tell him that people are individuals, and a smart black person is a smart person, regardless of the other people in his race, and that a stupid Asian person is a stupid Asian person, regardless of the other people in his race. I would then tell him that he is as only as smart as he really is, and other members of his race have nothing to do with it.

I'd tell him that he came to an incorrect generalization, yet he came to it incorrectly as an individual because he has his own mind. Other Asians may come to a correct conclusion. Asians, whites, blacks etc do not have a collective mind. Each individual has free will and their own rational faculty.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I leave it alone. For my lessons I try to pick examples sometimes of really smart / successful people who are black or south / southeast Asian. One lesson last week was about study tips and I got some short videos of EFL students from different parts of the world giving study tips. The student with the best English (and advice) was a Sri Lankan and I thought it was neat how he gave a better blurb than the European students I showed. Hopefully enough little things like that will help change people's perceptions.

I do indeed think that Koreans' perceptions of 'lesser' peoples is changing gradually.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PS - Good article from KB on this today: http://koreabeat.com/?p=1293

R-Seoul · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Location: your place

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

I wouldn't tell him anything, and I wouldn't be drinking with him again ever.

I'd find a nicer drinking partner.

Op, if he asks you to drink with him again, refuse and tell him why straight up.

ytuque · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Location: I drink therefore I am!

gangpae · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Location: Busan

After a few beers the most rational person might say something stupid. It's alcohol, and anything said or done is meaningless and should remain private.
PSST! DID YOU HEAR WHAT THE KOREAN GUY SAID!