Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mee]

I've noticed men and women touching eachother a lot and holding hands. Of course, it is close friends and of the same sex but it is considered normal for girls to be doing that in western society but not for males.

I was just wondering if it means they are gay or they are just more egalitarian and unhypocritical in the affection department.

I noticed a lot of rubbing the shoulders, arms around waist, holding hands, etc. Maybe it's just a sign of nervousness in certain situations and so you cling more closely to a friend? possibly, as I've known women do that often anyways, especially in nightclubs and certains social situations when they need extra support.

[RACETRAITOR]

It means that Korean males do not suffer from social homophobia as much as westerners. Sure they may even hate gays, but there's less fear of being mistaken for being gay. When I was new in Korea, I was getting groped around the shoulders by a Korean male friend, while he was telling me that homosexuality is a sin that is unforgiveable in the eyes of God.

[Ukon]

[Starla]

No they are not gay although they could cover it up pretty well in Korea because it's okay to be the same sex and hold hands and hug. I think same sex touching is done way more in Korea than in the U.S. It must be all the pent up sexual frustration of having to live in such an outwardly conservative society. The same sex starts to look attractive I guess...

The perplexing thing is PDA between the opposite sex is discouraged if it goes beyond simple hand holding. I think that's why Korean couples hold hands so much and guys grab women's shoulders and arms. If they could hold each other tight and slobber all over each other in public like in the U.S., I bet they would do that! I've seen guys grabbing girls' a$$es though but it's always one of those sneaky grazing motions, like oops, I just touched your a$$! Oops, I did it again, darn hand!

[seoulsucker]

I frequently give my girl a nice slap on the ass in public. She doesn't mind, and it's always fun to look at the expression on other couples' faces.

The guys are like, "What a perv."

The girls are like, "Damn, I wish my man would do that."

[Starla]

[mee]

[Shauneyz]

I've made a couple of Korean male friends who are straight as an arrow, but randomly while we are talking they'll touch your knee or something. It was random at first and seemingly homo, but that's not what it is.

[ciccone_youth]

Yes, they are just more touchy-feely than we are. It always made me uncomfortable at first, but I think it's nice now in a way.

[jkelly80]

[poet13]

I was introduced at my new school today.
Then vice principal hugged me.
He's a guy.
I'm a guy.
Later on, he took a big bite out of a pastry and then offered me a bite. No thanks.
Gay? Nope. F-ing strange? Yup.

[Gollywog]

I got news for you, some of them are gay. And it is possible for a co-teacher or principal to put a gay squeeze on you, literally and figuratively. There seems to be a whole network of gay staff in my school. And I am not imagining things. Some of the behaviour is pretty explicit, short of actually engaging in sex in public.

[jkelly80]

Confucianism dictates homosocial relationships. Combine that with 2 years of army for every male in country and you have a lot of inappropriate touching.

[KOREAN_MAN]

I think most Koreans do not hate homosexuals the way that many westerners do. They just look down upon the gay.

I've never been to Japan or China so I don't really know but don't the Japanese and Chinese also do the touching and groping? If not, there's a psychology thesis for you.

[mee]

it's a male bonding thing that's beyond high-fiveing and slapping eachother's asses on the football field.

I do think the holding hands part is very cute, naive and innocent. IF, that it what i think it is and that is when you just genuinely like your friends, male or female, you tend to feel more affectionate.