Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

I want to refrain as much as possible from broad generalizations in this thread. I am curious on people's experiences with working with kyopos (adoptees, born in Korea moved overseas moved back, born overseas moved to Korea, etc.).

To date, I have had limited positive experiences, and truly want some honest feedback on other people's experiences. On occasion, I have felt some misguided resentment directed towards me, and a sense of entitlement. I find this all confusing, when I approach matters with a sense of equality, and strive to maintain respect and dignity with all co-workers. Moreover, I am not competitive by nature and believe in team building regardless of one's ethnic background.

Perhaps, I have truly left Plato's allegorical cave and see things are they truly are. I just hope that things are different that they appear to be . . .

[John_ESL_White]

My best friend in elem school in the states was a gyopo (parents were Korean-he was born in the states).

I had several friends in mid and high school who were korean gyopo- great friends- no problems.....

HOWEVER, once they get here, something strange happens.... they LOOK Korean. But, they do not speak Korean (at least not to the standards of korean koreans). And, they do not know the customs of Korea. And, westerners see them as koreans; so they are not accepted by westerners as westerners.

So, they freak out. They act weird, irrational, irate, belligerant, etc....

[kimchi_pizza]

[kimchi_pizza]

[browneyedgirl]

Kyopos are awesome.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I've never understood this lumping Kyopos together and dissing them. I've worked with a few over my 13 years and have never had any particular problem with any of them beyond the normal range of personality conflicts you have with anyone.

[jackson7]

Haven't met the typical ass-hat gyopos people complain about. Met one that was just a nice guy, another that was a bit of a tool (but a nice guy, nonetheless), and one that actually spoke Korean and was in the middle of pulling an incredibly hot Korean gal after being here for a week. I was jealous. I work with a gyopo that is more Korean than most Koreans I know. The only weird thing about gyopos that make me laugh is that sometimes they don't speak Korean at all. That's a little surprising.

[justin moffatt]

Kimchi pizza:

Your post reflects my concerns exactly. Thank you for validating my point.


Furthermore, I am not "lumping" all kyopos into one group. I have had some positive experiences, but less so than with other co-workers of various other ethnicities.

From a psychological perspective, I fully understand the confusion that often lies in not being fully accepted within either culture. This is a common occurence with many youth and young adults who come to a new country and have to find that balance between their traditional culture and the values of the new country. In fact, I conducted cross-cultural psychology courses and governmental programs for individuals dealing with these sort of issues back home.

I just cannot understand why these issues sometimes bleed into the work environment, when all efforts are made to counteract these reactions in a compassionate, professional manner.

I have also heard before the theory that something happens to some kyopos when they come to Korea, from numerous individuals working in International and Domestic corporations, hagwons, public schools, Universities, and the US military.

For the record, my FAMILY is Korean, and my best friend from Elementary school to High School was Korean (as is a very close friend here) and I never experienced these issues with any of them.

[ardis]

[Ramen]

I personally know a few kyopos who pretend that they don't speak Korean because they don't want Korean employers to treat them like other Koreans.

So I guess not speaking Korean can be an advantage, especially, when they can.

[samcheokguy]

people are people. Even if I've met a lot of gyopos I'd like to hold under until the bubbles stop rising to the surface, and the legs stop twiching, doesn't mean I'm going to treat a new one of them any different from anybody else. Just give them enough rope and they'll hang themself.

[EuroFunk]

I never heard of the word gyopo/kyopo until I came to Dave's.

shit.

[kimchi_pizza]

[nomad-ish]

i've known about 4 or 5 korean adoptees over here, totally cool people, however i've also known a couple koreans that were mostly raised in korea, but then for some reason or another spent a few years abroad. i find they can sometimes be difficult to deal with. i guess it depends on what experiences they had abroad.

[justin moffatt]

Of course, any person I engage in employment with, regardless of ethnicity, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately lately, I have been more cautious in what I disclose, and more wary when I interact with someone whom I just met (kyopos and otherwise).

I appreciate the positive comments. That semblance of hope is starting to grow . . .

To clarify, my less positive experiences means anything from poaching my material, to backstabbing me to my superiors to gain favour, to downright racist comments to my non-Korean colleagues with Korean girlfriends or wives. Of course, I have experienced this with other westerners as well, just moreso with some kyopos, thats all . . .

BTW one of my business partners in the USA is kyopo and he IS awesome!