Korean Job Discussion Forums

[leeroy12]

Don't you sometimes wish there were more Koreans here to even the balance?

I had a Korean private student here in London for a while, and for some topics of conversation I would come here and find some common "complaints" about Korea, Korean culture, etc... There are plenty! She would then "defend her country", so to speak. I've never been to Korea, and have no ulterior motive here!

Just in case you're interested, here were a few of her responses...

ME: "Koreans marry for money not love"

HA-RIN: Yes, we do. But there is very little social security in Korea - and while you might marry your husband because you love him, if he doesn't have any money then how can you support your children? It's not fair to them - and is selfish. Although it happens to a lesser extent, "marrying for money" happens in western countries too - they are perhaps less open about it though.

"Koreans are racist"

1. Koreans, like most people, are suspicious of the unknown. Most black people in Korea behave very differently and do not mix with the Korean population. Korean attitides to black people reflects this.

2. (to me) If you get on a bus in London with only black people how do you feel? Do you like the areas in London where only black people live? Do you want to live there? Aren't you racist in some ways?

3. Koreans are interested about foreigners, some in a bad way, some in a good way. This is the same in lots of countries.

"Koreans are useless at learning communicative English"

Mostly, Koreans aren't interested in communicating in English. They want a high TOEFL/TOEIC score - and they are well aware that this does not accurately reflect communicative ability. They know the system is stupid - but need to get a job. Most are of the belief that they will rarely use English functionally in their lives.

"Koreans are conformists"

Yes, we are - or at least we have been. The younger generation is much more interested in individualism and self-interest, but this still has to be balanced against the older generation's expectations. In such a densely-packed country such as this, perhaps some level of conformity is required.

"Koreans have a chip on their shoulder about Japan"

Yes, we do. But lots of countries have issues with others - and considering what happened it is understandable, although perhaps not commendable, that we haven't yet "forgotten".

"Korean married men often f*k prostitutes and sleep around"

Yes, this is understood and accepted - though rarely spoken about. This is what men are like, and its better that they do this than divorce and create fractured family problems - Korean society is widely unsupportive for such arrangements. (To me). "There is a problem in Britain with single parent families, right?"

Credit to her, she could stick up for herself!

[Circus Monkey]

Sure, it would be nice. But then I remember some Koreans that came on the old board and couldn't argue rationally their way out of a paper bag. Heck, there are some still here like that.

CM

[peppermint]

Good on her for trying, but has she posted here, she'd be attacked, because a lot of her comments just don't hold water.

A few examples-
on the racist issue: "Most black people in Korea behave very differently and do not mix with the Korean population" Which came first chicken or egg here?

prostitution: "This is what men are like, and its better that they do this than divorce and create fractured family problems " Is that why Korea has the second highest divorce rate in the world?

[Gord]

[Down from Above]

[peppermint]

not according to the Times.

[Mr. Pink]

[Ya-ta Boy]

2 things to say:

1)
For those who have been around here awhile, you will remember the posts saying 'we' don't want Koreans to come to this board. This is 'our' board. There are plenty of other boards for the Koreans. 'We' are around 'them' all day and don't need 'them' and their Konglish here.

This board was viciously anti-Korean for a long, long time. Only in the past year has it moderated somewhat.

2)
Circus Monkey wrote:
I remember some Koreans that came on the old board and couldn't argue rationally their way out of a paper bag. Heck, there are some still here like that.

This strikes me as just a souped up version of the same attitude, even with the qualifier 'some'. There are no more emotional and silly threads than the US vs. Canada threads that occur here every month or so. Koreans have no corner on the emotionalism market.

*ell's bells, we are all emotional beings; it's just that we westerners use logic to justify our emotionalism after we do or say something.

[Zyzyfer]

I like how she says "yes, we do" to every question. It's not really a criticism, just funny.

[leeroy12]

Should she ever come back to London then I'll hit her with your replies!

[mack the knife]

[Butterfly]

I think her responses are level-headed and realistic. The Lemon once wrote on this forum, in his view of Korea "Same sh*t, different pile" which is pretty much what your lady friend is saying. She isn't defending Korea so much as pointing out that Korea is the same as anywhere else more or less, with an equal percentage of stupid people as other countries. Korea is what it is, a country, with a lot of superficial cultural quirks.

[Gord]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[weatherman]

I had no problem with her answers, she was pretty much open and honest about it all, and for justifying the general statements, she did a good job, but she doesn't tell us how she feels, she only gives us cultural justifications, but I want her feeling on these issues, what is her mind?