Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Golem]

I get a little sick of hearing this or, because I am tall, Choi Hong Man -i- da or Go-in-im-ni-da.
I have decided that with kids turn about is fair play.
Usually I try to act just as surprised and say: "Han-guk-in-im-ni-da"
The responses are fantastic. Some look so shocked that I understood what I said. Some shut up entirely. Yet Others tell me than I am not a foreigner because I can speak Korean (this is my favorite response). Occasionally they strike up a polite yet childish conversation with me. My Korean sucks to be honest but the kids don't seem to mind trying to speak with my anyhow.
If they say I am Choi-Hong-man I just say short-ta-ree-im-ni-da (short legs). No Korean kid likes that. They either look embarrassed or stick out their tongue at me (mae-rang).
Its actually a lot of fun because most of the time it turns something that annoys me into an encounter that is fun for both of us.

[IlIlNine]

[Golem]

Typically I am just repeating back to them whatever version of way-guk shala shala they say to me. It is strange to speak formally to kids but perhaps that adds to the effect. My Korean isn't quite to the level where I remember that I am speaking in Ban-mal or Jeon-dot-mal. I often just say what automatically comes to my head and than afterwards realize that it was in the wrong formality.

[okokok]

You're the first person to think of this.

[RyanInKorea]

That's totally cutting edge.

Ryan

[cdninkorea]

I usually reply with "우와! 한국이 이다" as well, and usually the parents laugh. A few times though I've had the parents give me dirty looks. WTF?

[Yesterday]

why just kids?

It works on Adults also...

Last week I was in E-mart (although I hate that place) -

looking for a small heater.... (which they don't have anymore - because "winter" is finished)

one of the ajumna's there - sees me - mentions to one of the other ajumna's "ahh - way-gookin" and they both laugh about it and then try their best to look the other way as if I am invisible - so they don't have to give me service..

I went up and stood in front of one of the ajumna's and said "heater 히이터 oi-di? heater 히이터 ee-saw?"

she just shook her hands and said "mul-la mul-la"

so I said "Ahh! Jun-guk saddam! Hangul-mul mul-la" and shook my head.

she was flabbergasted that I had called her a Chinese person who doesn't understand Korean..

so she immediately - explained to me in Korean that E-mart didn't have any heaters..

I then told her back in Korean - Oh! you do understand Korean"

[GreenlightmeansGO]

Just to point out, 'waygookin imnida' means 'I am a foreigner', and 'hangukin imnida' means 'I am a Korean'.

The other posters have it correct: 'i da'

[Chamchiman]

[PeteJB]

The Emart ladies always talk to me in Korean, so I don't know where the heck you shop...

[Yesterday]

it was Cheonho..

I should have just stuck with Homeplus - their service is much better...

you don't have those ajumna's standing around blocking the aisles, pretending to be helping people.

[okokok]

[Yesterday]

[Jack Meiov]

holy 2001 batman

[okokok]