Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sigmundsmith]

I thought I might take a break from the studies to put down some thoughts.

I don't really buy into the total Korean xenophobia mind set. Yes, it exists but it exists in every country.

But like any good traveler in this small world let's look at our presence from a Koreans point of view.

First, we stand out. We look different. We don't think the same as Koreans. There is a assumption that all foreigners are and act like they do from the Hollywood movies that they see (being a non-American this bit irks me). But I have seen this same train of thought in less developed countries.

Foreigners come here to exploit Korea. Work and save money for a year and then take it back home to pay off their student loans. This is true for many here otherwise there would not be posts about the exchange rates. Alas, other people are concerned about the exchange rate regarding morgages etc as well.

Korea is a pure blood, homogenous culture that no one will understand. This is how many of us feel. So what can be done to improve this barrier. Some learn the language but even those who do, do you really know Korea and Koreans? I don't mean someone who is married to a Korean.

Foreigners come here to take our women. Well, this maybe true. But like most men I find most Asian women superiorly attractive to western women. Why is that so? Well, I put the blame directly on the feminist movement. Before you get upset, what happened was that women wanted to be so equal they wanted to be treated as another man. They have lost that sparkle, the appeal that makes a women a women.

Here, we see very attractive women who hold their appearance with pride and maintain that general softness that a women can display.

Now, before everyone gets going saying that I am a dinosaur man. Let me say first that I believe that women deserve equal pay and many things that the movement advocated. However, I still believe that men and women are distinctive creatures who are attracted to something different. I may go out into Itaewon and see a western women out with their friends dressed they way they do and see a Korean women dressed the way they do and I say, Korean.

Now, the backlash. The western women will say that why should I dress feminine or attractive for you. Thats right you shouldn't have to. You should dress for yourself.

But please don't ask the question, why are western guys not interested in me here in Korea. The only guys that will shag me are US military guys. Most western women have lost the special thing that defines them as a women.

There are other factors of course that appeals to western men being with a Korean/Asian women.

Westerners are all drug users. If you think that this specific mental thinking for Korea, listen/watch Limbaugh or Hannity and they perpetuate the same generalization about anything that is foreign and not American.

We all have aids. Comments like these are disgusting considering the level of prostitution in this country and the high number of Korean male who take a golf trip to Pattaya

To be honest, we have to hold ourselves higher than what Koreans hold themselves. We need to act, behave and conduct ourselves better than Koreans.

When an old man or women is standing, be the first to offer the seat. This will show Koreans who has greater respect for elders. I do this regularly and the response I get from them (older people) is very generous. They don't expect it.

That doesnot mean that we should be walked over. We should stand up as a person, equal to all. If someone pushes in say something, not aggressive. Say something like that is rude. (I must learn that expression in Korean).

What is accepted behavior in Korea by Koreans is not acceptable behavior by foreigners. That is spitting, leaving trash on the ground, visiting the local special barber shop, pushing in line. Koreans know that this is not appropriate behavior but they accept it but are embarrassed by it and they don't want non-Koreans filling in to this realm.

What I'm trying to say is that we as guests to this country must show respect, without loosing our individual identity. The idiot who use drugs while they are here and get caught end up roping us in with them. It's a fact. Koreans do drugs, cheat, beat up their wives (in public and private) and sometimes act unfathorbly (spl?) strange but lets be above that.

What do we do. Show Koreans that we are not the children. Many of us are treated like children in our respect jobs. But we actually see them acting like children.

Be above that. Show Koreans that we are different. We hold values that are different to them. Values, that they want to aspire to but can't because their country won't let them.

And then maybe they might learn and become a better people.

Because the longer we sit here and complain about this or that of Korea/Koreans, the long we will continue to be viewed in a negative light.

Oh well, back to my studies

[Rory_Calhoun27]

Maybe study some more of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elements_of_Style


Editing the stream of consciousness is our friend!

[toonchoon]

i completely agree with you about what you said about women.

western women just do not attract me one bit anymore. they can try and dress sexy, put on a skirt, heels, but then i know they're just trying too hard. it's not them, their nature or their mindset.

it's not just that K-women are physically more attractive, but they also know how to carry themselves, and have about them this feminine aura that was probably lost in the wast in the 60's.

i go hang with some friends, at a western restaurants, and sit next to a bunch of western girls. i have no desire to talk to them. no desire to small talk, to get them to do their fake laugh, or to get their number. shagging them would probably be easy, probably much easier than getting into a K-girl's panties, but to me, western girls, you are undesirable. you are inferior to Korean women.

even if you're a beauty, western girl, you are undesirable. why? because you think that because you work out, keep a line, and look pretty, you are something special. special you're not, western girl. undesirable, you most definitely are.

[Robot_Teacher]

The OP is talking about stereotype generalizations some Koreans might have or their consensus. Only partially agree. Partially, becuase everyone are individuals with varying personalities, education levels, and political outlook. I know they too are all individuals just like in any other country. Some like us and some don't, but most educated minds escape the mindset of negative stereotype generalizations. I'd hope the suits are NOT sitting in office thinking so small minded. If they're consensus was as negative as said on this website, they wouldn't support us to teach English to their children. It is highly experimental and is a risk Korea is embracing so they do look and talk about us a lot. They just want the best for their children in giving them a competitive edge through exposing them to worldly knowledge like English. I would say the uneducated and elderly might be more prone to thinking with wide sweeping negative generalizations.

On women. Korea appears to be much more competitive so many younger women dress to the 9's; not just to be sexy, but to take pride in their professional image. Male or female, you do look very professional if not over weight, but well dressed. It's a career competition contest and makes sense as if you look good, you're probably more apt to get a good job and achieve more.

I noticed western women here and at home aren't very dressy, but know they used to be more dressy 25 or more years ago. Remember the glamorous power suits and big chunky jewelry in the 1980's with the well primped wavy hair and makeup? Korea is very 1980's like in style with the glamor and femininity in both young adult male and female attire. They're just competing as if the world is a fashion runway. I'm betting they'd like us foreigners as individuals much more by putting on a professional image of at least a button down shirt and tie, if not a suit or blazer, but I too am not normally that dressy as I like Dockers and button down shirts. I wish western women would be so sweet looking as many young Korean women are, but the western women I know of in both Korea and home are mostly fat, sloppily dressed, snobby, antisocial to guys, and cliquish with women only; none dress up. All 4 of them I know of are leaving this Summer as they're not happy here. Fashion states a lot about pride in ones self, their profession, and their country they hail from.

Korea is not a pure blood homogeneous one race as it clearly shows a mix of Japan, China, and possibly other nations as each individual looks very different. Whoever thinks that has their uneducated mind stuck so far up into a crevical where they can't breath.

How many Westerners such as Americans think with sweeping generalizations? Too many to count. I found I too was judged in negative light by many fellow Americans older than me in my years growing up there. It pissed me off many times in deep frustration and made me just want to spit on them, becuase they though shallow minded garbage like I'm not capable of doing a simple and stupid job or capable of being a real man or they were trying to think of ways to criminalize me over nothing. I don't see Koreans acting like that, but some men feel challenged by our presence and come off as rude. Are Korean police trying to criminalize us while doing everyday things such as walking down the street to go teach at the local school like American police might do? Are Korean parents scrutinizing us in opposition. Very doubtful. But I think the retired elderly look at me in negative light, but that doesn't matter as they're not in charge and never had a chance to understand us and the world outside Korea. It's really not that bad, just a few rude men who feel insecure about their manhood in the presence of foreign men like me.

[Jeweltone]

From a lady's point of view:

Actually, it doesn't do to make too many generalizations here about Western women; I have met some Korean women who can be judged in the same way.

When I was living in Seoul:
I dressed both professionally and in a feminine way, and I found the reactions quite entertaining. Also, skirts rule in the hot weather! My director was always complimenting me on my fashion sense and wanted to know where I went shopping...subway diving rocks!

I was not overly aggressive, loud, or rude; I do not care for fake feminine wiles in other women, though ("Oppa!"). My female Korean friends were naturally beautiful, and there was no artifice about them (many in their thirties, but still knock-outs).

I got hit on by more Korean men than Western men, but I possess only average looks (a short size 10 - curvy, but far from obese). The men I did meet (Korean and Western) were of good character and articulate in their manners and speech (Don't I sound like an old lady? But it's true!).

I appreciate a man who can take charge without becoming a bulldozer.

I do not have a chip on my shoulder about men or femininity, and neither do any of my friends. There are women of good character out there, but you can't stereotype, or you will miss out.

[Forward Observer]

Re the money and sending it back home:

Millions of Koreans go to my country and do the same thing - have done it since the early 60's - so I don't feel too bad when a few thousand of my people come to Korea and send their hard earned money back home to pay off student loans. At least we're not selling sex for that money. (Maybe our souls though)

[Enrico Palazzo]

[harlowethrombey]

I'm just celebrating making it through the entire OP.

Then I saw the length of the responses and gave up. . .

[blackjack]

bullet points please, I gave up half way. plus bold the statements were were defending against

[nosmallplans]

[mlh]

I dont don't think you can say Western women are inferior to Korean women anymore than you can say Korean women are inferior to Western women. With different cultures, attitudes, fashion sense of course women just as men will be different. What you can say though is that you have a preference for Korean women over Western women.

Everyone has preferences whether its regarding culture, fashion sense, hair color, height, weight, etc. It would make sense that it is more likely that men who already prefer Asian or Korean women are more likely to come here than men who do not have a preference for Korean women.

I'm not saying everyone comes here with the intention of getting laid or looking for a relationship, but when you sign on for a year or more the thought of dating possibilities probably crosses a person's mind. So if you're a man and you aren't really into Korean women and you don't want to go a year or more without some sort of companionship or whatever then it makes sense you'd be less likely to come here. The opposite is probably true for those who have a preference for Korean women.


But the point is you might think the way Korean women carry themselves or dress or walk is more appealing but that doesn't make those who are different lesser or 'inferior'.

[jkelly80]

Comparing the Korean ajeossi to the Limbaughs and Hannitys is damning them with horribly faint praise.

One last time: THIS IS NOT EXPLOITATION. THIS IS IMMIGRATION. LABOR AND CAPITAL MOVE ACROSS BORDERS WITH REGULARITY. There's nothing wrong with moving to another country to make money, even if you're white and the country you're moving is not a Western country. Shocking but true.

If you can name one immigrant group in the ENTIRE &%&%$ WORLD who didn't immigrate b/c of either money or political persecution, I owe you a kimbap.

A vast majority of English teachers are here for two years or less, why in the hell would such a group assimilate?

[Ukon]

Why all the western women bashing??? You got yellow fever or something?

I love a well dressed women and dress well myself.....but it's hardly their duty to dress well. Especially to impress Mysigonist idiots or dudes with yellow fever least of all.

For all the talk of desperate white girls...I've yet to meet many desperate pretty white girls here....

[toonchoon]

[peppermint]