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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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 Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:00 pm Post subject: LONG TERMERS - HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH 'THE INVISIBLE WALL' |
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A German expat living in Korea was the first ever German national to change his citizenship and become a Korean citizen.
His story is here in the K Herald.
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/07/06/200907060052.asp
For all he likes about Korea and despite being officialy a Korean Citizen he mentions the 'Invisible Wall' - the fact that Koreans still treat him as an outsider. Here is a quote -
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"I stayed and joined this society because I wanted to become part of this country's potential," he said.
Despite his determination and affection, blending in was not always easy.
"Korean people are generally open to foreigners as guests," he said. "Once a foreigner tries to become part of their society, they tend to reject it." |
In which ways have you encountered the invisible wall most often..?
How have you dealt with it?
Do you think it will change with time...? |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Changing your citizenship in Korea is totally meaningless, IMHO. You will never become truly a woori nara saram.
Besides, you get away with so much more by NOT being Korean. |
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afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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Korea may become the first country to realize a harmonious multicultural society, an ideal which has never fully been realized in any other country
That's all I had to read..... USA, Canada, Western Europe....??? Not perfect examples but close.
Korea is to hoarmonious multicultural society just as much as Korea is to Logic... it doesn't exist. |
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brainfreeze
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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| afsjesse wrote: |
Korea may become the first country to realize a harmonious multicultural society, an ideal which has never fully been realized in any other country
That's all I had to read..... USA, Canada, Western Europe....??? Not perfect examples but close.
Korea is to hoarmonious multicultural society just as much as Korea is to Logic... it doesn't exist. |
In fairness though Western Europe, Australia, NZ, Canada and the US took generations to become "harmonious" and that's only because they allowed migration. It wasn't so "harmonious" even 50 years ago. See "White" Australia policy.
It will take many generations of migration to make Korea more accepting of foreigners. |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I guess I'm most curious about any posters who are married here / married with kids / work outside the ESL industry / have lived here 10 years plus / have become Korean citizens... |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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| I milk it for all it's worth. |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| I milk it for all it's worth. |
Any examples...? |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP wrote: |
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| I milk it for all it's worth. |
Any examples...? |
Coworker: "But you must do things this way! It is the Korean way!"
TheUrbanMyth: "Look more closely. I'm not Korean." |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| I remember that guy, he's had some pretty big parts in dramas. As for the invisible wall thing, well - I think it depends on the person and situation. I have often been called 'You are so Korean' for the way I act or the things I like and do. |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah life in Korea is way easier if you're not Korean, trust me. You don't want to experience what's waiting on the other side of that invisible wall. Absolutely crushing social pressure from your family, peers, and superiors. |
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ChinaBoy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:26 am Post subject: |
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| PeteJB wrote: |
| I have often been called 'You are so Korean' for the way I act or the things I like and do. |
You shouldn't let people insult you and get away with it. |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:59 am Post subject: |
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I don't take notice...
I have a birthday every year and every year I get one year older..
I think to myself.. well another year spent in Korea...
then I wonder what my friends are doing back home and what life would of been like if I had been there the past 10 years, or even the next years which I am sure I will be celebrating here...
LIFE IS TO SHORT to give a chit what Koreans are doing...
just worrrying about what you are doing...
so the invisible wall is just that INVISIBLE! I don't give a chit... |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| redaxe wrote: |
| Yeah life in Korea is way easier if you're not Korean, trust me. You don't want to experience what's waiting on the other side of that invisible wall. Absolutely crushing social pressure from your family, peers, and superiors. |
Agree on this one. I fight becoming Korean. Though a lot of the ways I think about things are now Korean (or Asian), such as the way I look at family. I like the aspect of Korean culture where you take care of your kids until they get married (why should we kick our kids out at 18 like in Western societies?) and I also like the idea of taking care of one's parents. Those two things just make so much sense, yet in individual Western society they aren't given a lot of thought anymore. (Funny because they used to be our norms 50 years ago...)
When I hear things like "This is Korea, you should do it the Korean way..." I say yes, but I am not Korean, so...
Even with a wife and kid, I never want to become a Korean. It is way nicer to just be a "guest" and reap those benefits. |
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brainfreeze
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:39 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| redaxe wrote: |
| Yeah life in Korea is way easier if you're not Korean, trust me. You don't want to experience what's waiting on the other side of that invisible wall. Absolutely crushing social pressure from your family, peers, and superiors. |
Agree on this one. I fight becoming Korean. Though a lot of the ways I think about things are now Korean (or Asian), such as the way I look at family. I like the aspect of Korean culture where you take care of your kids until they get married (why should we kick our kids out at 18 like in Western societies?) and I also like the idea of taking care of one's parents. Those two things just make so much sense, yet in individual Western society they aren't given a lot of thought anymore. (Funny because they used to be our norms 50 years ago...)
When I hear things like "This is Korea, you should do it the Korean way..." I say yes, but I am not Korean, so...
Even with a wife and kid, I never want to become a Korean. It is way nicer to just be a "guest" and reap those benefits. |
Mr. Pink, sorry to derail the topic, but I saw in another thread that you were thinking of leaving Canada to return to Asia, because of the low pay?
Any plans on where you might head to next? |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH 'THE INVISIBLE WALL? |
By living in my bubble, and counting my money when the dealin's done.
Oh, did I mention getting my own ride so I don't have to ride public transport really helps too? It does. |
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