Korean Job Discussion Forums

eIn07912 · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Location: seoul

..WTH is up the obsession over that here??!?!?!

It's not just Korea. I understand it to be quite common in Japan and China as well. But I just don't get why it's so ubiquitous here.

Kids, teens, adults, uni students, even the odd elderly person plays it. Often for no real reason. I know kids back home play it just for fun when they first learn it. But they quickly grow out of that phase by third grade. And yes, adults may use it to solve a trivial dispute or see "who buys the next round" kind of thing. But I've noticed several times, adults or at least university aged people, sitting in a circle and just playing it. Not trying to win anything or decide anything, just "Ki! Bai! Bo!" over and over again.

I'm not complaining. It honestly gives me a little chuckle to see it. But I don't understand why it so common.

Some of my students also get incredibly passionate over it. I've had to break up fights between my 4th graders because of this stupid game. Seriously, kids screaming bloody murder and throwing fists for a stupid game. One was even brought to tears because his friend accused him of cheating.

There must be some reason it so ingrained into society. There must be some lost Confusion proverb about it or something. But I'm at a loss over it. When I first came here, I found it cute and a little funny that the entire country was obsessed with it. Even joining in on a few rounds myself. I even made the joke that if there ever were a second Korean War, it will just be two massive armies converged at the DMZ for an epic Rock, Scissors, Paper battle. Winner take all.

Any thoughts.

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

It requires low attention span and intelligence to play.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

I saw a group of foreigners playing it on the subway Hongdae. Not just limited to the locals.

kimchi girl · Joined: 17 Dec 2009

you'd prefer the old west of drawing pistols and trying to shoot the other person?

It's an easy, decisive method of determining a winner/order.

eIn07912 · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Location: seoul

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Then, it definitely needs to be one of Mint's Korea: the gathering cards!

doggyji · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:09 am Post subject:

Not even 묵찌빠? Do you know this game? This requires fast reaction. There was a recent episode about this on the popular MBC sitcom 지붕뚫고 하이킥.

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

doggyji · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:31 am Post subject:

nosmallplans · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: noksapyeong

is it "rock, paper, scissors" or "rock, scissors, paper"?

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

until I see this going on, I think they're fine:

http://www.worldrps.com/
http://www.worldrps.com/2009-world-rps-championships

Chokse · Joined: 22 May 2009

[quote="nosmallplans"]is it "rock, paper, scissors" or "rock, scissors, paper"?[/quote]

When I grew up we called it "Ro-Cham-Beau".

yellowdove · Joined: 19 Aug 2009

when my students say it in english, it's rock scissors paper. in north america it's rock paper scissors, but now i've gotten so used to saying rock scissors paper here, it's totally natural and i have a feeling once i get back home i'll still refer to it backwards.

and it is seriously a game sent from the heavens, because it solves ANY dispute my students have, with no arguments at all. it's amazing.

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System