Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ramen209]

Being aware that's it's culturally acceptable manners here... and not in Western societies....

does anyone else find the loud chewing sounds that Koreans make while eating, the chewing with the mouths open on display for all to see, and the talking with food in the mouth to be irritating?

Being in an office and constantly hearing someone eat, seeing chewed up food in their mouths, or hearing people having conversations while stuffing food in there mouths is driving me crazy!

[Italy37612]

It bothered me for awhile when I first got here. Took me a a couple of years, but now I hardly notice it anymore.

Can't let those little things get to you or you won't last long here.

[emacs]

just cultural. a good example, "ramen eating noise in japan" which is an act of respecting a chef.

[nathanrutledge]

Gotta say, in all my time here, I've never had a problem with that. I've never noticed my co workers doing that any more or less than back home. Even my students at a middle school and a technical high school haven't been like that. I'm forced to conclude that all the foreigners who complain about this must come from some land where they take tiny nibbles, then slowly roll the food around in their mouth with their tongue until the mush just rolls down the throat. Maybe they all have no teeth and they just gum their food like peaches?

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

It doesn't bother me unless it's gum.

[Steelrails]

Depends on time and setting.

I mean if I'm sauced and diving into a basket of fried chicken and chugging beer like a belching pack animal am I really going to get upset at the guy at the next table for slurping his drunken bowl of ramyun?

Now if I'm at a nice restaurant....

[Konglishman]

[giraffe]

[Drew10]

My co-worker does this all the time. Usually he goes into a different room to eat, but when he eats at his desk (which is next to mine) It drives me insane.

[runthegauntlet]

Always thought I was just a bit over-sensitive in regards to sounds, but honestly, it irritates the crap out of me. One person I work with feels compelled to make continuous 'umm' sounds while eating and I feel like boring out my ear drums. This is in addition to the smacking. It's not even a natural smacking. It's loud enough to the point where they must be overemphasizing it for whatever reason.

This is only eclipsed by the gum-smacking. Had quite a few taxi drivers doing that as well.

[bobrocket]

Haha, inlaws, on a visit to NZ I told them I didn't like it and they wouldn't get fed if they did it. It is rude...
In Korea it seems normal though, I don't like it, won't do it, but different culture, different strokes, I wouldn't / won't let it get to me

[CentralCali]

Speaking of Japan, noodles, and a nice restaurant...

[rchristo10]

Just grit your teeth and wait it out. After a couple of years, you'll not only ignore it but start catching yourself doing the same thing.

I feel the same way about the giraffe and her breeder (the 20 something's mother...who claims that they'll move right after the daughter finishes her officer exam) living above me. They walk around constantly as if they're several tons heavy. It's annoying as all life and I swear the other day, I went ballistic on their door at 2am and felt like setting the place on fire. Yet, logic dictated that my computer and stuff below would be in harms' way.

Calm, calm, calm.

[liveinkorea316]

I hate loud eating too. I got slapped upside my head when I came back from Korea and ate like that at the family dinner table.

Just because it is a part of the culture here does not make it good or right. I definately think closed mouth eating is a superior human trait.

I try to convince people eating with me to close their mouths....that is if I know them well enough to say it.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Except for the gum smacking...its no big deal.