Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fermentation]

Bad manners in Korea and what we receive to be bad manners are talked to death here. But what are some differences in etiquette that you don't mind, or actually like?

For me, I don't really care that people don't open doors for people. In the States I hated having to hurry to pass a doorway because I felt sorry for the person keeping the door open for me. I also didn't like it when I open a door for somebody only to find like a dozen people behind him/her. Here, I just stroll in buildings without worrying about that stuff. I don't like having a door slammed in my face, but that rarely happens.

I also don't mind the bowing from a distance when meeting new people in groups instead of going around and shaking every individual's hand. You can just bow to the group as a while and be done with it. Maybe I'm just lazy and maybe I'm not a people person but I prefer it. Sometimes its better to have the individual to individual greeting with a firm handshake and eye contact, but sometimes its a pain in the ass.

[absane]

One thing is when when I hold doors open for Koreans, I rarely hear a thank you. I am not irritated by it, just intrigues me. They won't look at me in the eye and they often times try to rush pass me hoping that I don't notice them. It's just an idle curiosity of mine. Though, when I do hear a thank you I feel delighted.

One thing I like (and it never happened to me in the States) is how if I am sitting next to an older Korean, he or she will sometimes offer me food. I was watching a dance competition at COEX last Saturday and an ajumma sitting next to me gave me an ice cream sandwich.

And one last thing that comes to mind is when I am standing in the subway car, sometimes an old man will offer me a seat next to him in the handicapped/older Korean section of the car.

[pegasus64128]

[tatertot]

I like not saying "bless you" or something like that when someone sneezes. Reacting to a sneeze like that is an anachronism.

By the way, this is a good topic idea.

[ssuprnova]

Slurping while eating noodles. Seriously, who came up with that rule!?

Also, sharing food. I actually like this custom a lot.

As someone already mentioned, spitting. I never spit at home, but the air quality in Seoul is pretty bad. You gotta do what you gotta do.

[Steelrails]

For those of us out in the sticks when walking by a newly fertilized field and getting a god ol whiff that you can taste, spitting is mandatory to avoid gagging and hurling.

Remember, smell is based off of microscopic particles hitting your nose. That means if you can smell and taste cow patties, you've got cow patty in your mouth.

Slurping noodles is fine, noodles are hot so slurping cools them. If you wait to long, the noodles lose their texture. I don't like it though. I just don't mind it. Kinda like the spitting, an unfortunate necessity.

The biggest one I like is group conversations and discussions. While they can stray into old ajosshi droning on and on to the youngsters, with a heavy dose of group think, territory, amongst peers its quite nice that typical conversations over issues don't dissolve into shouting matches between two attention-seeking people with competing viewpoints as everyone else just kinda zones off or talks about something else. People actually listen instead of just waiting for their turn to speak.

[Wildbore]

[ajuma]

[cfile2]

[Perceptioncheck]

I have actually grown to enjoy the free-for-all when trying to get on the subways in rush hour. The sight of a pushy adjumma ricocheting off my considerably larger frame is surprisingly satisfying; it can be a wonderful outlet for pent up aggression.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

[Zyzyfer]

[bekinseki]

I don't mind when westerners abide by Korean drinking etiquette. What annoys me is when Korean-Americans go overboard with it.

Most of the stuff here doesn't bother me. I'm a fast walker, so I don't register Koreans as being pushy. I only ever get shoved or bumped when I'm in Itaewon, by other foreigners. I don't recall seeing Koreans spitting very often, but it was much more conspicuous when I was in China.

Remember a few weeks ago, when I posted a thread complaining about Koreans opening umbrellas indoors? Yeah, didn't bother me. Pretty logical thing to do actually.

[wishfullthinkng]

[atwood]