Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Manuel]

Dear folks,

I got a Korean girl-friend and our relationship is developing to a very serious one.

So next time I'll go to Korea she wants me introduce me her family. When I was in Korea I met some interracial couples, but most of the non-American mixed one told me it is a hard way to be accepted by a Korean family.

My girl-friend tells me her parents are many and warm hearted people, but at the same time intolerant toward non Korean foreigners.

I call her everyday from German on her cell phone. So she improved my Korean a lot. I wouldn't have a big trouble speaking in Korean ( which was not so hard if you can speak Chinese and Japanese before ).

I'm more afraid that I will be not accepted,because I'm not an American, but everyone considers me as one or at least mixed-blood American-Korean.

I'm very afraid to meet them. Has anyone some expierences with your parents in law? Would they more accept me if I will live a year in Korea. So could they know me better.

I guess many Korean parents have stereotypes about Western foreigners ,because they could think I would take her away to Germany. But I don't want live here,too.

I think for Asian people the old European custom and tradition make us upset ...just as the weather it is. If we would live in another Asian country both of us, would have to adapt to it.

I met many Japanese-Korean couples. Seems that the distance between Korea and Japan is ok.

I don't know...I even don't know how to call them...call them Mr. and Mrs.Seo ...bring gifts from old Europe...?

What exactly is Korean custom?

[jajdude]

I don't know. I wonder though, if the foreigner has a good job and is making good money, maybe that will make the parents happier about their daughter being with him?

If they are good people and see that she is happy with you, maybe it won't be a big problem.

[SuperFly]

Wait, the inner circle? You'll never get there dude.

[hellofaniceguy]

It's very simple....what do you care if the family or koreans in general like you or not!?
It's her you like! And if it's serious and she likes you....that's all that matters!!!
What....inner circle! You'll never ever be part of it. And why would anyone want to be part of the korean inner circle anyway?
Afraid that you won't be accepted....I think you have far more to worry about than being accepted!

[Manuel]

For her it is important very important. Korean society seems to be very complicated.
She works 14 hours a day from Monday to Friday and is finiancialy independent. But still...her parents don't listen to her and she finances that her sisters can study at uni.

I think Korean people are family people.The children support their parents. There is a strong link to the family. I'm just afraid to destroy it. I don't understand why she has to keep me in secret in front of her parents. Her parents never met me and already dislike me and my parents never met her and like her.

Oh yes she loves me. No wonder I can accept that she wants to make her career and works hard. She cannot cook, but spends all her spare-time for improving her language skills. I can accept her independence and don't try to controle her like most Korean guys.

Just for me she translated her Cyworld into Japanese and English. I think it is not easy for Koreans to express so open in the public http://cyworld.nate.com/831129

I don't know if I can get into the inner circle. She works so hard and does so much for me. I should at least have a try.

Otherwise I asked if we could live in Japan for a while. Korean authorities are not very tolerant with giving working visas to non English speakers.

[bossaco]

most old koreans that i know like the germans more than the americans

[chance2005]

[Pulgasori]

I'm in the same boat, different colour.
I'll be meeting my GF of nearly 10 months parents in just over a week when I arrive in Daejeon for my first overseas teaching gig. We started dating and fell in love while she was here in Canada studing at my University. Fortunatly for me, her parents are (in her words) 'extremely liberal' even by Western standards....I'll have to wait to be the judge of that myself though.
Regardless, she's filled her parents in on all our juicy details since day 1. Her parents have had nothing but great things to say about our relationship and have been dying to meet me since they first heard I would be coming over to Korea this summer. They were thrilled to hear that I loved such Korean staples as the Jimjilbang, Noraebang and of course Bingsu~~, and it rocked their world to hear that I've become a dilligent student of the Korean language.

I'm totally looking forward to it, they've told her that if I wanted to I could live with them in their house (i'lll pass on that one...), come over for food whenever I'm hungry for some 'real' Korean home cooking, and even drive her fathers car if I need to, Crazy!

To top it all off, they're diehard professional wrestling fans...an old interest of mine I may have to rekindle.

All that being said, they hardly speak a word of English and my Korean is hardly sufficient. First impressions are everything though, so here's to hoping i make a strong and lasting one on the K-folks.