Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

I found this Q and A on the Joongang Ilbo site. I thought it was of interest to anyone thinking about buying a car.

Q:
When I told my locally hired staff that I wanted to buy a Korean car, they presented a few brochures to me. My wife and I decided to buy a white or maybe beige sedan since we drove a light-colored car back home in the United States. Upon hearing my choice, Koreans at work looked obviously disturbed and told me "a boss should be driving a dark-colored car" to commute. If I really didn't want black, then they advised I go for navy or deep forest green. I did notice that Korean streets are full of black cars. Is there any cultural meaning to driving dark-colored cars?

A:
To most conservative Koreans, when it comes to cars, size and color matter. Big black sedans represent power and prestige as they are often chauffeur-driven for high-ranking civil and military officers as well as top executives in companies. Junior ranks in organizations are advised to avoid driving or purchasing dark-colored cars that are larger or more expensive than those owned by their superiors.

Light-colored cars, on the other hand, are viewed as liberal or even shallow. Thus, in Korean films, a gangster boss, for example, will be seen driving a large white sedan. However, this is one of many fast-changing attitudes as Korea is becoming more open to different values.

[tzechuk]

My husband has a dark green grandeus and a white starex. I chose the colours. He never told me that colours represented status?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Bulsajo]

[Radioactive]

[Hollywoodaction]

Research has found the the most agressive and inconsiderate drivers are the ones who drive black cars and that the safest, most patient drivers are the ones who drive beige or cream coloured cars. Tell that to the guys at the office, Ya-Ta-Boy.

[little mixed girl]

most asians in my area in the US drive white or grey/silver cars....i guess they are obviously not koreans.
=/

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Bulsajo]

I heard that statistics show that silver cars are the safest, i.e. statistically they get into accidents less than cars of other colours, but I never heard why.

Uh, it was on a morning radio talk show, not Scientific American or anything, FWIW.

[Wangja]

Maybe, in countries where taxis are not silver.