Korean Job Discussion Forums

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Came across this REALLY interesting little book in the Incheon Kyobo. Its really cool, 5,000won and it basically lists all the annoyances us westerners have about koreans and vice versa.

Not 100% accurate but still very interesting stuff.

And two others I found out recently from friends

Whistling in public = bad, its persumes ur wolfwhistling girls (regardless of tune or girls present) and also old people believe it makes snakes appear.

Shaking ur leg at the table (i.e keeping the beat of a song, attempting to recover from massive caffiene overdose) = bad, as you all know, it chases luck away.

Rational arguements there I'm sure u'll agree! Rolling Eyes

buddy bradley · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The Beyond

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

alicat_blue · Joined: 09 Mar 2005

I never knew either of those two things, maybe because I'm still a "newbie"? I always whistle the tunes in my head (force of habit). Maybe I should stop? Maybe I should get this book? Reminds me of a great book about Thai interpretations of Western folk, titled "Wondering Into Thai Culture". Insightful stuff.

peppermint · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:47 am Post subject:

Is the version on the market now still ages out of date? I know a co worker was asked to update it two years ago. Maybe he gave up?

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Well I'm a noob and didnt know it was well known, also i found out some things, and at 5000w its hardly bank breaking

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

The cartoon pictures are funny. Everyone is always totally shocked or surprised or angry to discover that people from different cultures do indeed think and act differently!

tomato · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 2:48 am Post subject:

For anyone who wants to buy the book, the necessary information is on this thread:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=39052&highlight=

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Yeah, many of those are WAAAAAYYYY out of date.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

Of course one would realize the "things that annoy foreigners about Koreans" within a couple weeks, but some of the things that annoy Koreans about foreigners come as big surprises. I saw it as a book that was meant to be shared.

The King of Kwangju · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Location: New York City

I've got an autographed first edition if anyone wants to make a bid.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Yes, some of the things are out of date, but even these can make good conversation topics about how things have changed in the past 10 years or so.

I usually choose a couple of "ugly Korean" and a couple of "ugly American" and we talk about the difference in cultures. A lot of my students will be going to America, Canada or Australia to study, so looking at BOTH sides is helpful for them.

One thing that's NOT in the book that I often bring up is why American (and most Western) women don't like to tell their age!

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

taobenli · Joined: 26 Apr 2004

So what are some of the things that annoy Koreans about foreigners? And by "foreigners" do they mean "Americans" (because how could they talk about the whole rest of the world)?