Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

Everyone wants to be liked and to get ahead wherever they are. Newbies come to Korea fresh with energy and enthusiasm. However, many don't use their heads and make themselves look like fools. I thought the experienced guys and gals should make a thread with advice for the newbie. Do's and don'ts in Korea.

Do -
try to learn some Korean. People here will respect you and believe
that you're not just here for money.

sometimes pick up the check in restaurants. More often than not,
Koreans (except for university students) will wrestle it away from
you and you won't end up paying anything. They'll notice and
appreciate the initiative you took.

show some respect to the South Korean flag. At school functions,
they sometimes play the national anthem. I met one foreigner
who won't put his right hand over his heart. "What's the big deal?"
I was thinking. I feel strange doing it too since I don't belong to
this country, but why not do it to make them happy? Remember, so
many Koreans and allied soldiers died for that flag. Why not show it
a little respect? Not doing so could be interpreted as dissing
Korean people.

Don't -
say any bad stuff about Korea in front of them. They don't take it
well and you'll quickly fall into their bad books. Save the criticism
for bar nights with your foreigner friends (or here on Dave's).

I heard of one foreigner who when meeting a Korean walking or
carrying a dog would say "bosin-tang" (dog soup), and point at the
owner's dog. What an idiot! You could only imagine what the dog
owner must have been thinking of him. Maybe she thinks all
all foreigners are condescending to Koreans. If this guy had any
real balls, he'd stand in front of dog soup restaurants and heckle
the drunken Korean men going into and coming out of these restaurants.

[eamo]

[Dev]

[eamo]

The reason people put their hands on their hearts during anthems is to demonstrate their heartfelt belief in the meaning and ethos of the anthem.

Do you know what is in the words of the Korean anthem? If you did would you feel heartfelt belief that this song defines your nationality?

[flotsam]

I stay seated and sing Dixie at the top of my lungs.

I think just standing is enough. I've done that in every country I have ever lived in and there has never been a problem.

My problem is whether or not I still feel comfortable putting my hand over my heart for the Star Spangled Banner...

[I_Am_Wrong]

anthem: stand up, arms straight. Put my hand over my heart? I don't even do that for my own national anthem.

pay the cheque: most of my korean friends are in university and most of them never let me pay the cheque. The only time I get to pay the cheque is when I sneak away and pat without them knowing.

[Qinella]

Eamo what's up with that avatar!

[eamo]

[Newbie]

[RACETRAITOR]

Who puts their hand over their heart during an anthem? Weird.

Another one you should add: don't get too drunk right away. Self-control will impress people more than vomiting all over the place and shouting "All the bitches are so fucking hot!" I've seen way too many people land roughly here because they can't control the drinking when they arrive.

[rothkowitz]

Putting your hand over your heart for an anthem looks desperate.

Hmm...I can't seem to resist saying 'dong kabang' whenever I see someone with a Louis Vuitton bag here.Just looks so .....odious.Don't see much reason to stop though.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Paying: Korean professionals who are senior to you may consider it a kind of subversion if you pick up the bill. Do it once in a while if it's someone you go out regularly with, at a place that you've suggested going to, not him, for a meal you've suggested going to yourself. If you wish to establish professional authority over someone, like a new, younger co-worker, be sure that you pick up the bill.

Bosingtang: jokes are fine if they know that you think eating dog is just fine and are not mocking their cultural preferences.

The anthem: do what everyone else is doing and don't stand out.

Bad things about Korea: it's fine to be honest if you do it diplomatically and especially if you can show a bit of self-deprecation while doing it.

i.e.
'What do you think of Korean drivers'?
'They're just as bad as Canadian drivers'.
'Do you like Kimchi'?
'It's a bit too hot for me. How do Koreans manage to eat so much hot food'?
'What do you think of North Korea'?
'I think most Koreans would be shocked to see what it's really like'.

You can get by just fine without sugarcoating things and being overly deferential to your hosts.

[funkywinkerbeans]

Have to agree with several others inthat putting your hand over your heart seems and looks very strange. I don't do it when listening to my own anthem, so why would I do it for the Korean National Anthem. Standing up and hands along your side should suffice.

Overall, not much substance to your do and don't.

[desultude]

[rothkowitz]

The do you like kimchi thing drives me nuts.Koreans haven't got a clue about hot food and I refuse to indulge them.Its not like its made from gunpowder or anything.

The can you use chopsticks thing is equally annoying.No,I carry a spoon down my boot.They'll often look down to check.....