Korean Job Discussion Forums

[airbear]

Just a random and not-very-nice observation that I and many others I've spoken to have made during my 10 months here in Korea...

We are kind of ugly!!

Has anyone else noticed or pondered the fact that the foreigners here in Korea don't seem to be a very attractive bunch??? Now, before anyone rakes me across the coals, I am not excluding myself, or the people I like, even, from this generalization. It just seems to me that 9 or so out of every 10 foreigners you run across are of average to below average attractiveness, often dumpy and out of shape, and frequently poorly dressed. Where are all the good looking people?

I know there are other things that matter way more and I rarely date conventionally attractive people anyways, but what gives?

Is it all in my head? I've certainly noticed the deficit more since I became single a few months back... I don't think we've ended up with a true sample of the broad spectrum of attractiveness you run across in Western countries.

Any theories or rebuttals??

[Ilsanman]

I think some people here get dumpy and their skin gets bad from living in this polluted cesspool.

I was really healthy before coming here. I ate pretty good, I exercised a lot, and I had better skin and more hair.

[Hapkido-In]

I don't really fell that most foreigners are ugly. My work place has decent to good looking foreigners working at it. Most of the people I see around are somewhat good looking.

I've actually lost weight since I came here.

That's not to say that we are all a bunch of basking beauties. I've seen a few fuglies roaming the streets. But most are average to good looking.

Maybe I have lower standards than others.

[kermo]

My theory is that if you want to solve this problem, you should drink more alcohol.

[VanIslander]

objects next to tomatoes look thinner than those next to sticks

[the eye]

[Fredbob]

Curious, are there suddenly many more attractive Korean women here than there were a few months ago?- My guess is the POS will answer yes and I think many have experienced that phenomenon.

In laymans terms, different is scary/ugly and after this much time, if you haven't been spending all your free time in Itaewon or watching English television, Westerners have become different.

I actually can say that I never in my life felt ugly until I came here, but I go through times where I feel that way, despite all the contrary evidence I receive on a daily basis. My skin sucks here and it looks like somewhere took a nice wide paintbrush with light pink paint and went right down the middle of my face with it, I'm sure it's not the pollution though (just because it started the day I got here and has never completely gone away grr.... )

All psychology aside, the glazed/pissed off/studiously ignoring you, looks I see on many foreigners' faces definitely puts them down a few pegs on the attractiveness scale.

[pastis]

[jmbran11]

I don't know about more attractive, but I am not as well-dressed as my Korean counterparts. Mostly because I can't buy clothes here. The salespeople attack me and everything has ruffles, so shopping is right up there with a root canal.

Plus, I actually work for a living. So, I don't have endless time in the morning to blow dry, straighten, curl my hair, apply my makeup carefully, check myself in the mirror hourly, and spend my weekends shopping for overpriced skin care products while my husband lugs my bags around.

But, that being said, I don't hold a grudge. I could do all of that stuff, so I definitely don't look down on the beautiful Korean girls who make the effort. They are prettier than me, and that's just the way it is. I'll just admit that my priorities are different, and those around me are forced to suffer with my less than stellar appearance.

It's really quite a tragedy.

[crazylemongirl]

The exotic is erotic.... having said that I start noticing the flaws in appearance after living here a few years here from the locals and some good looking foreigners.

[cubanlord]

[Homer]

[joyfulgirl]

bizarre. most foreigners i have worked with and know are pretty good looking. i'm not just saying that 'cause i like them, they really are. and just walking to work today, passed a stunning foreign girl on the street, and then a tall hottie bald guy walked past on the other side of the street a bit further on.

[pastis]

[Nok Yong]

You mean us?