Korean Job Discussion Forums

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:33 pm Post subject: Facial hair = being tired

When the weather becomes cold I tend to grow a beard and stick with it until it becomes annoying or just feel like shaving.

Funny thing is that EVERYTIME I start to grow one, Korean friends and students say I "look tired". They even ask if I'm alright or sick. Granted that Korean men are clean shaven everyday and if war was to break out, they would shave first and then run out the door. But I don't think I look THAT bad...

Anyone else come across this?

Maybe I should just grow a goatee which is still the rage back home, but I don't care for it. Or do my Elvis-sideburn-imitation? Me, I aways thought the Wolverine (X-men movie) haircut/sideburns the coolest so I think I'll go for that look. I may not look tired, but I will look mean and bad-a$$!

Gwangjuboy · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Location: England

Once Koreans get used to seeing you with a beard (I have have sported the rugged look for 2 years now) they will stop saying that to you. I used to get it quite often and it annoyed me.

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

I've been told it means you woke up too late in the morning to have time, so you must not have gotten enough sleep.

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

"Tired" is the nearest word they know to cover a multitude of adjectives.

What they're trying to say is, you don't look neat/smart.I don't think beards are really acceptable here, a bit like long hair....

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

It's because they're a bunch of girls that couldn't grow that much facial hair in a week of not-shaving. They're just jealous.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Beards aren't acceptable, but everybody on the money has beards. Laughing

Woland · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: Seoul

I've grown my beard out to the fullest it has been in many years this summer. I haven't heard anything from anybody, but it may be my gray hair giving me privilege. Small children in my neighborhood do just stop and gape, though.

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

for a younger person it means they think you woke up too late or something is going on and you aren't bothering to take care of yourself.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:01 pm Post subject:

facial hair = rug burn

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

I heard (read somewhere?) that Koreans do not trust people with beards. I've only seen about 5 Koreans with beards in nearly 2 years. You have to wonder as they are mostly of Chinese Confucian origin. Many of the old paintings/wall murals show old guys with long flowing beards.

passport220 · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province

In Korean TV shows and movies a lot of the time the villain and no one else has a beard.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

or German, or black.

The Hierophant · Joined: 13 Sep 2005

SirFink · Joined: 05 Mar 2006

I'm blessed with dark whiskers and pale skin, so even an hour after shaving Koreans will say I look tired or mention my stubble.

The other day in class a few kids drew my portrait and they put so much damn stubble on my face it nearly gave me a complex. Of course, back in the States I'm just your average white guy, but here I'm Sasquatch, apparently.