Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

Little subpost to the Racist Attack you decide story (somewhat related). I attended to the Health Clinic at the Korean company I work at during my lunch break. No surprise but the nurse spoke NO English. I tried to explain in my extremely limited Korean, that my doctor had recommended that I rest when needed (most likely due to the previous concussion from the blows to my head). I rested in the Clinic bed for 20 minutes. The following week I attended again to the clinic during my lunch break and asked to rest in the bed. Another Korean company employee was also resting in another bed. The nurse denied my request, so I asked her to explain why. I couldn�t understand her answer, so I contacted my Korean friend to explain to her my situation and ask permission to rest occasionally during my lunch break. The nurse began yelling at my Korean friend on the phone (for 15 minutes). My Korean friend explained that she would not allow me to rest in the Clinic. No explanation was given. I became frustrated and asked for her namecard. She became very nervous. I left the clinic.

The following day I was called into my supervisor�s office. His translator explained that the nurse had filed a complaint against me. I explained to him the circumstances around the incident. He was aware that I had previously been �attacked� (although of course I stated it occurred while overseas), and informed him my physician had recommended that I attend to a clinic if rest was needed. I do not have medical coverage and cannot afford continuously going to a walk in Health clinic. Since the nurse was his friend, he did not believe my explanation. He kept drilling me on how she was offended. Suffice to say, my job is in jeopardy since my credibility is now in question. Now, I recognize that both the �attack� and this incident may be due to cultural and language differences. However, I am continuously finding that this reason is often used as an excuse to justify Koreans behaviors and actions. For example, a study done in Korea by a western media program found that Korean taxi drivers would not pick up foreigners when provided a choice to pick up other passengers who were Korean. In fact, the taxi drivers often made similar excuses on why they refused service to the foreigner passenger (e.g. didn�t speak Korean, although the passenger spoke to him in Korean, cultural misunderstanding, etc.). Any thoughts?

[Corporal]

[seoulsucker]

[khyber]

[rawiri]

This is getting weird.

[Corporal]

[bobbyhanlon]

[RACETRAITOR]

Too many of these stories always end up saying "They did it because I was a foreigner. If I was Korean they wouldn't treat me so poorly." That's just something you can't guess.

[justin moffatt]

I never asked for sympathy. Just the ongoing battle trying to understand the cultural nuances of culture, where I have to distinguish what is TRULY cultural misunderstanding and what is not. I have not had the unfortunate lifetime experiences that minority groups in other cultures may have had, to be able to recognize what is considered subtle racism. That is not to say that I am claiming that this incident is racially motivated.

Secondly, I live in a country where Korean, not English, is the first language. Therefore, I do not expect ANYBODY to speak English. However, the majority of health nurses (not doctors mind you) that I have encountered speak rudimentary English. Let alone, a nurse who works for a multi-national corporation of 25,000 employees! Furthermore, I had a Korean friend translate my requests. It seemed that I was inconveniencing the nurse (from her personal phone time in an empty clinic), in conjunction with her disbelief that a foreigner could ever work for a multi-national corporation (even with my provided ID)! Sometimes I feel like the �token white boy� that these companies can push around. Which begs the question: Why do Korean companies not hire foreigners (even fluent Korean ones minus the Kyopos) directly? (and I have worked for a few)

[seoulsucker]

[aldershot]

[jmbran11]

[RACETRAITOR]

[james the cat]

Isn't it surprising why wars start!?!

How 'cultural' and 'language' barriers can be translated as 'racist'.

If you can't see through the 'barriers', it's time for a break...maybe a month or two back in the home country.

[ChuckECheese]

Here a prescription for the OP.

Have a slice of pizza, take a chill pill, and lots of rest.....

My recommendation is that you either forget about the whole incident unless you are going to take some sort of action against the nurse and especially those thugs that attack you the other night.

But my best recommendation would be just forget about it since it's even affecting your employment. Take a deep breathe and just think about what you will do tomorrow, next day, and so on.....

I hope my prescription helps. Sorry dude....