Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bingo]

We've all been asked it a thousand times. And many of us give an affirmative answer just to avoid an entrenched conversation, avoid making the askee feel uncomfortable, etc. But a couple of weeks ago I overheard a Korean asking a Westerner "Do you like Korea" and he said "Yes and No." I thought this was gutsy. The Korean fell silent as if wounded. Then the Westerner, sensing the discomfort, says "It's the same wherever you are. Some good things. Some bad things." Couldn't leave the master race thinking their utopia was anything short of utopian.

Have any of you given blunt answers to these kinds of questions or gone with the "Yes, I like Korea" line. Sure there are times when I mean it when I say I like Korea (it has its moments), but in the great majority of cases I'm simply lying to them to make them go away, or because they can't engage in English conversation well enough.

Any interesting responses to these questions?

[philipjames]

The questions and statements are annoying. The one that gets me is constantly being told that Koreans are "really genius". I usually look at them as if they are insane. I've decided to cite Nobel prizes to them from countries of similar size and population. The United Kingdom (similar in size and population) has won 101 Nobel prizes. Korea has one one (the shady allocation of the Peace Prize to Kim Dae Jung). It has won zero prizes in science, whereas the UK has won 49.

Geniuses. Do they really believe it when they says things like that?
Do they really believe that they are kind, that Seoul is beautiful etc...? Or are they simply trying to convince themselves?

[MissSeoul]

Many American ask me " what I think of America ".
I answer this way,
Some is good, some is bad, some is ugly, some is cute and then I say " There is no place like home "

[ajgeddes]

Depending on whether or not I actually want to talk to the person, I will usually answer 'yes and no'. I just tell them I like some things here and I don't like some things here, and I tell them that in Canada there are some things I do and don't like. They usually seem quite happy with this answer and then ask what things I do and don't like. I have never had an adult respond negatively to this answer.

[philipjames]

Here is the link to Nobel prizes.

http://www.aneki.com/nobel.html

I think I'll print this off and keep it in my coat pocket in anticipation of the next Korean to inform me that Koreans are geniuses.

[seoulsucker]

"I'm still here."

That sums it up nicely for me, and has become my canned response.

[Hosub]

[Bingo]

[quote="ajgeddes"]Depending on whether or not I actually want to talk to the person, I will usually answer 'yes and no'. I just tell them I like some things here and I don't like some things here, and I tell them that in Canada there are some things I do and don't like. They usually seem quite happy with this answer and then ask what things I do and don't like. I have never had an adult respond negatively to this answer.[/quote]

When they ask you what you don't like do you respond honestly. Do you mention spitting, litter, table manners, bumping, pushing, litter, racism, etc? Or do you have a generic answer such as, "I'm from a small town. I'm not used to so many cars" etc.

I've never yet seen a foreigner be brutally honest with a stranger asking this question.

[yesnoyesyesno]

[cdninkorea]

If I had to like every aspect about something to say I like it, I wouldn't like very many things. I certainly have my problems with this country, but if I didn't like it overall I wouldn't be here. So it's not a lie when I say "yes, I like Korea."

That being said I usually say I hate people spitting everywhere, and most Koreans agree with me on that. And when they say Korea is "conservative" I will sometimes mention the rampant prostitution levels. Most admit I have a valid point.

[jlb]

I always say, "There are some good things and some bad things but overall it's a good place to live."

[ajgeddes]

[Leslie Cheswyck]

It gets asked in every country in one form or another. I used to cringe, too, suspecting they were fishing for compliments. And so what if they are? I just answer in a positive way and move on.

Hey, if Brian Wilson can do it, then you can too.




*See about three minutes into the video.

[nautilus]

If I asked that question of a foreigner in my home country, I'd definitely be very interested in a completely honest answer.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

That may be, nautilus, but I find Koreans just aren't interested in a frank answer. It's a bit like asking "Was it good for you?"