Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tobacco Dreams]

Yesterday afternoon at work I got five minutes' notice that there would be an end-of-the-year ceremony in the school auditorium.

(I should perhaps explain that I work at a [private] high school in Seoul, and have only been there a few months now--though I've been in SK for over 5 years.)

Several minutes into the ceremony, we were all suddenly on our feet. Standing at attention. Hands over hearts.

The strains of something distinctly OTHER than the Aegugka were played. Thinking that it might be the "Kyoga," or school anthem, I placed my hand over my heart.

My Korean is either great or just plain awful, depending upon who you ask, and all I really caught of the lyrics was the single word "mugunghwa."

After a brief pause, the Korean flag was lowered from above the dais, and Aegugka was sung. I refrained from joining in, for obvious reasons. Oddly (from my point of view, anyway), while everyone had held his hand to his heart throughout the previous song, no one did so for the national hymn.

Anyway . . .

What WAS that mugunghwa song, I'm still wondering.

It's 3:55 AM here, and I guess I'm still in culture shock--after nearly six years!

[RACETRAITOR]

Pledges of allegiance are freaky.

[jajdude]

I have never experienced anything like that in Korea, but in Thailand, they love thier national anthem, king and queen so much. I think it's at 8 am and 6 pm in Thailand that everybody just stops for the anthem. Schools all gather assemblies to sing along in the morning. I've heard part of the anthem is about having fun, which is cool. What was unique to me at least was when walking around in public, in very busy Bangkok, shopping or whatever, everyone stops at 6 pm for the anthem coming out of speakers everywhere. People who may be very busy, even in a rush, will stop whatever they're doing, just stand still outside the department stores or wherever, and be quiet for 2 minutes or sing along. They also stand up for it before movies start at theaters, and the screen shows many pictures of the king. It was cool, I figure the king is a good old gent.

[Pak Yu Man]

Do it twice a term at the uni. Do it everyday I got to hapkido with the young kids.

Just don't place your hand over your heart. Stand at attention and show some respect for their thing.

[Qinella]

[Tobacco Dreams]

[Homer]

[kimchi_pizza]

Pledge Allegiance? No, never have and never will. Of course I've saluted the Korean Flag by facing it and placing my right hand over my heart and lowering.
Sometimes when I lead my Kumdo class, I don't really have an option, but I really don't have a problem with that. In Japan studying a martial art I bowed to the donjon's "kami" shrine and in Korea I respect the donjon and the flag of a country that provides a living and opportunity by bowing or saluting.
As for actually pledging my allegiance...only to one country will I do that for as long as I remain a real citizen of that country.

[Atavistic]

I don't pledge my allegiance to ANY country. I stand up respectfully, hands to my side usually. Like others in martial arts, I do bow in to the flag, but I did that in my American taekwondo studio too. (We had an American and Korean flag up.)

To me, pledges, salutes, and allegiances are like prayers. I'll mumble the Lord's Prayer at funerals and marriages, but only I know whether or not what I'm saying it true in my mind and heart.

[twg]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

We very often have events and assemblies where we do this. I've been told what the lyrics mean but haven't learnt them myself. I place my hand over my heart and face the flag like everyone else. For what it's worth I like the country, think it's improving, and am happy to do my part. On general I think that national anthems and oaths are stupid but oh well, I like Korea and am happy to play along. In other countries I might not.

When I was living in the US I was at a church where, for the first of July weekend Sunday service, they all stood up and did the same. I stayed seated. I was sitting with my Japanese friend who at first stood up but then when he saw me, sat back down. There the two of us sat amongst a bunch of Americans who apparently had it all memorised. I think they understood why we weren't standing up.

[jellyteecha]

Pledges of allegiance are freaky. In slovakia i had to do that in a stupid cermony at the Ministry of Love government building(it might have well have been cause the lingo's d'impossible). I said something like I pledge allegiance to the state laws and must respect the leadership of the country(who happen to be all corrupt gangstars). I also had to say that if I broke any laws I would agree to be deported without reservation. I did all this in front of the flag with my right arm raised and the photograph of some post communist thug who now is apparently discredited. Rock on George Orwell I bet he wouldn't have done that. I feel so ashamed.

[PimpofKorea]

I'll pledge allegiance to the flag with my hand on my ballz....cupped

[jaderedux]

I stand at attention but I am not Korean so I don't salute their flag. Would seem a bit disrespectful and insincere.

Jade

[Bibbitybop]

Jaderedux wrote: