Korean Job Discussion Forums

[billybrobby]

I've been coming up with this super-brilliant theory that cities are like people. I read all these threads about how people don't get along with Korea and I can't quite understand it, but then I think to myself, a city is like person. Some people get along with another certain person because their personality jibes with that person, and other people don't like that person so much because they've got different frames of mind. It doesn't mean the person is good or bad, it's just an interaction between personalities. Korea, or Seoul specifically, definitely has an idiosyncratic personality that rubs some people the wrong way.

So, if you could boil Seoul, or any other city, down to one person what would that person's personality be like?

For me, Seoul is like a very nice but very demanding Ajumma. She's bumpy and she's pushy and she gets in your personal space, both literally and with a lot of questions. But she'll do almost anything for you. If you want money, she'll give it to you. If you want company, all you have to do is make a phone call and she's willing to hang out at any hour anywhere and she'll bring friends. She's got infinite energy to the point that she'll wear you down. There are times when she's very sexy and other times when you're amazed by how old-fashioned she is. She was born in the country and still has a lot of rough edges, but she's crafty and quick-to-learn so she can surprise you with her sophistication. Overall, she's very maternal, and you're like an adopted child, so she wants you to play by her rules and she tends to single you out more than she does her birth children. But it's not because she dislikes you, it's just that she thinks that you've got a special responsibility to share what you know with her other kids. This is a bit of a hassle, but at the same time it's probably more credit than you deserve. You want to connect to her more, but she's got a bit of a closed and cold personality that belies her generosity. At times, you're shocked by how much she sacrifices her own personal happiness for the needs of those around her. You're not sure whether you ought to emulate her or try to reform her. It's hard to reconcile in your mind how she can be so generous and emotional and yet be so cold and calculating. In the end, you're more like a beloved house guest to her than a real lifelong friend.

[skinhead]

This city is the above post to me too in so many ways. I understand everything you said there, billybrobby. You have a knack of getting to the heart of matter. The closer I try to come to the heart of the matter when I post something, the farther away I get. But you nail it every time. I like your style.

[Hanson]

Interesting, but I would've described Seoul's personality/character a little differently.

Seoul is the blue collar adjoshi. He's not particularly book-smart, but he's crafty and has a few tricks up his sleeve. He is a man of few words, but once you get him to loosen up, perhaps even have a drink, you'll find the once-hidden warmth within come out.

He is a rugged man, tough, with calloused hands, and he looks a little older than he probably actually is. He is strong, walks confidently and with a purpose. He is usually in a hurry and has a good pace to his step. He needs new shoes, though.

He is a man torn between affiliations. He must balance the needs of a family with the needs of an employer. He must work long hours, if not necessarily productive or efficient hours. He is dutiful towards his elders and sometimes chastises the younger generation for becoming lazy and indifferent about ancestors/elders.

He is definitely a night person, but occasionally, he wakes up early and bellows "Ya-Ho" from hilltops where he is not averse to having a drink. He gets to and from the hilltop by subway, wearing his knee-high hiking socks, toting a hiking pick and snazzy hiking footwear. Name the hiking accessory, and he's got it.

He is not rich and not poor. He budgets his money carefully (or at least his wife does), so he has a bit in the bank, but he is also reticent to blow too much money. Some of his possessions are a little on the luxurious side, but others need replacement badly; he is quite ecclectic in his possessions, actually.

He is not a particularly quiet man. Although he doesn't speak often, when he does, he seems to speak louder than is necessary, but that is his nature. He seems angry sometimes, walking around with a slight frown, but the frown is immediately replaced with a warmer-than-you-thought-possible smile when he bumps into a familiar face.

He is a skeptical man to anything new. He favours traditions, but he can be persuaded over time, with much effort. He displays his opinions on his sleeve, but he is eager to be viewed favorably by his peers.

His family name is obviously Kim, Park or Lee.

[Julius]

i'm mostly Pyongyang, but I open up the sunshine policy very easily and can resemble Kingston in an instant.

[Qinella]

The city I grew up in in Florida is like a redneck chick with an ugly face but a nice rack. She has a little bit of money, so she thinks she's hot sh*t, but she's completely lacking in class and education and would rather go to a tailgate party in the woods than a play any day of the week. And although she's dirty and devious, she goes to church each Sunday and makes sure to tell everyone about it on Monday.

[RACETRAITOR]

Here's how I'd describe it.

A fat kid, around 12 years old, who doesn't have many friends. His parents are hardcore Christians and they're always telling everybody that Seoul is a good Christian boy, but he really doesn't get what they're saying. He likes playing outside but his parents make him study and read the Bible all the time because his grades aren't good enough.