Korean Job Discussion Forums

[missthyst]

I am planning to come to Seoul to teach. I just want to be somewhat prepared for the inevitable culture shock. I assume, being a large city, Seoul has movie theaters (that show movies in English), major fast food chains (for those really homesick moments), and I know that there are bars. I am just curious as to what other people have missed about thier homelands...or what they found to be the biggest differences in social customs in Korea. Also, I really don't know much about the attitudes toward women there. Is it okay for women to go out drinking? smoke cigarettes? These questions probably sound really stupid...but if there are any warnings people could give me it would greatly appreciated. Also, how do they feel about overnight vistors (either sex)? I have friends that travel a lot and might drop in on me while I am in Korea. I am just trying to get a picture of what day to day life is like. Thanks.

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Missthyst, doing a little research will help you on this. Look at a couple of pages, such as Rike's, http://www.geocities.com/rikeqwert/, or mine under the section on Korea: http://keneckert.byus.net.

Briefly, I give my opinions hesitently, as you are asking me to open several cans of worms in this thread. For those who are going to contradict everything I say, it's only my opinion.

I live in Busan and find Seoul to be more westernized. It's not always easy to find western food, and much of it will be fast food, but it's there, along with western music, movies, and culture. Most of the restaurants will be Korean, and the food can get monotonous, but you can eat as strangely or as conventionally as you like.

I came to Korea because I wanted to try different things, not to drag the west along with me. If you hide in a KFC for a year, you will miss out. Koreans aren't aliens, and their social customs aren't entirely different. Being a friendly, flexible person will help you just as it does anywhere else.

Koreans probably put more emphasis on being a team player and having at least the appearance of moral propriety than westerners do. From what I see, men and women are free to get slobbering drunk and sing down the street, although smoking is more taboo for women, as is any type of racy clothing.

Females can forget about any type of chivalry here, and feminists get a rough ride, but on the other hand foreign women aren't hit on mercilessly or treated differently, and it's a comparatively safe country at night-time (I think). It's likely different because I'm male and foreign, but I have friends stay over sometimes when visiting, and no one bats an eye.

There are things I miss from Canada. At home the weather's (marginally) better, people aren't stepping on my feet, and I can get a tin of sardines or beans without searching the city for them. But again, if you're coming here to try something different, you needn't feel intimidated.

Ken:>

[missthyst]

Thanks Moldy Rudabaga. Those links were helpful. I understand what you mean about going to Korea to experience diffrent things....not hide in a KFC. That would be pointless!!! I just wanted to get an idea of what I am in for, and what gets people really homesick. This is going to be an adventure, and I plan to go into in with an open mind. Maybe I should just avoid all expectations of any kind? Whatever my experience is...good or bad...I will try to learn what I can from it.

[JackSarang]

As a foreigner you can pretty much do as you please. Korean customs are very nuanced and they don't expect foreigners to understand them or even replicate them.. to a certain degree.

As a foreign woman, you can go out drinking and smoke etc and it won't be an issue. Especially in Seoul.