Korean Job Discussion Forums

Freaka · Joined: 05 Jun 2007

Ok, so that thread about my cousin's narrow-minded views on foreigners in her country was deleted...perhaps because it was getting some people too riled up.

For the record, I didn't mean to stir up any anti-Korean sentiment. That was not my intention at all. I had only wanted to address the fact that I could understand why some of the expats in Korea are frustrated with the way that they are perceived by Koreans. I was shocked to hear those opinions from someone who is currently living under my own roof. Then again, other expats seem to have had a mostly positive experience in Korea. It's never black or white, is it? And I was trying to explain this to my cousin as well.

And in_Seoul_2003, I hear ya! Don't even get me started on the Koreans who come here from Korea and wreak havoc in LA's Koreatown. They come over with their parents' money, spend every night getting pissed on drugs and alcohol at the Korean clubs and bars...they essentially behave in the same manner that my cousin was accusing the foreigners of behaving in her own country. Confused

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

Pisces or Libra?

Freaka · Joined: 05 Jun 2007

in_seoul_2003 · Joined: 24 Nov 2003

Freaka,

I was definitely not po'd. Not at all. It's unfortunate that it was pulled. Everything about the way Koreans act in foreign, particularly SE Asian countries, that I posted were from mainstream Korean sources and it is well documented. You could pass it onto your cousin.

I cannot see anything outrageous about posts from the Times, Herald and Chosunilbo.

Did you yank it or someone else?

Captain Courageous · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Location: Bundang and loving it

So, about your cousin...

Freaka · Joined: 05 Jun 2007

Freaka · Joined: 05 Jun 2007

Anyway, it's never black or white. I'm sure that there are some foreigners in Korea who do behave like pond scum...just as there are Koreans who behave in the same manner when they go abroad to other countries. And no, I don't think that having sex and doing drugs necessarily makes someone pond scum! (lol) Point being...every country has its share of troublemakers, but we shouldn't judge an entire country or its people based on the bad apples.

doggyji · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:18 am Post subject:

I'm sure as an adult, Freaka's cousin realizes not every single white foreigner in Korea can be like that but it seems she believes a great portion of them fit in that negative description. You can find just as bad Korean men or any men of other nationalities everywhere but I guess one of the reasons why they especially warn about white foreigners in Korea is because they think the white foreigners can somehow take advantage of naive locals with their foreignness and English-speaking abilities. It looks foreigners from western countries get not much protection by the media or civil rights groups in Korea. When discussions come up about something related to westerners in Korea on message boards, there are not many people in the party who would actively "defend" the stereotyped group and those who do are not from the group. Basically, it's all among Koreans and there are not many foreigners who would voice their opinions for themselves in Korean. Just my observations. I think one thing about those who buy into stereotypes so easily is that if you are from the stereotyped group and personally show them you are a good person, they would just flip their negative perception easily as well.

Freaka · Joined: 05 Jun 2007

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

There's nothing unusual for middle class kids to grow up without knowing the bad that is out there but to hear it on hearsay. My own Pop said, "Stay away from the b.....ks," and even, "Stay away from the Asians."
What my father should have said was, "Stay away from uneducated people, or people without consideration for you."
One thing I do like about the expat community, and the ESL community in general, is that the people represent, or mostly represent, those with graduate and post graduate educations.
Many have complexes, maybe of snobbery or disdain for fellows, some are egocentric, some may have socializing problems, or a taste for alcohol, but they are not usually the filthy and dangerous minded people that you can encounter walking around in mainstream life.

The worst I've heard about a foreigner here is date rape. Apart from that I've never heard of a Westerners in Korea killing, raping or armed robbing people.
However, every night on KBS news we hear of Korean people who have done so... perhaps one should stay away from all Koreans?