Korean Job Discussion Forums

[endo]

I've been living in Seoul for over two and a half years now. Comming here was easily the best decision I've ever made in my life and my experiences in this country have been overwhelmingly positive.

I've already decided when I eventually move back to Canada and have a family, I plan on bringing my kids to South Korea to show them a country I have a lot of love and appreciation for.

.........


But......at the same time whenever I hear about a Korean failing (particulary on the international stage) I have a slight smirk on my face and honestly enjoy it a little.


Now this doesn't apply to Pyongchang's failure to win the Olympic bid. I actually felt bad for them.


However, when Hwang Woo-suk, the stem-cell scientist was proven to be a fraud I laughed out loud. Saying that Koreans were superior because of the use of metal chopsticks encouraged these feelings I suppose.

Another case was the William Cho incident in Virgina. It felt horrible for this, but when I found out he was of Korean ethnicity I became much more interested in the story. And I loved it when the Korean students in the US, who were worried about retaliations had in the end nothing substantial occur to them.



I guess my feelings of secretly wanting Korea and Koreans to fail and be embarassed on occasion is a response to the nationalism in this country.

I was sickened about the Korean peoples response to the US soldiers who accidently ran over the Korean school girls. I despise the way the Korean media sometimes depicts foreigners in the news. I hate the numerous stories I hear here or from friends who have been screwed over by their Korean boses.

Corea........hate of Japan when there were plenty of Korean colaborators.....East Sea/West Sea...........Hines Ward......SBS.......hypocricy of the prostitution industry..........debit cards.....hagwon association of Daejon.....Busan 9..........


I really don't want to have this negative feelings, but sometimes it's hard if you know what I mean.

[andrew]

*****

[Alyallen]

It's a love Hate relationship....

[ajgeddes]

I feel the same way. I don't know why. During the world cup, I got all excited, bought a Korean jersey and couldn't wait to watch them play. Then when I saw them lose, it didn't feel bad. Instead, it kinda felt good. But that may have been because when I heard about the Swiss loss, it was accompanied with "we were cheated".

I think it is because living here is generally fun and enjoyable, the people are nice enough, but when you often hear comments about superiority and whatnot, it's nice to see it shoved back in those peoples faces when they fail.

It's funny. When I go home I talk about how great Korea is and how they are good at this, and great at that, I like to tell my dad about how good the baseball players are (we both love baseball).

I also think another part of it is, we know that if Korea does win something, or if they do succeed at something, we are going to hear about it constantly after that. And it isn't in the "we did really well at something" tone, but rather the "we are better that you" tone that you hear it.

I hate to see Korea lose, but I don't really like to see them win. Maybe if they just continually finished 2nd place it would be nice. That way they do very well, but don't win. I don't know.

Anyways, I know where you are coming from.

[DRAMA OVERKILL]

I like it here very much - a lot of the people are great, I've had some great experiences and a lot of fun, and an ESLer's life is pretty laid-back most of the time .

However, the self-proclaimed superiority and nationalism overkill can be a bit much! Korea is a good country full of many fine people, but it is by no means superior in any way (go ahead and instill that in yourselves, but don't try to brainwash me into believing it!). Let me decide for myself...

Actions stand for themselves, and I've seen too much ignorant, rude, phony, and disgusting behavior to label this place as being the gem Korean people make it out to be.

A lot of the time I like being the anonymous minority, yet sometimes I wish I could be accepted a bit better. I really hate it when Korean people assume that, because I'm a foreigner, I have no idea about Korean culture and the workings of the system in general.

Allow me to experience and learn about the culture - constantly being reminded that a particular part of the culture is a whopping 5000 years old, and that Japan tried to steal it, but Korea wouldn't let them, is just unimpressive and overly annoying.

I've been here for quite a few years, but often (from the reception I get), it might as well be day 1. I want to embrace the culture, but too often I find myself just tolerating it.

I don't want to see Korea fail, but sometimes I really enjoy seeing them get turned down a notch. Last year, during the World Cup, I wanted to see Korea do well, yet I equally wanted to see them get demolished . "Pilseung Corea!!!" (supreme victory, right?) - come on guys, tone it down...

A bit more of a rant than I had planned, so I'll end here.

[Bibbitybop]

It's watching someone with an overinflated ego fail. You wonder when Korea will learn its real status on the global field, but they keep on going with blinders on.

[Guri Guy]

I think Korean people are good at heart but the idiotic media and dumb @ss government ruin it for them. The overt Korean nationalism comes across as arrogant and condescending.

[Sody]

Ya I hear what most of you are saying. I really like Korean people, they are among my favorite people to be around because they are generally very kind and sincere. But sometimes it can be too much because being around people who are insecure is annoying as hell. I think that's the one thing I can't stand about Koreans it's the insecurity or the inferiority complex. It's too strong. It makes them do and say stupid things. It makes them try to grow up too fast. Being around people who constantly have something to prove is horrible.

Sody

[endo]

The nations insecurity complex stemming for years of being overshadowed by China and Japan has resulted in an overinflated sense of self for the Korean people.

[normalcyispasse]

[Newbie]

Bang on! I'm the exact same.

When Xsports advertises all the K-pitchers in the MLB and hype em to death all I want is for them to lose. But then when I see them get spanked, I feel bad.

Same happened during the last World Cup. I cheered for every "other" team, and then when Korea did lose, I felt bad for them (the players).

It's like you said, you just don't want to see them gloating as they do. It's sickening.

[koon_taung_daeng]

i think its cause they brag so much and make excuses for every single sports win especially in soccer. when that big ass korean k1 fighter got knocked out i must admit i was happy

but im a cynical *beep* anyways

[SuperFly]

Endo, I remember how bright eyed and optimistic your posts were 2.5 years ago when you first started posting on this site. It's been strange to see you change over the years.

You've finally come full circle!

[endo]

[mikowee]

Yeah, during the world cup Koreans are pretty annoying. I lived in a neighbourhood with a lot of Koreans in Toronto and when they won a game, a bunch of Koreans stood on a traffic island at a busy intersection and made a ruckus for a few hours straight. I was ashamed to be ethnically related.

In Korea, I'm guessing it would be like that X1000000. I was truly happy when they lost, and when I saw that chic crying in the newspaper, I had an emotional orgasm.

I still love Koreans, though. Not that I have much of a choice...