Koreans vs. Foreigners, as explained by your average Korean guy.

[jetaime-pyon.livejournal.com]

By Choi Shi-yong

We can see numerous foreigners from English speaking countries around the country that have come to Korea to teach English. Living in a foreign country is so challenging and they may confront unexpected difficulties caused by cultural differences. However, I have met so many devoted foreigners who are willing to teach Korean students English with enthusiasm and kindness. They also hope to learn Korean culture and the Korean language, which is laudable and respectful.

As I have made a remarkable friendship with many foreigners through a variety of activities over the past three years, I noticed some differences between Koreans and foreigners that have resulted in a “culture shock."

I have attended the book club at the Gwangju International Center with Doug Stuber who was assistant professor of English language at Chonnam National University. I already knew that he was a friendly guy and that he was willing to socialize with his young students. However, I often felt weird when I heard him telling a visitor to the group his seemingly private stories especially in a first meeting.

Further, I watched so many times that foreigners at the bar were never reluctant to share their personal issues, even when they meet first. On the other hand, I need a lot of time to advance a conversation with a friend. Worse, I feel a little bit uncomfortable when a stranger whom I have never met at a social event would ask me personal information.

Foreign women have more confidence. When I tried to shake hands with women, I feel the clear distinction on this matter. For example, Western women usually shook hands with me firmly as an expression of friendship. However, Korean women might feel odd and think that I want to touch their skin and feel it. Therefore, they hold my hand passively and reluctantly. I assume that the different reaction comes from a notion about men.

Western women think that they are equal to men. On the other hand, Korean women want to be protected from men, even though women’s rights have tremendously been raised.

My church friend, Rachel, who has lived in Korea for almost six years told me that Koreans don’t express their thoughts clearly sometimes. Consequently, she doesn’t know evidently what they want. For instance, her husband, Jonathan, asked me to go out for dinner with church members several days ago.

Although I had my own schedule that day, I had to accept his proposal because I didn’t want to disappoint and hurt him. Hence, I can say that Koreans are emotional and considerate. We tend to sacrifice our time to help our friends. However, my observations tell me that westerners are individualistic. They prefer keeping their own space and never do what they don’t want to do.

I vividly remember “Proof" performed by the Gwangju Performance Project players last summer. The GPP consists of foreign amateur actors. However, their talent and passion at “Proof" was more than professional. I felt that westerners express their feelings freely and positively by singing, dancing and acting.

However, Koreans feel awkward when they show their emotions in a public place. I believe that education in Korea has stressed memorization of knowledge too much. Consequently, its educational system has deprived them of creative and flexible thinking which are among the basic elements of what makes us human.

Jenny Jung, an inventive and persistent lady, organized “Language lounge in Gwangju. Koreans and foreigners gather at Joe’s Sandwich between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. every Saturday for a “Language exchange" and “Promotion of friendship." She also makes “Panoramic Night", “Trivia night," and “Frugal night" after dinner for making Saturday nights fun and memorable for its members.

I want to join this group every Saturday as best as I can. The biggest advantage of “Language lounge" is broadening my friendships with international people and making contact with exotic cultures I have not experienced so far.

My exploration of Western culture goes on through this group. Later, I may write about the common traits between Koreans and westerners. Sounds interesting! Doesn’t it?

The writer goes to the Language Lounge in Gwangju organized by Jenny Jung every Saturday. His email address is freddd@hanmail.net .

Source: The Korea Times

Imo the writer is not so much being insensitive or derogatory as he is purely naïve.. a lot of Koreans think in this way. But still not sure I cared for him clumping "Western culture" into one big thing, as every country can be quite different.. Assuming he meant people from the US, Canada, Australia, etc. as he did say "English teachers." Nevertheless his deductions made me lol.

Comments

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

uhmm I was thinking to myself where is he going with this. well A for effort

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

Western women think that they are equal to men.
We don't think we know because we are.

Well we could respond once we calm down, I'd like to see where his writing goes because I know he wants to break down that western culture :/ and really dig in on what he observes.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, Korean women want to be protected from men, even though women’s rights have tremendously been raised.

[fabulousdoll.livejournal.com]

LOL I love how you can see in the face of the girl in the middle how done she is. And the gestures of the guy are annoying me.

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

That is exactly how my face looks whenever guys say things like that. (Re: woman in the middle.)

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

lol
I can think of at least five adjectives I would rather be called then "pretty".

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

Amanda Diva, my queen since her Nickelodeon days.

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

that video pisses me off soo much. The guy goes "you're not a man so you don't know how we feel/ how it's like" and then he's going to tell us how women feel... fuck him.

[queenhinata.livejournal.com]

mte

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

I think it also is different based on maturity and personality of the westerner? I know I do things often because I feel it is expected of me...like going to work parties or accepting dinner invitations. I wish this was more cohesive since I got a little lost with his purpose.

Also I agree about the Naive..,I cringed at the statement about western women being equal to men...that didn't come off as intentionally sexist just ignorant. (If that makes any sense...I didn't get angry at him like I would a meninist.)

[aki-san.livejournal.com]

He also wrote a part 2. (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2015/07/162_183210.html)

[decim.livejournal.com]

the above and the part 2 were just...really strange to read.

kind of annoyed that he thinks the only reason the canadian gave up their seat was bc they learned courtesy from koreans or however he put it lmao wtf

[fabulousdoll.livejournal.com]

This looks like this guy is generalizing his experiences with foreign people. "This guy tells me his life. Oh! all foreign people must be so open!"

[huanyia.livejournal.com]

he's rather observant but also generalizing all foreigners into one clump of people, which might not necessarily be the case.

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

But... What is the point of his article, exactly? It's not like he's explaining anything interesting, he's just comparing his préjugés (positive or negative) on Koreans and non-Koreans, and I find his observations quite naive, like when he's talking about a "Western culture".
The "women thinks they're equal to men" made me cringe but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Can be tricky to express thoughts.

[pumpkinskin.livejournal.com]

He's making a lot of annoying assumptions. I feel like when he makes these observations he is connecting whatever dots he wants instead of asking why.

[prlsb4swiine.livejournal.com]

Lmao what a wild read, more entertaining than thought provoking tbh

[jetaime-pyon.livejournal.com]

I'm really interested in making friends with Easterners, as there are quite a number of them coming here to run restaurants. But hanging out with them, I've noticed a lot of cultural differences between us and wanted to shed some light on this.

I was eating with a Chinese friend once in a rather intimate setting where others were keeping their voices down. But the Chinese friend I was with kept talking really loudly and made others stare at our table, which made me feel uncomfortable. I think compared to our culture, Easterners are a lot more loud and obnoxious when in a public space. Also, when I went to a Korean supermarket, a middle-aged Korean woman shoved me without so much as an apology. Older Easterns always seem to oblivious to their surroundings and don't show regard for people they are not familiar with.

...anyways.

[mentality34.livejournal.com]

I think compared to our culture, Easterners are a lot more loud and obnoxious when in a public space.

o.O This is put rather rudely. I know plenty, myself included, that are not like this.

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

I didn't like this....but I can't explain why.

[merlugd.livejournal.com]

Well this is what I heard all the time from everyone here un japan too. i still dont get why they think that westeners ONLY do what they want, what is that mean? is there a society that does whatever they want? anyway i also get really offended when they think of europe and the usa when they say west, my teachers explained to me that is because usa and europe have simillar culture...i dont think so but what ever... and yes here they also say pretty discriminative things in the most naive ways. i doubt they know that wht they say comes off as racist.

[moomoo-moonstar.livejournal.com]

This basically comes off as the flipside to the "they're SUCH a nice people!" conversation I'd get back home in Ireland from relatives who might've met one or two Asian folks on their travels. They mean well I guess, it's just ignorant as hell.

[ari-meh.livejournal.com]

idk but this article makes it seem like all "foreigners" come from the same country or something... the "united kingdom of foreign" perhaps? it's actually something i often feel, living in china - that some people think all foreigners share one same culture.
another pearl is the "western women think..." but i don't even want to go there.

[jasmineakaiumi.livejournal.com]

lbr when Koreans talk about "Westerners" (서양인) or "foreigners" (외국인) they're almost always talking about white Americans/Europeans lmao

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

I found this response (http://roboseyo.blogspot.com/2015/07/mirror-images-or-state-of-english.html) and thought it was fair response. (That 'Laura' girl though enraged me with her entitlement...)

[cherrypop.livejournal.com]

Is he a zoologist in the wild? It sounds like he's a zoologist in the wild reporting on animal behavior.

[chibi-rei.livejournal.com]

They prefer keeping their own space and never do what they don’t want to do
Uh do you know how many work dinner I had to go to even though they were pointless/no fun? Yeah there's nothing better than being forced to drink soju and listen to every one around you speak Korean while you sit awkwardly. (Actually when I felt like not drinking I either pretended to drink or straight up refused so yeah...)

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

the real question is why did the korea times publish an article that was so poorly written