Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm just a tourist in Seoul for a few soul crushing weeks. In that time I've had so many abusive, rude and inhumane things happen that I am compelled to warn others who often get a politically correct and sanitized view of other cultures from travelers and expats with stockholm syndrome. I'm an American and I've been to Mexico, France, Austria, Ukraine, Bulgaria, UAE, Vietnam and many more countries. All countries I've traveled to have been charming to visit because of basic hospitality and basic human appreciation and fellowship among men that I have taken for granted until now. Korea is a radically toxic culture and I suspect Koreans have high self awareness about the criticisms of their culture but are proud of and embrace it's hostility nonetheless. I have had several experiences where i enter a store and say hello in Korean while bowing or nodding my head slightly then later saying thank you in Korean while the worker says nothing to me, makes no eye contact and no physical gesture to acknowledge me. In years of traveling i can't recall this ever happening - anywhere! It's an immutable feature of healthy human psychology to respond to others. To be trained to deny that even to a very polite person is uniquely Korean. I was walking toward a restaurant i frequent in itaewon, the international neighborhood, and two guys were walking near me who appeared to be looking for the entrance to the same restaurant. I said hello are you looking for such and such restaurant? They said zero, did zero to acknowledge me and walked past me. This is very common, any benign and friendly attempt at public interaction is ignored. I haven't seen anyone smile in weeks. I think they are proud of being difficult, unemotional and standoffish. This culture views it as a strength and, kindness... Even politeness, as weakness. It's often -10c now in mid December and no more than 10% of people wear hats - especially beanies - because they don't want to disrupt their hair. A level of superficiality in the face of extreme weather that would be embarrassing in a healthy society that places health and comfort - at least somewhere, among vanity and status. I walked into an elevator and by the way I always yield to the locals who seem to always be Jockeying for first in line, and I'm 98% sure the 4 people in the elevator were laughing at me out loud in Korean. I said nothing and did nothing to provoke it. I'm surprised tourism is allowed here. It has wrecked my impression of the culture and the ethnocentric people and I can't ever imagine buying Korean products like Samsung, LG etc. They hate and disrespect others so acutely why would I? This is a uniquely hostile and antihuman society of emotionally unhealthy people.
That has been my experience with Koreans here in North America as well. I lived in Koreatown Los Angeles for a while. Never met such angry and rude people in my life.
As someone who has lived in Korea for 7 years, the OP is not completely wrong with that assessment. The language barrier in both places is quite profound, though. But when it comes to serious matters, Koreans may be more lenient than other countries, especially Japan.
Which is why I want English spoken more in asia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WK91
Added bonus: Korean food is slightly better than Japanese food, although neither can compare to Thai.
I agree with this assessment. I think I like Korean food more japanese food. Japanese food is kind of bland.
Many people are used to more docile and submissive Asians who kiss the butts of every foreigner, so when they don't get that same treatment from Koreans, it enrages them and wounds their fragile egos and sense of superiority. "These lowly Koreans aren't bowing down to me; therefore, they have the worst culture I've ever experienced."
Many people are used to more docile and submissive Asians who kiss the butts of every foreigner, so when they don't get that same treatment from Koreans, it enrages them and wounds their fragile egos and sense of superiority. "These lowly Koreans aren't bowing down to me; therefore, they have the worst culture I've ever experienced."
Good catch.
In an attempt to make OP even more Korean-friendly here's a commercial of Jennie (wasn't she from Seoul too?):
Many people are used to more docile and submissive Asians who kiss the butts of every foreigner, so when they don't get that same treatment from Koreans, it enrages them and wounds their fragile egos and sense of superiority. "These lowly Koreans aren't bowing down to me; therefore, they have the worst culture I've ever experienced."
Any more so than the OP? Same style of reasoning of coming to a hyperbolic conclusion based on scant evidence or anecdotes.
Yes, you just called Asians a bunch of docile ass kissers. Not the same kind of reasoning at all. Koreans are actually known to be rather rude and aggressive. If you ever actually spend sometime with any of them or had Korean freinds you would know this. The OPs comment was not hyperbolic at all.
Yes, you just called Asians a bunch of docile ass kissers. Not the same kind of reasoning at all. Koreans are actually known to be rather rude and aggressive. If you ever actually spend sometime with any of them or had Korean freinds you would know this. The OPs comment was not hyperbolic at all.
So your generalizations are true but mine are not. I see we're arguing in good faith here.
So your generalizations are true but mine are not. I see we're arguing in good faith here.
You bascially said all Asians were docile ass kissersa nd the op was upset Koreans didn't kiss thier ass. You insulted the op and Asians to defend Koreans. Sure not all Koreans are rude, but the culture is known to be like that and agressive. Having lived around them I can confirm many of things the OP said. I am also a visible a minority, Koreans hate us even more. But that will fall on def ears. KOreans are a model minority and can do no wrong in the eyes of most westerners.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
