I always find it interesting what new visitors to South Korea think of the place because they often have different perceptions of what long time visitors think. For example an on going debate here on the ROK Drop is whether Koreans are rude or not? Well here is what this new visitor to Korea thought about Korean manners:
The cities never seemed to sleep and the workers we would pass still in their stores as we headed to the hotel at the end of our busy sight-seeing day would sure enough be there first thing in the morning when the store’s doors opened.
The Korean work ethic carries a strong level of customer service with a genuine humility not often found in the big cities of the United States. [Bismark Tribune]
Read the rest because it appears that this visitor to South Korea had a great time while visiting the country which is the reaction most people I know who visit the country for the first time have. The challenge for Korea will be to convince others like him that Korea is a place worth visiting.
Popularity: 2%
1:39 am on September 2nd, 2008 1
I’m not new here, but I think Korea is a great place to visit. Visitors don’t have to deal with a lot of the negative issues that foreigners living here have to deal with. And even if they do have some negative experiences here, I don’t think anyone is surprised to have some unpleasant things happen when visiting somewhere. The people I’ve brought over here to visit have been pleasantly surprised.
2:21 am on September 2nd, 2008 2
My family and friends came to Korea for my wedding and loved it. Of course I put on a show for them, but it appears they bought it. till, Korea has a long way to go in terms of tourism.
“The people I’ve brought over here to visit have been pleasantly surprised.”
I agree. The people I have brought over here have loved it as well. The issue is that WE BROUGHT THEM over here. Korea needs to work on their image. Jeju didn’t work.
Next idea…
1:21 pm on September 2nd, 2008 3
“silentgrayfellow: Visitors don’t have to deal with a lot of the negative issues that foreigners living here have to deal with…”
For anyone that has lived in Asia for any amount of time in any country, this is usually the case. Once you live in a foreign Asian country, you move up in target status as far as the locals are concerned.
A visitor is like a butterfly…they are really never in any one place too long and are hard to catch (unless they suck on one flower too long..Ha!). The biggest weapon they have in their arsenal is the “Return Trip Ticket…”
5:52 pm on September 2nd, 2008 4
Sounds like this lady took the free trip to visit her son offered by Seoul Selection.
http://www.seoulselection.com/newsletter_read.html?nid=333
Pretty much looks like a hack journalist gave her all the slogans and she followed along. Eating “tradional korean food” like McDondalds and tempura. LOL
“hut-like homes with primitive fences”
7:07 pm on September 2nd, 2008 5
A little about “korean customer service” LOL (sorry but hard not to laugh when I wrote that)
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/06/dcs_blackkorean_dynamic_a_simm.html
Read the comments. It really seems that Koreans are all around rude to whites, blacks everyone but thier “blood”. I really can understand why blacks wanted to burn them out in 92. I am sure it will happen again and you really can’t blame the black Americans.
I suggest to all that they boycott all things Korean. This is the best way to improve Korean culture and bring it to the level of the civilized world.
Ice Cube wrote this after getting “Korean customer service”
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/icecube/blackkorea.html
Great song!!
5:38 am on September 5th, 2008 6
Korea is a very good place to visit. I’ve actually visited this summer again to see my relatives. The vast improvements in technology, etc. changed the country tremendously. The customer service is very VERY well done, but as my brother once said, it gets annoying because they overdo it at times when you want privacy. The city of Seoul is comparable with Tokyo, which I’ve also had the luxury of visiting years ago. I find Seoul a lot more convenient and foreigner-friendly, being that the public transportation system is self-explanatory.
The only peeve I still have about Korea though is the lack of manner. I was irritated by a young woman yelling and cussing in slang in a Jjimjilbang (spa/massage place) at an old man for “yelling” at her daughter. Why can’t she resolve this issue PEACEFULLY? I was very offended as an American by this action, and I’m sure the Japanese tourists sitting in the lobby weren’t too happy as well.
Not to mention Koreans lack courtesy at most times. In California, I’d hear “Thank you” as well as friendly talks and gestures whenever I open the door for an individual or stay in the elevator. In Korea, it feels more like talking with a brick wall.
So while I find Korea a very fun place to visit (often like it more than America =)), the people there still seem to lack manners.