By #21 – Korean Pride
One thing a traveler will notice when the come to Korea is how much pride they have in their country. Koreans will always be eager to tell you anything you want to know about the country. They also follow their sports teams especially their soccer team almost like a religous cult. Whatever you do, do not say anything bad about their soccer team! You will probably get yourself deported. But if all Korean soccer fans look like Mina count me in as a Korean soccer fan.
However, this strong sense of nationalism here has a negative aspect to it as well. Any criticism fair or unfair by a foreigner may be treated as a personal attack against all Koreans so be careful what you say. You will sometimes see on TV some ridiculous stories about foreigners saying controversial things about Korea. Even Oprah was demonized here for a while for running a story about all the plastic surgery that women here in Korea have done to themselves. Though true some people took it as a personal attack against Koreans.
Considering how much the country has been through and overcome in the past 60+ years I think the Koreans have plenty of things to be proud of.
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Note: This is an ongoing series that is systematically counting down the Top 25 things I like about Korea. Let me know in the comments section if this is something you like about Korea?
1:15 pm on February 6th, 2011 1
If that photo of Mina is only number 21, I can't wait to see the top 20.
1:48 pm on February 6th, 2011 2
Off topic; but relevant… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKVsq2daR8Q
Back on topic, we all love THAT part of Korea…
3:26 pm on February 6th, 2011 3
That's one of the things that I do not like about Korea. Korean pride is like a conversational trap that is ever-present. If you forget about it for one moment it will attack you. I find myself mentally bracing for barrages of bullshit about how awesome Korea is, and also feeling obligated to say nice things about the country to its inhabitants periodically, despite my true feelings. Its like every single Korean person has a sign hanging around their neck saying PLACATE MY EGO and if I ignore the sign people leave in a huff.
That's one of the things that I noticed when I went for a short trip to Japan. I stopped by a shrine and read the English language description of the shrine, how it was created by some guy 500 years ago to commemorate his appointment to being prefect of the prefecture. I realized I had mentally braced for some bullshit to follow, something such as "and this is why Japan is one of the greatest nations on earth." But there was nothing like that. The story stopped without including bombastic bragging. That's when I realized that all the informative signs in Korea include the bombastic bragging a lot, and I had gotten mentally used to it. It also happens in conversation, not just on signs. You have to remember to smile and nod, because if you don't it will bite you in the ass.
Its like talking to an egotistical elementary school student. You have to say nice things to them because if you don't, they break down completely. So you have to treat them with kid gloves. I feel much more comfortable talking to people from countries that have enough country-self-assurance that they don't need to be placated all the time, like China. Or England. Or any number of other countries that don't issue their children shoulder chips in elementary school.
8:08 pm on February 6th, 2011 4
Pride dictated by geography.
9:50 pm on February 6th, 2011 5
As an Australian I naturally find national pride rooted in sports and geography to be unnatural and abhorrent.
…
wait.
10:09 pm on February 6th, 2011 6
Pride is one thing but, to me at least, there seems to be an indication of fragility and insecurity when one can't abide even minor slights.
The ability to brush off criticisms or comments made in jest demonstrates a deep rooted pride on a stronger foundation.
11:30 pm on February 6th, 2011 7
JoeC is 100% right.
Let's remember there are so many waygooks unwilling to be tolerant toward the Koreans that it makes me think maybe it's not just the Koreans who are sensitive and insecure…
And while I'm not a fan of soccer, I do appreciate the need for folks like Mina…
11:40 pm on February 6th, 2011 8
Korea is only one generation out of the third-world sewer.
Koreans are just starting to be comfortable with that…
…as evidenced by a slight-but-growing interest in retro.
Collect all the 70s and 80s crap you can now. It will be increasingly sought after in the coming decade.
As of now, criticism only serves as a reminder of past failure. It will take another generation, or a few more years for those memories to fully fade.
It took a while for Americans to honestly consider the Vietnam War… and, even after a decade, 9/11 is still a sensitive issue… as evidenced by the Ground Zero Mosque incident.
If you feel that you MUST get your point across, it must be done gently and tactfully… just as with everybody else in the world.
1:07 am on February 7th, 2011 9
I'm sorry I was stuck on the photo…what were talking about?
1:26 am on February 7th, 2011 10
Jeff, exactly. You can tell the guys whose only experiences with Koreans was in a BuyMeDrink place (or Room Salon) by the level of negativity here. And at Marmot.
Seoul, South Korea is not Des Moines, Iowa. And some people haven't gotten over that… Give 'em time…
There is a lot of good in every country, if you're willing to look for it. I cannot say I enjoyed every hour I spent in Korea; but overall it is a nice place. You just need to set your expectations. Just like going to De Moines (where you can get, I'm told, pork chops two inches thick that are competition for Filet Mignon and don't need to be wrapped in bacon)…
Look for the good!
2:31 am on February 7th, 2011 11
#10,
Sure, but pride based on an accident of chance such as one's place of birth? I take pride in my own achievements and that of those who are very close to me. I also take pride in the achievements of my students, as all teachers should. But, pride in Canada (my country of origin) or pride of South Korea (my home), especially when expressed through sports nationalism? No thank you. Sure, I like it when the home team wins, but pride wouldn't be the word to describe how I feel about it.
2:32 am on February 7th, 2011 12
I think the writer has confused street cheering with street jeering as poor man of Asia. As for Mina, jeez, bit of a Ben Affleck chin
8:43 am on February 7th, 2011 13
She has a chin?
8:54 am on February 7th, 2011 14
#11, look for the good.
Sure, there are a lot of folks in Korea who have a chip on their shoulder. Ignore 'em. I go there and have a great time with family and friends.
However, the best place to dig for gold might not be that big steaming hill outside the dairy pavilion…
Look around! There are some really neat folks in Korea. If you don't know any Koreans, go to Myung Dong, to one of the many coffee shops, and (after you've ordered) ask the waiter or waitress about Korean Culture.
Yeah, they're nearly as stuck on themselves as Americans are; but they're actually shy until they know how to place you. Blame Confucius or his followers…
There are jerks of every race and creed, so be prepared to wander.
10:44 am on February 7th, 2011 15
#13,
She does, but you've obviously found the solution to that problem: look six inches down.
10:48 am on February 7th, 2011 16
"Look around! There are some really neat folks in Korea. If you don’t know any Koreans, go to Myung Dong, to one of the many coffee shops, and (after you’ve ordered) ask the waiter or waitress about Korean Culture."
Are you kidding? I live Korean culture every day, have been for well over a decade. I've even had several articles and pictures about it published (don't ask, you'll never know. My real name's plastered all over that shit).
11:41 pm on February 7th, 2011 17
Ben Affleck chin and all, she's still hot – even with those two Adam's apples.
12:04 am on February 8th, 2011 18
"Sure, I like it when the home team wins, but pride wouldn’t be the word to describe how I feel about it."
And that's exactly how I feel about the Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars, Rangers, and whatever the local soccer team is called…
You just have to ignore the people who take pride in other people's effort…
8:41 am on February 8th, 2011 19
Dragonfly 17, she has a prominent chin and Adam's apple. Hmmm. Maybe someone should check her chromosomes.
8:50 am on February 9th, 2011 20
Hopefully there's not some type of chromosomal anomaly. As long as she keeps her pants on, no one will know.
11:51 am on February 9th, 2011 21
I don't think it's a coincidence that she became famous, by the way. I think the whole thing was spun by her management company. Think about it, she looks like she was posing for the cameras in that series of pictures.
1:22 pm on February 9th, 2011 22
They are never reluctant to show up in front of TV camera. And the media on sports or entertainment upload some articles about them together with some sexy photos of them who posed. And now Korean people think they have any specific purposes so we dont like those people any more.
From 100% Korean
2:24 pm on February 9th, 2011 23
#22
ban jak star
Thanks for the info.
There is a similar such thing in the USA also. But they have to release a s.e.x tape or do something just as outrageous first and they can be rewarded with a reality TV show.
2:28 pm on February 9th, 2011 24
#23
Additionally, as you may know, "ban jak" means "flash"(i dont know better English expression), which means here that they showed up from nowhere and disappeared soon.
Happy to join here.