tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post123620020595064221..comments2024-03-26T03:31:06.199-04:00Comments on Ask a Korean!: Ask a Korean! News: Racism Starts EarlyT.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-76165366095166239462010-07-23T10:45:00.418-04:002010-07-23T10:45:00.418-04:00I recently started looking for a position to teach...I recently started looking for a position to teach English in South Korea, however after the common occurance of discrimination I have faced, and the countless reports of these incidents from other foreigners, I am quite discouraged from choosing this country for a teaching position. <br /><br />I am Canadian, born and raised. English is my mother tongue and I have two university degrees in english, both a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Arts from the University of Ottawa. I live in the nations capital and work for the federal government. However, my qualifications have been undermined because I do not have white skin. I have been asked by Korean Employers "Where are you from?" despite reporting my country, citzenship, and qualitifications on all of my applications. <br /><br />This message is to provide Korean employers who hold this type of prejudice with valuable information: English is the most widely spoken language in the world and in the Western World, a person's english ablities has nothing to do with skin colour. In my country (Canada), people are not discrimated based on skin colour. Human beings are treated equally, and employment opportunities are based on merit rather than race. I understand that providing a picture helps employers to familiarize themselves with potential teachers who are overseas, however using it for any of the above reasons is highly offensive. <br />Unfortunately, the future generations of Korean students are the ones most affected by this type of discrimination. If Korean Employers continue to hold these beliefs about skin colour, the students will inevitably miss out on the chance to benefit from a rich diversity of cultures, and most importantly, learn that rascism is ignorant, inappropriate, and a thing of the past.<br /><br />**Educating students begins with educating teachers**1elevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13639524562821446614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-68463504509735071372009-11-14T02:25:45.598-05:002009-11-14T02:25:45.598-05:00From what i read, I think that Koreans are very cl...From what i read, I think that Koreans are very closed minded since they can't even accept people who are half Koreans!<br />I mean countries today are very open to each other and where ever you live you should know whats happening in the world of today, but you make S.Korea seem like a very closed and conservative country, why is it that other races are very unaccepted in Korea? and one of the reasons students said they wouldn't be friends with those who are half foreigners is because they don't speak Korean, i take it as in english isn't taught early to students in Korea ?Noufhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838952418662502424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-16306602179616500332009-02-03T02:59:00.000-05:002009-02-03T02:59:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17378605305984272889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-19495815944070982652009-01-30T06:15:00.000-05:002009-01-30T06:15:00.000-05:00Interesting read. I grew up for a time period in ...Interesting read. I grew up for a time period in Korea, but was bouncing back and forth from America and Korea. I even went to school for one day (meaning I got kicked out for drawing a smiley face since I had no idea what to do with a brush and paint). My overall experience from adults was curiosity. You would've thought I was a rock star as I paraded around through the streets. Women rushing to look at me and touch me and take pictures with me. My uncle used to take me out all of the time, but looking back it must have been bait to get women. I lived on what is now a national park overlooking Seoul and it was a small area. I managed to strike up a friendship with a Korean boy. Haha the adventures we would have. Digging crayfish out of the mud and making small fires for a snack. The funny thing is that neither of us ever could say more than a couple words to each other, but we loved playing together and going to the store. Also at an apartment in Gunsan I made friends with the kids at the arcade and would play with a couple of other kids in the building. I learned origami from them. I think I would have been a bit more accepted if I had been able to talk Korean, but then again I'm sure once in the schools you have peer pressure to deal with and some friends might not be so quick to acknowledge the friendship. It's like when a white guy has a black friend and they're good friends and hang out, but when he runs into the rest of his black friends it's like he doesn't know you anymore (story from my dad growing up in Cleveland). Maybe I just happened to be cute enough to be pardoned for being a "multicultural" child...I'm sure I'd have a different outlook if I had remained there for the elementary years, but then again I experienced much the same going to school in America. I guess people like me don't really have a place to be accepted except cultural mixing pots that include Asian ethnicities (ie. Hawaii and maybe parts of California). Now I'm back in Texas and feel the awkwardness at times. Oh well, I'm still me and have to live life day to day. <BR/><BR/>Sorry for the unorganized thought process...I just wrote whatever popped in my head and it came out as a ramble.Mike Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00904016062910615782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-12181949792899444222009-01-29T17:39:00.000-05:002009-01-29T17:39:00.000-05:00"In the absence of easily obtainable permanent res...<I>"In the absence of easily obtainable permanent residency status, people living in Korea long term on statuses like student visas may be the people who end up rioting. "</I><BR/><BR/>A student visa is a temporary visa, and besides none of the Chinese students I knew aspired to make Korea their permanent home. My Chinese friends acknowledge Korea's higher standard of living but believe that China will pass Korea in about twenty years. The government is less optimistic and gives the nation about 40 years to catch up. Moreover, Chinese are tremendously proud of their culture and history. They regard Korea as a once vassal state that is being eclipsed again by its larger neighbor. Koreans are the favorite target of Chinese internet trolls, and the tone is scornful. Chinese tour guides herding their groups through Seoul's palaces are fond of pointing out how everything was 'borrowed' from China. Disenfranchised minority? Hardly. <BR/><BR/><I>"Taking "racial" as the broad meaning that includes "ethnic," I think some of the pro-Chinese attitudes toward the Tibetans, which was one aspect of the rioting, might count as such."</I> <BR/><BR/>The demonstrations were political although the Chinese interpreted the anti-government demonstrations as anti-Chinese. They were upset watching foreigners piss on their parade in Paris, London, and even 'little' Seoul next door. I mean, arrogant Westerners trying to steal the torch from a wheelchair-bound athlete was one thing, but KOREANS? How dare those Koreans spoil the party with their annoying little demos. Who do they think they are? Back in the days when they had a king who need our emperor's approval to appoint a crown prince, those Koreans knew their place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-17919138585774265592009-01-29T01:40:00.000-05:002009-01-29T01:40:00.000-05:00Sonagi wrote:Chinese uprising of spring 2008? Do y...Sonagi wrote:<BR/><B>Chinese uprising of spring 2008? Do you mean Chinese students waving flags, chanting patriotic slogans, and occasionally attacking peaceful Korean and foreign demonstrators? Some of the ethnic Chinese participants were Korean permanent residents and citizens, but I believe that most were overseas students from the PRC.</B><BR/><BR/>I must admit I was being glib, but you make an interesting point. In the absence of easily obtainable permanent residency status, people living in Korea long term on statuses like student visas may be the people who end up rioting. <BR/><BR/>But your point is understood: the type of people rioting, the nature of the riots, and the degree of violence and destruction were different from Paris and Los Angeles. I'm just wondering if Seoul's "race riots" will end up being different from those.<BR/><BR/><B>In any case, the clashes were political, not racial although reactions to the conflict were tainted with racial remarks by both Koreans and Chinese.</B><BR/><BR/>I don't know if I agree. Taking "racial" as the broad meaning that includes "ethnic," I think some of the pro-Chinese attitudes toward the Tibetans, which was one aspect of the rioting, might count as such. <BR/><BR/><B>Describing Chinese students surrounding and beating a pro-Tibetan Western protestor or kicking a Korean man for speaking out in defense of North Korean refugees as an "uprising" is a gross mischaracterization of the conflict.</B><BR/><BR/>Well, I didn't quite mean to do that. <BR/><BR/><B>Welcome back to the K-blogosphere, Kushibo.</B> <BR/><BR/>Welcome back? I resumed regular blogging last summer and put up 167 posts last year, 77% and 68% of what I did in 2005 and 2006, respectively. <BR/><BR/>Oh, and speaking of immigration issues, if you email me, there's something I'd like to discuss with you (contact info on my profile).kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-32040756340766002152009-01-29T00:04:00.000-05:002009-01-29T00:04:00.000-05:00The Chinese uprising in Seoul was completely unacc...The Chinese uprising in Seoul was completely unacceptable. Supposedly Korean did that in Tianmen Square, there would be an outrage by Chinese govt!!!Miguk chonhnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695554200912433082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-61605709372457959772009-01-28T17:12:00.000-05:002009-01-28T17:12:00.000-05:00Chinese uprising of spring 2008? Do you mean Chin...Chinese uprising of spring 2008? Do you mean Chinese students waving flags, chanting patriotic slogans, and occasionally attacking peaceful Korean and foreign demonstrators? Some of the ethnic Chinese participants were Korean permanent residents and citizens, but I believe that most were overseas students from the PRC. In any case, the clashes were political, not racial although reactions to the conflict were tainted with racial remarks by both Koreans and Chinese. Describing Chinese students surrounding and beating a pro-Tibetan Western protestor or kicking a Korean man for speaking out in defense of North Korean refugees as an "uprising" is a gross mischaracterization of the conflict. <BR/><BR/>Welcome back to the K-blogosphere, Kushibo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-65373605531089536932009-01-28T08:31:00.000-05:002009-01-28T08:31:00.000-05:00Hi there. Your blog was nominated for an award for...Hi there. Your blog was nominated for an award for the best Korea blogs of 2008, at The Hub Of Sparkle. Go check it out if you like.<BR/><BR/>http://www.koreasparkle.com/2009/01/the-golden-klog-awards-survey-is-up-go-vote/#contentRoboseyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00181024152755004336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-79984430991488792912009-01-28T05:38:00.000-05:002009-01-28T05:38:00.000-05:00I think that the children answering are ignorant o...I think that the children answering are ignorant of how similar the multi-cultural Korean would be (except for skin color). I'd expect if the children had similar personalities they'd strike friendships.<BR/><BR/>In general I think Koreans think they are very different from non-Koreans and the more they learn they realize the similarities.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07968632814334295464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-13869559663095360652009-01-25T23:08:00.000-05:002009-01-25T23:08:00.000-05:00Koreans are going through narratives about race th...Koreans are going through narratives about race that were unimaginable ten or fifteen years ago. If you come to Korea and only look at the last few years, it may be hard to see that there has been a sea change, but it's there. I'm optimistic, although I wholeheartedly agree with you that the public sector, the private sector, and individuals must keep working at improvement. <BR/><BR/>As for race riots, we've already witnessed some. The Chinese uprising of spring 2008 was the type of thing we might see in the future.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.com