Ask a Korean! Wiki: Tourism of Korea in English

Dear Korean,

My wife and I are planning a vacation to South Korea. Can you recommend any tourist companies and the best time of year to visit? We need an have an English speaking tour guide taking us around South Korea in a bus or shuttle.

Thomas

Dear Thomas,

The Korean never needed a tourist company (much less an English-speaking one) to tour Korea, so he has no idea. Readers, can you help?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Does This Guy Look Korean?

Dear Korean,

I am a Western-born Chinese who is half Southern Chinese and half Northern Chinese, which is mix that you can sort of see in my face. In China, people are usually convinced that I am Korean. Part of this is because I dress and move like a foreigner, speak passable but not perfect Mandarin, yet do not look like a Hongkinese (too tall). But taking these factors out of the equation, people still insist that my face looks Korean. I've never lived anywhere that has a big Korean population so I don't know what this means. I don't look anything like Margaret Cho, Kim Jong Il or Euna Lee. The only possible relevant indicator on your 'How to Pick Koreans from Other Asians' list, in the context of the US, seems to be : "Facial Expression – in a neutral state, Koreans tend to look like they are pissed off. (Confidence Level = 2)"

Do I look Korean, and why? Or do I just look pissed off?

- Tze Ming

Dear Tze Ming,

To the Korean, you look VERY Chinese. But it would be interesting to hear from the readers. What do you think, readers? Does Tze Ming look Korean?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Rainbow Hangouts?

The Korean is still a few weeks away from posting, but here is a chance for you to give your own answer in the comment section if you are in the target demographic:

Dear Korean,

I am a Chinese-American in his mid twenties who recently moved to New York city. I am interested in meeting some gay Korean guys. Do you know of any gay Korean bars in New York, especially Queens? Or do you have any suggestions on meeting gay Korean guys in New York?

John

Please don't limit yourself to New York, fellas. Info about any gay Korean hangouts are welcome.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Online Job Search

Dear Korean,

I am a KA, and I run a somewhat successful business doing IT consulting and have thought about trying to go international with it. I've Googled all over the place for jobs in Korea and the only thing that comes up are ESL jobs. As Internet saavy as I imagine mainland Koreans to be, do you know of internet resources that mainland Koreans check out when job hunting?

Anonymous Coward


Dear Anonymous Coward,

The Korean never had a job in Korea, nor has he ever searched for one. Readers, got anything?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Downloading Korean Music

Dear Korean,

How can I get K-pop mp3s online without stealing? Do you have any sites to recommend? I can't make heads or tails out of Naver's music section, I can find the music I want, but I can't figure out how to buy it (I'm a begining 한국어 핵생, so I can read some, but not well enough to be comfortable that I'm inputting my credit card info in the right spots!). I'm happy to pay for them, but I don't want to spend 20-30$ for a CD full of stuff I may not like to get a single song I know I will like.

Paul Cabana


Dear Paul,

The Korean can tell that you are a beginner student in Korean -- as you misspelled 학생 ("student"). But your English needs work too -- you also misspelled "beginning".

Readers, allow the Korean to reiterate: the Korean learned English when he was 16. Most of you have been speaking and writing in English for your whole life. The Korean expects mistake-free emails from your questions. If you make dumb mistakes like that, be prepared for ridicule.

But your question is a solid one, so the Korean will let this one slide at this point. To buy albums, the Korean uses www.aladdinus.com; the Korean does not buy mp3 for single songs as far as Korean music goes, but understands that www.bugs.co.kr has an option for purchasing single songs.

Readers, do you know of any other sources?

Caveat: absolutely nothing illegal please. And yes, downloading a song without paying for it is illegal. The Korean does not care if you like that law or not.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Novels by Korean Americans

Dear Korean,

Do you have any recommendations of novels written by Korean Americans? Preferably 1.5 or 2nd generation? I've already read Native Speaker, Free Food for Millionaires, and one more that escape my mind right now.

Amy


Dear Amy,

In most cases, the novels that the Korean reads are the ones that are at least 50 years old -- namely, the classics that every educated person should read. That precludes pretty much all Korean American literature. (However, the Korean is certain that he read almost all Korean novels worth reading.) The Korean did read the Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee -- he remembers being unimpressed, except for a few extremely poignant moments of the immigrant experience that were well captured. Lee also made a few errors in Korean language and culture, which annoyed the Korean.

Purely as a side note, the Korean is currently reading The Trial by Kafka, Gulliver's Travel by Jonathan Swift, and Shiji Liezhuan by Sima Zhen.

Readers, got anything? Reviews are also welcome.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Oppa! Oppa! Oppa!

After a few serious and gloomy news, back to our regular scheduled program...

Dear Korean,

I recently dated a Korean guy who was impressed with my knowledge of Korea/Korean pronunciation/Korean culture. One day we were talking and he asked me if I knew what I would call him and I responded, "oppa." (He was older than me.) He seemed to really like it, especially because I pronounced it correctly.

My question is, what would be your/an average reaction to a white girl calling you "oppa"? (Sparingly, of course. I do not plan on running up to all older Korean men with a greeting of, "oppa~!" just because I can, haha.) Would you like it? Would you think it's weird? Would it upset you? Catch you off guard?

Megan, She Who Loves the Oppas.

Dear Megan,

The Korean has previously written that Korean men are men before they are Korean, and there is no super-secret way of seducing them. But you just might have something that disproves the Korean. For some Korean men, the term oppa is known to act like a kryptonite.

Oppa means "(a woman's) older brother", but now it has evolved into a term of familiarity used by a woman for men who are older than the woman. Because the majority of relationships involve older men and younger women, the woman in the relationship frequently calls the man oppa. Such term has carried over even after marriage, eliciting frowns from traditionalists/purists (such as the Korean). Passionate girl fans for a male celebrity are often referred to as oppa budae ("oppa troopers"), because whenever a celebrity appears, a horde of girls run after him screaming "Oppa! Oppa!! Oppa!!!!!"

Personally, oppa totally works on the Korean, perhaps because being called by that term is a rare occurrence for the Korean since he has no younger sister. (Knowing this, however, the Korean's non-Korean dude friends sometimes call the Korean oppa, stirring up murderous rage.) So far, it has not made a difference if the term came from a Korean or a non-Korean. However, the Korean has also heard from other Korean American men that hearing oppa from a non-Korean is actually a turn-off.

This probably just means that the Korean is easy, but Korean men readers, have your say at it. Does oppa work on you?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Jobs!

AAK! is not just for learning about Korean/Korean American culture -- it is also your one-stop shop for beating the recession! Do you need a job? See the two questions below:

Dear Korean,

I'm looking for a Registered Process Server in Los Angeles County who speaks Korean. I've contacted some Korean Attorneys with no luck. Any ideas?

David

David Elliott
Executive Care Services
7095 Hollywood Blvd. #1270
Hollywood, Ca 90028
Office: 877-829-9813 Mobile: 323-855-2555 FAX: 877-321-3613
davidelliott@executivecareservices.com


Dear Korean,

I am trying to find staff who are either- Koreans who understand/read English (knowledge of English mainly for communication purposes such as instructions/emails)- or people, who understand/knows how to type Koreanto work for me on a part-time/freelance basis to do data entry in Korean. I do not need any translation work done. Thus most translation job sites are not feasible for me. Do you have any ideas where/which sites I can go/visit to look for staff like this? I'll appreciate any help in regards to this. Thanks!

Ling
styleborn@gmail.com

More job postings are welcome in the comments section.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Korean Hangouts in LA

Dear Korean,

I’m planning an event in L.A. with hip, cool young adult Koreans in mind and was wondering if you can recommend any hot spots/areas that are favorites among them.

Jennifer G.


Dear Jennifer,

While the Korean misses Los Angeles with all his heart, he has been living in New York for the last six years. Therefore, any recommendation by the Korean for Korean hot spots in L.A. would be very dated. And once they are dated, they are no longer hot.

So let's hear it, Koreans in L.A. -- where do you hang out? Give some names of restaurants, bars, clubs, anywhere -- more specific, the better.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Surfin' ROK

Dear Korean,

I recently got a question from my former philosophy professor about surfing in Korea - he's planning a surfing trip around the world and has the impression that there's not much surfing in Korea, but wants me to let him know if he's wrong. So, are there any major surfing destinations in Korea? Is surfing popular anywhere in the country, around Jeju-do, maybe? Are there any big, surf-ready waves in Korea?

Eliot

Surfing! Excitement. Once emigrated to California, the Korean learned to surf at Huntington Beach, and he loves it. But the Korean knows nothing about surfing in Korea, personally. A quick Internet search reveals a Korean surfshop: http://www.arkclub.co.kr/. This is not an endorsement -- the Korean knows nothing about that site. But hopefully it could provide a starting point for finding surfable waves out there. The site seems to be more geared toward surfing outside of Korea (e.g. in Japan or in the Philippines,) but it does list some surfing locations in Korea.

Has anyone tried surfing in Korea? Please help out.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Pre-Figuring Mixed Children

Dear Korean,

My mom is full blooded Korean and my dad is of Irish and Canadian heritage. My girlfriend and I have been talking about having children at some point. We wonder what our future kids might look like. This is where my question for you comes from. My girlfriend is a full on red head. Bright red hair (I say orange, but that ticks her off), pale white skin, freckles... a Ginger-American.

That said, do you or any of your readers know of a couple consisting of a Korean man and a red headed woman and if so what do their kids look like? I realize that anyone's story would not be an indication of what would happen between my girlfriend and I, but I'm curious.

John

Dear John,

The Korean has no children (that he knows of), so the answer will have to come from the readers. Obviously genetics is not something we can predict, but it would be interesting to hear about the different manifestations of the mixture. The Korean's observation has been that white-Asian babies are usually born more or less with full Asian features, and their white features show later as they grow.

Readers, don't limit yourselves to white-Korean combinations. Let's hear them all.

Got a question or comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Rec Soccer Leagues in Korea

Dear Korean,

I'm moving to Korea to be a English teacher in February. I'm interested in joining a club or rec soccer team, preferably one that might be more suited to someone who doesn't speak any Korean. Can you tell me how I can find information about joining one of these leagues?

Jon

Dear Jon,

The Korean does not know, but he bets his readers do. The Korean knows that there are many rec soccer and baseball leagues in Seoul, but he is not sure about any bilingual ones. If there is none, maybe this could be a good time to form one through AAK!

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Visiting Korea

Dear Korean,

I will be visiting Korea in a few weeks. Are there any must see places in Seoul and the rest of the Korea in general? Is it safe? Do you have any other tips and advice in general?

Krianne

Another chance for you the readers to answer some questions. Off the top of his head, the Korean thought of the following places to visit in Seoul: The palaces (there are several), business district near Gwanghwamun, traditional district at Insadong, shopping at Apkujeong (modern, expensive) Myeongdong (modern, cheap), Dongdaemun (modern/traditional), Noryangjin (traditional/fresh seafood), theatres and galleries at Daehakro, clubs and eateries at Shinchon/HongIk University, Seoul Tower at Namsan for a sweeping view of the city.

Any tip about traveling in Korea would be much appreciated.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Korean Fashion

Dear Korean,

Where or what websites can I visit that can provide me with the best and the latest in Korean fashion? And where can I pay for it in British Pounds and have it shipped over?

Natalie H.

The Korean is stumped here -- he does not buy clothes online, and he most certainly does not follow Korean fashion. Any takers? Please do not limit your suggestions places that may accept British Pounds -- the Korean is certain that there are others around the world who would be interested in Korean fashion.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Korean Lessons in Alabama

Dear Korean,

I am a 35 year old English-speaking American living in Birmingham, Alabama. Is there anywhere local for me to take Korean language classes? I have tried local Korean Catholic churches but they tell me they are all for kids. I would like to learn in order to visit the country one day as a Tang Soo Do student.

Anonymous Coward

Birmingham, Alabama!! The Korean's first college roommate was from Decatur, Alabama, "the fourth largest city in Alabama and the home to the second largest Wal-Mart in America!" as he would proudly say. The roommate invited the Korean to his future wedding, and told the Korean to bring a box cutter so that he can cut the rope around his neck after the roommate's friends lynch him. The Korean was not sure if his roommate was joking.

The Korean is shocked that there is a local Korean Catholic church there to begin with. A little help, AAK! readers from the Deep South?

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Theatre Programs in Korea?

Another chance to help a fellow reader, folks.

Dear Korean,

My girlfriend and I are both adopted Koreans living in Minnesota. We're both actors in our late 20's, and are exploring possibilities regarding teaching theatre in Korea for a period of 6 months or more next year. While it's pretty easy to find opportunities to teach English at schools, privately, or in hagwons, I'm curious if you would have any suggestions regarding teaching theatre to high school, college, or adult ESL students. We're mainly interested in living and working in Seoul, but I'd love to learn about any programs that exist. And if programs don't exist, are there certain colleges that would have staff or drama programs that might be interested in starting a program like this?

Korean American Theatre Junkie

This is a pretty technical question, so any lead would be appreciated.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Books about Korea

Dear Korean,

I was wondering if you could list a few Korean books for me about its culture and history. I am 100% Korean but I was born in the U.S. and so I don't know much about Korea's history. I wanted to educate myself since my college doesn't offer any classes.

Lina

Dear Lina,

The Korean would offer Carter Eckert's Korea Old and New. Since it was published in 1991 it may be a little dated, but it is solid overview of Korea history. For a little more trivial interest about how life in Korea was in early modern days, the Korean would recommend Dawn of Modern Korea by Andrei Lankov, which is a fascinating book. But beyond that, the Korean never had any need for a comprehensive Korean history book in English.

So readers, help out Lina here. The Korean knows some of you guys are actual scholars with fancy titles in universities and such. With everyone's input, this would be a great resource for self-motivated people who would like to learn more about Korea.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Teaching Positions in Korea

Dear readers,

Here is another chance to help out one another.

Dear Korean,

I'd like to travel to Korea and live there for a period of time. Most people recommend becoming an English teacher as the best way to secure a job and income. The Google results are overwhelming. Do you have any suggestions? I'm not sure how to start researching the possibilities nor have a good criteria base to judge programs. Advice on useful skills or concepts to know before arriving in Korea is also appreciated, but that could be a long list. (Skills in addition to learning Korean and for teaching, perfecting my English).

Jenn K.

Dear Korean,

I'm thinking about moving and have read some of your responses to questions asked. Is it very difficult to find work in Korea? I've noticed several teaching jobs, all seem easily attainable with a certificate, offered on line. I have about $200k cash and I have a 4 year old son, full custody. Just need a change.....

Patrick E.

The Korean thought about responding to these questions himself, but given the readership of this blog, anything the Korean might have written would have been inadequate compared to what the readers of AaK! would be able to provide collectively.

So readers, let it rip. In addition to providing links and resources, any personalized advice would be most helpful. Bonus points for third person-speak.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Korean Food

Dear readers,

Would anybody like to help out Stephan?


Dear Korean,

I moved to Seoul a few months ago to start a new job. Unfortunately due to a lack of an eating partner, I've been forced to eat out at Kimbap restaurant every other night. Although I've learned to read Hangeul, I have yet to fill out the vocabulary to put it to any good use. Do you have any tips on websites that list different types of Korean food accompanied by an English translation? I've found a few dishes by trial and error, but the more elaborate dishes are still a mystery.

Hungrily yours,

Stephan


The Korean knows the minders of various Korean food blogs frequent AaK!. The Korean could have simply replied in an email, but now is the chance for Korean food blogs to show off on this blog. Go nuts.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@hotmail.com.