wow, thanks for the share, OP. In my opinion, this does not weight in favor of SK at all, but, well... I just hope it doesn't make too many people there unhappy for stupid reasons.

I heard many times that SK is quite xenophobic. Is it true? to what extent? Is it true even if you can speak korean a little?

Its quite surprising for me; the only country I know in Asia is Taiwan, and people here are just incredibly nice to foreigners (sometimes I still suspect some scam/joke when they call all their friends to try to answer a question as unimportant as "what's the name of this fruit?")

Sableyeah

Netherlands2119 Posts

March 19 2012 13:51 GMT

#302

Impressive read

Littlemuff

United Kingdom301 Posts

March 19 2012 13:58 GMT

#303

The skin bit was interesting. Its the same in indian culture where light skin is favoured. But this is mainly due to it looking better with coloured materials > Indians love bright colours. But cosmetically they dont go anywhere as far as SKoreans. I think bleaching skin is the most common form of lightening it.

ecstatica

United States542 Posts

March 19 2012 14:00 GMT

#304

I get mixed feelings from reading this. Of course it does not make a good impression, even though this was talked about thousands of times before. Its scary how shallow this culture is, yet it is definitely an exaggeration. Imo not even 20% of koreans will look as flawless as described, maybe many were undergoing surgeries but good appearance takes way more than one operation. So the vibe we get from here that most koreans will put regular westerners/non-korean asians to shame is not reality.

Im sure this pressure to fit in is dominant and manifests everywhere possible, but theres definitely people that just dont give a fuck and dress the way they want. Theres art students that will never wear that disgusting Northface jacket, theres also 'normal' guys that just look casual and are comfortable with it.

In Eastern Europe, as Im sure everywhere else to an extent too, similar stereotypes do exist. Nowhere near as severe, but you will be made fun of for looking different both in physical appearance and clothing. Some nations are still very homogenous which partially causes the mentality. US students all wear Northface and uggs and carry iphones - and thats the most diverse country in the world too.

By the way, the switch from flowery boys to beasty boys is non-reversible. It is not fashion. Looks start to matter more, therefore theres pressure to work out and be healthy. Weve had no example of going to physically fit sex symbols and then reverting to abstract flowery types with unpronounced shape. Maybe we are heading in the same direction after all, just taking different routes.

Iplaythings

Denmark9110 Posts

March 19 2012 14:00 GMT

#305

Oh lordy interesting blog for sure, I thought that I'd ask if my looks would be a problem... But I really suspect that frecklefaced-redheaded people with curls are perceived with the same impression everywhere: You are weird, wassup?

Wish you wrote more about the personality part though

Also, how do koreans treat facial hair for males?

Scarecrow

Korea (South)9174 Posts

March 19 2012 14:04 GMT

#306

On March 19 2012 22:51 Yenticha wrote:
Its quite surprising for me; the only country I know in Asia is Taiwan, and people here are just incredibly nice to foreigners (sometimes I still suspect some scam/joke when they call all their friends to try to answer a question as unimportant as "what's the name of this fruit?")

It's pretty much the same, whenever I've had problems I get help thrown at me and sub-committees of strangers trying to help me out.

On March 19 2012 23:00 Iplaythings wrote:
Also, how do koreans treat facial hair for males?

Employees generally have to be clean shaven. Mostly it's considered dirty/unkempt. Some celebs pull it off though but it's got to be well groomed.

nosliw

United States2716 Posts

March 19 2012 14:28 GMT

#307

nice blog! got into korean culture through kpop. this was very interesting.

Thorin

601 Posts

March 19 2012 14:32 GMT

#308

On March 19 2012 09:01 rotinegg wrote:
Confucian idealogy runs deep in Korean history and they prohibit you from mutilating your body in any way, including hair.

Yet so many people are getting plastic surgery -_-

HCastorp

United States388 Posts

March 19 2012 14:32 GMT

#309

Fascinating blog, matches up well with some things MightyAtom has said in the past.

I don't know anything about Korean culture, but my offhand guess would be that height/ratios are increasingly being seen as important because they are harder to alter (via surgery) than other things.

Roflhaxx

Korea (South)1244 Posts

March 19 2012 14:32 GMT

#310

On March 19 2012 23:04 Scarecrow wrote:

Show nested quote +

It's pretty much the same, whenever I've had problems I get help thrown at me and sub-committees of strangers trying to help me out.

Show nested quote +

Employees generally have to be clean shaven. Mostly it's considered dirty/unkempt. Some celebs pull it off though but it's got to be well groomed.

So a 3-days beard is no-no? (3-days beard is what we call when your beard looks 3 days old'ish, many girls really like it)

Vorenius

Denmark1979 Posts

March 19 2012 14:43 GMT

#311

On March 19 2012 23:28 nosliw wrote:
nice blog! got into korean culture through kpop. this was very interesting.

How can someone from outside Korea "get into" this sick culture?!

Don't get my wrong, I sympathize with koreans (especially women) who have to live up to an impossible ideal and get labeled as worthless losers for trying to define their own identity, but how can someone he hasn't been "brainwashed" from a small age find this sort of thing attracting? Do you think people in western cultures aren't defined enough on their appaerence?

And it's not even whether or not people take care of themself. If you are born short you're just not gonna make it anywhere. If your head is slightly too large compared to your body you can forget getting a high ranked wife.
"Wide nose? sorry mate but we've already filled our quota of physically disabled"

rotinegg

United States1719 Posts

March 19 2012 14:47 GMT

#312

On March 19 2012 22:51 Yenticha wrote:
wow, thanks for the share, OP. In my opinion, this does not weight in favor of SK at all, but, well... I just hope it doesn't make too many people there unhappy for stupid reasons.

I heard many times that SK is quite xenophobic. Is it true? to what extent? Is it true even if you can speak korean a little?

Its quite surprising for me; the only country I know in Asia is Taiwan, and people here are just incredibly nice to foreigners (sometimes I still suspect some scam/joke when they call all their friends to try to answer a question as unimportant as "what's the name of this fruit?")

They won't disrespect you if you are a non-Asian foreigner, and in fact they will be quite nice and respectful to you. It's just that you will always be 'that foreigner,' and never truly one of them.

On March 19 2012 23:32 Thorin wrote:

Show nested quote +

Yet so many people are getting plastic surgery -_-

There's a big mismatch in ideology between the older, old, and younger generations, and other factors at play, such as the unconditional parental love that is unseen in western cultures; I should have expanded more on that in the OP.

MCDayC

United Kingdom14464 Posts

March 19 2012 15:02 GMT

#313

Thanks for the post, its very interesting, and also a bit scary, but obviously there are aspects of Korea that are awesome as well (like starcraft on TV!), its just very weird to a westerner reading about this though.

unichan

United States4223 Posts

March 19 2012 15:11 GMT

#314

So that's why koreans always have the best skin
I must start to take care of my skin like a korean! And stop going out in the sun!

SiZ.FaNtAsY

Korea (South)1497 Posts

March 19 2012 15:11 GMT

#315

From what I heard Tattoos are not allowed in the Korean Military. What happens to the male celebrities with tattoos who have yet to serve the mandatory 2 year service?

rotinegg

United States1719 Posts

March 19 2012 15:15 GMT

#316

On March 20 2012 00:11 SiZ.FaNtAsY wrote:
From what I heard Tattoos are not allowed in the Korean Military. What happens to the male celebrities with tattoos who have yet to serve the mandatory 2 year service?

They changed the law so as long you aren't totally disabled you pretty much will go. People used to all sorts of crazy things like cut off a toe or pinky or deliberately rupture their ACL to avoid military service, but nowadays even those won't save you from military duty. The limit for tattoos I believe is if at least 10% of your skin is uncovered by tattoos, you are still eligible and required to serve.

Verrano

Norway12 Posts

March 19 2012 15:17 GMT

#317

I'm a Korean adoptee living in Norway. I'm 1.80m, skinny, broad shoulders, natural double eyelids, V-shaped face and HEAD TO HEGHT RATIO OF 7.9 - Does this mean I would be the shit in SK? :D

Snuggles

United States1865 Posts

March 19 2012 15:18 GMT

#318

Um I don't know if anyone has asked about this yet but what exactly is 깔창 in english? It was mentioned with G-Dragon's shoes to help him with his height.

Being a 5'5" shorty I could use a few inches...

rotinegg

United States1719 Posts

March 19 2012 15:20 GMT

#319

On March 20 2012 00:17 Verrano wrote:
I'm a Korean adoptee living in Norway. I'm 1.80m, skinny, broad shoulders, natural double eyelids, V-shaped face and HEAD TO HEGHT RATIO OF 7.9 - Does this mean I would be the shit in SK? :D

you could have been part of the likes of 2PM

On March 20 2012 00:18 Snuggles wrote:
Um I don't know if anyone has asked about this yet but what exactly is 깔창 in english? It was mentioned with G-Dragon's shoes to help him with his height.

Being a 5'5" shorty I could use a few inches...

Kkalchang, height boosting soles, don't really know how else to explain. Here's where you can find them in the US: http://whole4u.com/shop/ The $11.99 one is the one I own, but I gave away the bottom two layers to my friend. It comes in a pack of 1cm, 2cm and 3cm soles, and they can be assembled together to form a 6cm booster, but this won't fit in most shoes.