Applicable?
“We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him. ”
Michel de Montaigne quotes (French Philosopher and Writer. 1533-1592)
Debatable.
You may have noticed the sudden spate of apoplectic K-Bloggers hating on Jon Huer’s “out-of-touch” top ten list of things Foreigners like about Korea: a list which, admittedly, seems like it should have been titled, “The Top Ten Things THIS Foreigner Likes About Korea”
An Expat in Korea, Brian in Jeollanamdo, and Hub of Sparkle’s own Stafford have added their ire to the pile-on so far, and doubtless there are more. In fact, Expat in Korea even sent Mr. Huer an e-mail, to which Jon Huer indignantly (and probably unadvisably) replied.
I don’t really care to reprint the whole train-wreck here, ere Stafford’s head explodes… but how about this.
If you don’t like Jon Huer’s list, let’s do him one better. What are the top ten things actual foreigners, really living in Korea, like best about Korea? Instead of hating on Jon Huer, let’s talk about the good stuff about Korea– it feels better than smearing some old guy, anyway.
Here’s Jon Huer’s list.
- Safe streets
- The sweetness and charitable disposition of Korean women over 60.
- Korea’s countryside people’s unique attitude to foreigners.
- The famous Korean fighting spirit
- Spontaneity
- A group of songs called “Lyrical Songs of Korea.”
- Sense of humor and gaiety.
- Pansori
- Koreans are extraordinarily forgiving toward those less-fortunate than themselves.
- Konglish
Now, if that one deserves the deluge of disdain it’s been dished so far, let’s write a better one. Post it on your blog and link it in the comments, or post your list in the comments for this post. If we have a strong enough response, I might even make it into a survey or something.
Let’s keep the tone on this comment board positive, and focus on our own top ten lists. If you wish to say terrible things about Jon Huer, there are lots of places you can do it freely; here at the Hub, let’s stay upbeat, thanks.
There’s the gauntlet, folks. Now whatcha gonna do about it?
31/03/2009 at 5:32 pm Permalink
11. Dong chim
31/03/2009 at 5:43 pm Permalink
lol. good start, Jaim.
31/03/2009 at 6:01 pm Permalink
My list is pretty simple and not all of it is specific to Korea because, well, a lot of problems in Korea bother me. Just today, I had a student take a swing at me for telling him he can’t smoke in the hallway, so I feel little motivation to respect Korea at the moment.
Anyhow, my list:
1. Beautiful women
2. Cheap goods and services
3. Seoul–fascinating city with tons to offer
4. Ondol
5. Ssangyeupsal
6. Barley tea
7. Good paying university jobs with lots of vacation time
8. A fascinating and learnable language with immense richness and subtlety
9. Four seasons (don’t laugh–I like a country where I can experience different types of weather)
10. It is a second-world country; this might sound strange, but I think it’s exciting to see Korea turn into a first-class, first-world country. It’s happening fast, and if one stays in Korea for 10 years, one will see some amazing things.
31/03/2009 at 6:24 pm Permalink
I have to agree with the first one if we define “safe” as “crime free” or “less crime than in big Western cities”, for example.
The other nine make no sense to me.
31/03/2009 at 6:46 pm Permalink
So what ARE your ten favorite things about Korea, Jose Maria Areta? That’s the focus of this comment thread.
Thanks, Michael!
31/03/2009 at 7:23 pm Permalink
Greetings all,
I saw the original article, and was initially unsure whether to consider it satire or an early April Fools joke. For the most part, my thought is simple: if you’re going to write an article titled “Top Ten Things Foreigners Like About Korea” – which certainly sounds like a great title – list your sources! Did you do a survey? Randomly talk to foreigners on the streets of Itaewon? Read online comments from random K-expats? A bit more description as well would’ve been nice – the thought of calling Korea’s roads safe is only considered from the statistical point of view, and cannot count the near misses, minor fender benders the cops don’t get called for, or the near-endless hassle pedestrians have while walking.
On a much more positive note, I am happy to submit my own top 10 list:
1. Public transportation – cheap, relatively efficient, and almost completely negates any thought of buying a car / scooter.
2. The merging of traditional and state-of-the-art
3. The cost of visiting many tourist destinations (500 won or 1,000 won for a day’s worth of fun? Wonderful.)
4. A population that generally takes care of themselves (looking good, staying in shape, etc.)
5. Jimjilbangs
6. Jobs a-plenty (in the spirit of keeping it positive, and considering the unemployment rate back in the states, it’s nice to know there are still jobs out there if you’re willing to come to Korea).
7. Decent treatment even if one doesn’t speak Korean. Knowing even a few words can make most Koreans smile.
8. Strong nationalistic spirit (especially visible during any sports game)
9. Willing to protest what they perceive as unfair (just imagine how the US might look if this attitude were more present!)
10. An almost endless form of entertainment in simply walking around random points of the city.
31/03/2009 at 9:26 pm Permalink
OK, Roboseyo.
Here they go:
1: Korea is a safe country (= fewer crimes than in other big Western cities).
2. The public transportation network in Seoul is outstanding.
3. It’s possible to buy almost anything 24/7.
4. Fewer beggars than in other big Western cities.
5. Traditional markets.
6. Internet access (line or wireless) is great.
7. Great consumer technology.
8. The Korean dish “bibimbap”
9. The Hangang river parks
10. Outstanding K-bloggers
9.
31/03/2009 at 9:47 pm Permalink
Well, here is my list of the ten things I like about Korea:
http://ajosshi.blogspot.com/2009/03/ten-things-i-like-about-korea.html
It seems that Jose Maria Areta and I agree on a couple of points….
31/03/2009 at 10:29 pm Permalink
Michael, you are aware that the folks that came up with the “third world”, “first world” designations defined the second world as a communist state.
31/03/2009 at 10:54 pm Permalink
lol.
Please, put away the first-world, second-world, third-world crap. It wasn’t cool 30 years ago, it sure as heck ain’t cool now.
I’ll only list 7.5 because I think it’s silly for Rob to go oh so out of his way to be cheerful here.
1. Delivery for all kinds of food.
2. Public transportation.
3. Look! Health insurance!
4. Internet. The connectivity of villages with a population of a few hundred put what you find in Pittsburgh to shame.
5. No tipping.
6. Strong aversion to narcotics (I won’t nitpick here over cigarettes or alcohol, so shut it).
7. Friendliness and helpfulness of people in customer service.
7.5. Everywhere you go, lots of
I’ll save the rest for a post of my own. *sticks out tongue*
31/03/2009 at 11:13 pm Permalink
As an English teacher Konglish is incredibly frustrating to deal with – but T-shirt and sign Konglish (which I’m not responsible for correcting – yay!) is awfully funny. What kind of rice tard wouldn’t appreciate it? That, along with ddeok in almost any form, would be on my list.
P.S. It just occurred to me that “rice tard” sounds like a racial slur . . .oops! That’s not how it was meant – http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-delicious-snack-treat-is-korean.html
31/03/2009 at 11:32 pm Permalink
The hardest part was stopping at 10. Come see for yourself at Long Time Gone, a crappy blog you won’t be sorry you’ve missed all these years. http://mccrarey.com/2009/03/31/ten-things-i-like-about-korea/
31/03/2009 at 11:56 pm Permalink
My list includes Choco-pies:
http://stafford.squarespace.com/journal/2009/3/31/called-out.html
01/04/2009 at 12:21 am Permalink
In no particular order:
1. 수정과
2. BBQ
3. 목욕탕 or 사우나
4. Public transport ease and convenience; including how one can show up at the bus station (or even airport) and buy a ticket to major destinations without reserving one first.
5. Markets
6. Triangles (삼각김밥)
7. Bangs
8. Stilettos with Jeans
9. Persimmon Dyeing
10. The feel of it.
01/04/2009 at 12:34 am Permalink
Here is my list. This is off the cuff, but there are more detailed explanations at my blog. (I don’t really consider myself a blogger, I just throw some stuff up on the internet every 3 months or so.)
10. Convenience of things
9. Nice Public Spaces
8. Traditional things
7. Makeoli and Dong Dong Ju
6. Kimchi
5. Building projects
4. The Occasionally awesome Korean movie.
3. Korean people
2. The Strange experiences that stop surprising you.
1. Taekwondo.
This is off the cuff and http://jinjufuntimes2.blogspot.com/ has more details about this list.
01/04/2009 at 12:57 am Permalink
Not that this is evident everywhere, all of the time, but where and when it happens, I love:
1. Traditional instruments/song/dress/jade/rituals
2. Good jjim-jil-bangs
3. Food (including the o-dang etc. snack stands)
4. An old, rich narrative(s)
5. Eating and drinking together
6. Affordable, fast transportation
7. Mountain-scapes (the exposed, rounded and smooth taupe? kind of rock)
8. Heavy warm rains, rice patties
9. I do feel safer, despite of the North
10. Family, friends, what someone describes as ‘rabbit cheeks’, talkative/friendly seniors
01/04/2009 at 7:12 am Permalink
Before you criticize me, I’ve only been to Korea once (for three weeks), but it is my specialization at UofT. I imagine my list will change when I move there this summer.
1. My beautiful wife-to-be
2. No tipping (hat tip to Brian for reminding me)
3. Korean apartments
4. Hotels ㅋㅋ
5. 떡볶이 / General street food
6. Cass Lemon (eat it, haters)
7. Cheonan (not Seoul)
8. Koreans’ passion for their country (aka Nationalism / Pride)
9. KTX
10. It’s not Canada.
01/04/2009 at 8:22 am Permalink
* The most beautiful women on the planet. hands down.
* 정
* The vibrant and detailed history of the people and land
* The food (cost, quality, health, taste)
* 짐찔방/목욕탕 (public bath house/sauna)
* 한국말 (the language)
* The country itself (scenery, plant life, nature, ocean)
* Passion for the highest possible education
* Respect (elders, authority, family)
* High quality, low cost public transportation
http://bug254.livejournal.com/15081.html
01/04/2009 at 9:43 am Permalink
Many of the things about Korea which can be most frustrating for a westerner are also the things which are best about it. The police may be often ineffectual and incompetent, but at the same time daily life is much less legalized than in other advanced nations. Bbali-bbali attitudes often lead to slipshod work and ridiculous schedule changes, but by the same token the explosion of sheer personal and entrepreneurial energy is invigorating. People might be prejudiced and blunt, but they say what’s on their mind and let everything out.
I’ve lived in both Korea and Japan, and I will never get why so many people wind up hating Korea but loving Japan. Compared to Korea, life in Japan is downright ordinary.
01/04/2009 at 5:00 pm Permalink
You will definitely find counter-examples to every point below but here it goes (in no particular order):
1. Fast and friendly administrative services (coming from Europe, I never thought it existed)
2. Internet
3. Food (cheap and healthy) but especially how they bring tons of it for everything they do, vacation, sports games, etc. You’ll never go hungry here…
4. I also agree with J. Huer on low crime and safe streets (minus the cars)
5. Hiking
6. Coming together in good and bad times – too much national pride is never good and it does border on irrational behavior and xenophobia at times but when I see how they back their national teams or how many people have given some of their time to clean up the mess after the oil spill (Dec. 2007), I wish people in my home country cared a little more.
7. Family ties and respect for elders (ditto Matthew)
8. 24/7 Convenience stores (I have three within my block)
9. Hongdae playground in the summer – Watch people and musicians: great atmosphere!
10. McGyver Koreans – I love to see how people make/fix their stuff e.g. motorbikes. Sure, it’s really dangly at times but they do come up with crazy solutions!
02/04/2009 at 12:09 am Permalink
I’ll just say one quick thing about why there is so much, ummm… *constructive* criticism of what J.Huer writes. The more you know of Korea and Koreans, the more irritating *inaccuracies* you find in what Huer says…
As the cow in the milk commerical would say… Tank yu!
02/04/2009 at 12:28 am Permalink
I completely forgot:
- doorbell service buttons at bars and restaurants
- shouting for service
04/04/2009 at 9:29 pm Permalink
This comment string is the best I have ever seen. I think it’s worthy of a compilation. I for one, would print that shit off and take it out to read whenever I was feeling down about Korea
1) Samgyupsal(can be replaced with kamjatang!) + Soju + Korean friends + Foriegn friends / Soju drinking games = one amazingly fun evening.
2) People watching! Everywhere and anywhere! I could spend the day riding line 2 in a circle just people watching.
3) Drinking beer everywhere! How stifling when you go back home and realize you can’t stroll down the street or sit in a park drinking your beer!
4) Makkolei Man! He strolls around Mapo-gu selling his out of date bottle of Makkolei calling out “I LOVE YOU!!” in many different languages and singing love songs in Italian. I hate Makkolei but I can’t help but to buy it off of him when he’s serenading me. Sucker><
4.5) Rice Cakes Guy! In the fall and winter he walks around the streets calling out ‘Rice Caaaaakes!’ in the most wonderfully tonal voice. I think I have found Pavarotti’s Asian cousin!
5) Watching Korea develope in so many different ways… you can make fun of me if you want, but it truely is dynamic, isn’t it?
I especially love seeing the social changes that are for the better of Koreans. It’s wonderful to see a country take charge of their ideas and continue to strive for something better.
6) I think Japanese girls got nothing on Korean girls! Fashionable and classy and feminine! While I personally dont agree with wearing high heels all the time (미국 마음 있어요!) I can still see how cute their feet look!
7) I met my husband at a dive bar in Hongdae! Which is only cool because it happens to be a dive bar in KOREA
That’s a story to tell the kids <3
Thanks Roboseyo!
<3
Juli
06/04/2009 at 10:22 am Permalink
1. Being stared at wherever I go. (Psychology shows that when people stare at other people, as in the case of beautiful people, they feel more confident) This is totally true for me and I feel the loss of that markedly when I return home.
2. Beautiful women. Seriously this country has some amazing scenery and the mini-skirts in summer…just wonderful.
3. Sam Gyub Sal/Galbi. It is more than just a meal, it is an experience. Meeting friends, or a company wae-shick…wow, it is memorable every time.
4. The informal “Boys will be Boys” law. Husbands/boyfriends/men are given free range to join in free range bachelor parties if it is related to their career.
5. The lack of police presence. I never see cops, except for sitting on the stoop of the police stations smoking. When I do see them, they are kind enough to give me warning in advance by always having their lights flashing.
6. Scooter Freedom. Stopping at red lights is encouraged, but not mandatory. Driving on side-walks is fine. It makes traveling fast and fun.
7. Joo Jums. Naked No Ray Bangs, I used to go to strip bars back home, but these are less expensive, WAY more hands on and if you are lucky enough to go with your boss and make it to the highest level (Room Salon) you are in for a real treat!
8. Convenience. The population density makes shopping easy and along with fantastic and speedy delivery from online vendors, buying groceries has never been easier.
9. The cheapness of clothes. White T’s for $2, Sock’s for 50 cents, collard shirts for $5.
10. American Soldiers have a 1am curfew and the MP’s regularly enforce it. Containing [slander on GI's Edited by Admin] makes for great living and safety when enjoying the late night entertainment Korea has to offer.
06/04/2009 at 10:14 pm Permalink
Mine are a little skewed into my perception as relates to me as biker in Korea.
10. Food (Ddalk Kalbi, Jo Gae Kooee)
9. Rural mountainous scenery.
8. Free to drink anywhere like a wino bum and it’s perfectly acceptable.
7. Lack of the Fuzz when Jackassery ensues
6. Lack of traffic enforcement (I love that!)
5. Korean Bikers (most will give you the shirt off their backs even if they don’t know you, like how it used to be in the states)
4. Dangerous curvy twisty crooked ass mountain roads ( I love going as fast as I possibly can on them since it’s fun without worry from The Man… and there’s a whole country of them)
3. Korean Women ( I’m married to an Lao woman with a Texas drawl which is awesome in itself but I still love to look)
2. Being amazed by finding kitzchy things all over the country, Monsters built out of car and motorcycle parts, A korean with a large Silver Surfer sculpture in his front yard, a Chinook Helicopter Hof… too much to list)
1. Cheap love motels! Because it’s nice to be able to sleep in a bed and take a hot shower everynight I’m riding around far from home on the other end of the country whereas in the states I sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag and rough it for a few days and it smeels that way too, but I ain’t out to impress anyone anyway I’m riding damnit!
08/04/2009 at 10:50 am Permalink
10. Food
9. Food
8. Food
7. Food
6. Food
5. Food
4. Food
3. Food
2. Food
1. My grandma
Ok fine, here is the real list.
10. Lack of guns and true slums
9. Fast Internet
8. Fast service, including delivery
7. 찜질방
6. Real 한정식, the kind they serve in 전주
5. Street food
4. Energy in the city, manifesting in unexpected ways
3. Color of mountains in autumn
2. The family plot in which I will be buried someday
1. My grandma. Really.
30/04/2009 at 2:35 pm Permalink
Jon Huer has some great insights. He is expressing some ideas that camp out in the minds of many people who live here — but are never said out loud for fear of offending people. These are ideas that are being expressed in the mass-media for the first time. We should not expect to agree with everything he says. I do not. But much of what he says is really cogent and insightful.
My 2c.
w.
18/05/2009 at 4:19 pm Permalink
Sounds fair enough of an idea to me, so here are 10 things that I like about Korea.
1. Cost of living
2. Internet / Mobile phone service
3. Convenience Stores
4. Dramas
5. Customer Service
6. Jimjil bangs
7. Doctors and Medicine
8. Advertising
9. History
10. Chaos
I’ve only been here in Korea for a little over a year and it was so, so easy to come up with a large list of things that I like about being here. The biggest problem i had was trying to cut my list down to just 10 things so I tried to go with a few things that others may not have mentioned.
You can check out why I like these things on my blog here
18/05/2009 at 6:27 pm Permalink
Here’s mine, although some reflect some personal hobbies and interests, but what wouldn’t, after nearly a decade of total time logged here…?
10. Fast-ass Internet.
9. Specialized neighborhoods, e.g. Chungmuro for photo, Yongsan for lights, Jongno for instruments.
8. Street food.
7. Attractive, well-dressed women.
6. No guns to worry about, even if people actin’ a fool.
5. Rules are flexible, morality is relative (can be a bad thing, too!).
4. Salespeople tend to be competent.
3. Great public transportation.
2. Good, relatively cheap restaurants.
1. Modern amenities, e.g. assigned seats at movies, keypad entry, T-Money cards, etc.