What the .... Cultural Tips?!?!?!

Two years ago I noticed a web site. It was put up either by or for EPIK. Basically, it was meant to provide cultural tips for people coming to Korea for the first time. Much like the tips that EPIK put in the booklets they gave to new teachers.

After getting through the bad English and horrible numbering I was left wondering just what the hell was Korean culture and what wasn't. The tips ranged from good to bad to what the Kimchi?





According to the "culture tips" the following are all considered cultural when dealing with Koreans; Rudeness and selfishness, heavy traffic, cost of American brands, Konglish, andstupidity. Wow, I never knew those were cultural. What the hell?

I could dissect the list one by one. It would be quite easy. The dreck and bullshit they listed took away from the good tips. Some of the ones that really made me say What the ... Kimchi!?!?! are;

"2. People are usually kind, but sometimes not to African Americans and South-East Asians."

An admission to racism by EPIK. Nice. Racism does seem to have deep roots in Korean culture. I was just surprised by EPIK's admission.

"7. Asking about age and marriage are not seriously personal questions."

This should be appended with "in Korea." In many other countries they are considered personal questions. If you want people to respect your culture then you should be prepared to respect theirs.

One of the things that has always pissed me off is when Koreans pull the "you must understand our culture" card. While that is true to a point you should also respect the culture of others and try to understand them too.

I have participated in more than a few Korean holiday/special event dinners. The kind where you are hammered with "oh this is part of Korean culture". I always went with the flow and respected their customs. I played the proper guest and tasted everything without complaint. When it came to having a traditional Christmas dinner out came the fucking kimchi and rice. Out came the whining. If Koreans couldn't respect ONE of my cultural traditions why the hell should I honour theirs?

"9. Individualism is not preferable. Community spirit comes first."

Community spirt should say CONFORMITY. South Korea has one of the most conformist societies in the world. At times they remind me of lemmings. It is a place where you can make generalizations (Koreans believe) and probably be right.

"13. You may be bothered by children and youngsters who want to speak to foreigners, now and then with bad words which are not intended badly."

So children running up and swearing at you is cultural? Because they don't "intend badly" it is ok? Maybe their parents should teach them some manners?

"17. There are often traffic jams on the roads in rush hours.
18. Drivers sometimes do not yield to pedestrians."

Traffic jams and bad driving are cultural?

"20. You can take a walk at night more safely than western countries because guns are not allowed to posses according to law."

Unless you are accosted by drunken Korean men using their hands, bottles, or knives. Just because a country has strict gun laws doesn't mean they have a low crime rate.

By the way ... guns don't posses people ... people posses guns. Ricetards.

"23. Girls and ladies walk sometimes hand in hand or arm in arm. But they are not leasbians. It means kind of affection."

Hmmmm ... doesn't mention about when the guys do it. Does this mean EPIK admits the guys are gay?

"30. Koreans sometimes say yes when they are confused in speaking English."

Stupidity is cultural? I was always taught that when I didn't understand something I don't say yes.

Then again after the comments of GNP Chairman Kang Jae-Sup during the Mad Cow bullshit about how beef is cultural to Korea, the science doesn't matter, should we be surprised that stupidity is cultural?

Korea ... lean in closer to the monitor.

We need to talk.

Come on. I am a foreigner but I don't bite. Usually. :)

Bring your soju, it's ok. I will even do a few shots with you.

Ready? Ok.

Things like this list make Korea/Koreans look like a bunch of fucktards. Seriously, something done for the ENGLISH Program in Korea can't be properly proof read?

They couldn't find anyone? Not even a Native English teacher who could fix their mistakes? This makes your government program look imcompetent. It enables people to laugh at you and your government. If a department that is supposed to be specialised in English can't get its act together and do things right what hope do any other Koreans have?

The things that appear on this list didn't just appear on a website. That alone should be making you shake your heads and say "Damn. We screwed up." Similar "cultural Tips" appeared in guide books for new EPIK teachers. One of the first things they see when arriving at Korea is stupidity like this.

If you want to claim something is cultural make damn sure it is. Poor driving is cultural? Traffic jams are cultural? Hankuk Saram please!

Yes, it means you will have to listen to a Native English speaker, or horror of horrors someone younger than you who has better English. It also means you won't be putting out stuff that makes you and your country look like a joke.

It would also shut people like me up because we wouldn't have anything to point and laugh at.

Think about it Korea.