Things Koreans do that irks us

I get it, but it's still annoying...They're just doing their job, but it can still irk you.

So basically, you're upset they can't read your mind over whether or not you'd like some assistance as you look at things in a quizzical fashion. And to compound it, you have to go through the crucible of telling them "I'm okay, thank you." Did it ever occur to you that YOU are the one with the problem, not them? I mean this isn't that big a deal and shouldn't be a huge annoyance.

Though in your defense, I am often tempted to go with the Ron Swanson "I know more than you.", especially in the beer/liquor aisle. There is an element of "Guy in costume who you just want to kick in the rear" element to salespeople. I'm not totally oblivious to their annoyances.

I only ever experience the super clingy salespeople at places like Etude House, Tony Moly, etc. It drives me mad and, subsequently, out of the store.

I also hate being at the grocery store and beckoned to buy some milk that is on sale/being sampled as opposed to whatever it is I actually want.

Uhm, correct me if I'm wrong, at places for cosmetics, skin care, etc. isn't that one of the places you really want personal attention and someone who knows the product there to assist you? I mean isn't one of the reasons people go to the dept. store and not just buy online is so they can test out different products and see how it applies and get professional advice? At least that's what it appears to me, but I could be wrong because I'm not really spending much time in Etude House or in front of the Bobbi Brown counter.

As far as the grocery store, sometimes those displays can be the best value or they got a good lot. Check the date on stuff, sometimes it's 'Get our excess inventory out of here' but other times they got a big fresh lot from the wholesaler/distributor/whatever and you're getting fresher milk at a cheaper price. Take a gander and see what they have. At worst you just have to shake your head and go and buy something else. At best you either get a better product or a better price and sometimes both.

It's great if the employees are available to help me, but I'd like to be the one to approach them if I have a question. I hate it when I walk into a skincare place and immediately the employees descend upon me like vultures. I just would like to take my time to browse, but being intensely stared at makes me so uncomfortable that I usually leave without buying anything.

I guess I'll write a couple of things that irk me about what Koreans say. Not so much what they do.

The one that stood at to me the most that someone else earlier mentioned:
When Koreans refer to Korea as 우리- "Our language, our country, our products."

Sometimes it is acceptable. But I sometimes tell Koreans that whenever they use the phrase "We," they separate themselves further from the rest of the world. They often say that it's just their language... well no duh, I speak it too and understand but they don't understand the psychological power that the word "We" has. As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America. There is no concept of a border-less world to them. Humans created the borders, they didn't exist before. All we need is a passport and a plane ticket to travel, what stops us from being more multicultural? These kinds of attitudes.

~~~

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

Sorry, I haven't been through the whole thread, so maybe my contributions have come up already.

(Side note: A lot of the annoyances that I have read on here don't bother me that much - aside from the hovering staff at shops - so this kind of topic actually provides quite an interesting insight into the personalities of the contributors)

Okay, so my two biggest things:

1) Being complimented for basic life skills that any simpleton is able to master. I know that my Korean co-workers mean really well here, and are just trying to be nice, but the dumbest thing I've been applauded for is making a sandwich. This is how that conversation went:

K Teacher: What did you bring for lunch today?

Me (unwrapping a sandwich): A sandwich.

K Teacher (analyzing the sandwich): Did you make that yourself?

Me: Yes.

K Teacher: Wow. (Hastily speaks in Korean to other teacher, who also analyzes the sandwich).

Other Teacher: Did you really make that?

Me: Yes.

Other teacher: Whoa... (More impressed conversation in Korean ensues)

Some other sources of amazement and wonder for them: my ability to say "Annyeong haseyo" when I encounter students' parents, eating spicy food (of course), and going to Korean restaurants (I don't know if they expected me to eat every meal at Burger King or something...)

Still, none of that compares to the maddening effect of living in Japan and being complimented on your chopstick abilities at almost every meal. I totally understand that this is just something that Japanese people conjure up when they don't know what else to say to a foreigner, but honestly, you could live in Japan for 20 years, speak fluent Japanese and make all this known to a food server before tucking into your bowl of soba, and you'd still get the stupid compliment about your ability to handle a common eating utensil.

2) Lack of child discipline

Maybe this is a more serious one, rather than something mildly irksome. But man, is it infuriating. The jjimjilbang on a weekend afternoon is a great place to witness it in its full horror. Not long ago, I was in a quartz sauna, somewhat busy but relatively quiet. A youngish woman came in with about 8 kids in tow, probably her own and some cousins or friends. They started playing Kai Bai Bo in the sauna, deliberately getting louder with each iteration until they were practically screaming. I looked up to glare at the woman responsible for this madness and she was sat there with that glazed look of obliviousness so common in situations like this. Then the kids proceeded to run in and out of the different sauna rooms, screaming and slamming the doors, enough to cut significantly short my time at the jjimjilbang, but nobody said anything, and she let it all unfold as if it were perfectly acceptable behavior.

On another occasion, my wife watched some little monster in the locker room (maybe 3 or 4 years old - young enough to be in the ladies' area of the jjimjilbang, anyway), hitting his mother's bare ass and screaming for attention, which she ignored in favor of the all-important makeup application. This animal then charged around the locker room smacking other nude women on their thighs and bottoms, and his mother never, never came to the conclusion, "You know, maybe a little intervention is necessary here."

.... As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America.

...

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

Slurps ramen, shows deference to old people...

Sounds like you have made your choice.

:)

Uhm, correct me if I'm wrong, at places for cosmetics, skin care, etc. isn't that one of the places you really want personal attention and someone who knows the product there to assist you? I mean isn't one of the reasons people go to the dept. store and not just buy online is so they can test out different products and see how it applies and get professional advice?

'professional' advice? from some high school or university student who barely has any idea what they're doing?

like that time i went to a Face Shop er.... shop, and asked them for a specific product, only to be told they don't have it. only for me to find the exact product i wanted on the shelf less than 2 minutes later.

and what you seem to be completely unaware of is that koreans find this behavior by shop assistants equally annoying. this whole country is filled with koreans, maybe you should actually try talking to them sometime?

Innisfree seems to have finally realized this, and started this basket system.

Innisfree seems to have finally realized this, and started this basket system.

I can def do myself.

.... As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America.

...

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

Slurps ramen, shows deference to old people...

Sounds like you have made your choice.

:)

And here we have a person on the other side of the fence saying I'm not welcome. *sob*  (Sarcasm)

On another occasion, my wife watched some little monster in the locker room (maybe 3 or 4 years old - young enough to be in the ladies' area of the jjimjilbang, anyway), hitting his mother's bare ass and screaming for attention, which she ignored in favor of the all-important makeup application. This animal then charged around the locker room smacking other nude women on their thighs and bottoms[/size], and his mother never, never came to the conclusion, "You know, maybe a little intervention is necessary here."

 

You've just enabled their law breaking.

You being funny?

I'm not enabling anything.

I'm not so arrogant/ignorant to believe that I am going to change the rude behavior of a couple of Korean men.

I have removed myself from the situation and eliminated the problem.

1) Being complimented for basic life skills that any simpleton is able to master. I know that my Korean co-workers mean really well here, and are just trying to be nice, but the dumbest thing I've been applauded for is making a sandwich. This is how that conversation went:



On another occasion, my wife watched some little monster in the locker room (maybe 3 or 4 years old - young enough to be in the ladies' area of the jjimjilbang, anyway), hitting his mother's bare ass and screaming for attention, which she ignored in favor of the all-important makeup application. This animal then charged around the locker room smacking other nude women on their thighs and bottoms, and his mother never, never came to the conclusion, "You know, maybe a little intervention is necessary here."

First part, I agree.
Second part, bahahaha. It may have been annoying, but that is a funny story to hear/think about.

I guess I'll write a couple of things that irk me about what Koreans say. Not so much what they do.

The one that stood at to me the most that someone else earlier mentioned:
When Koreans refer to Korea as 우리- "Our language, our country, our products."

Sometimes it is acceptable. But I sometimes tell Koreans that whenever they use the phrase "We," they separate themselves further from the rest of the world. They often say that it's just their language... well no duh, I speak it too and understand but they don't understand the psychological power that the word "We" has. As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America. There is no concept of a border-less world to them. Humans created the borders, they didn't exist before. All we need is a passport and a plane ticket to travel, what stops us from being more multicultural? These kinds of attitudes.

~~~

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

You're rapidly becoming one of my favourite posters for your posts.

I thought I was your Lucky Star.

Just a few weeks ago I was riding my bike on the curb side of the bus lane and a car purposefully swipes ahead of me and abruptly parks to let out his wife next to the subway station. I stop my bike and give him an annoyed glare, but I'm ready to leave it at that, when he rolls down his window, sticks out his head and immediately launches a flurry of curses at me. I explain that this is the bus lane and I was far off to the side when the wife, who is now out of the car, starts lecturing me that I shouldn't be riding my bike in the road, and when I ask 'Where should I ride?' she helpfully offers 'nowhere'.  

   Well, this story just spiked my blood pressure by about 10 points. Thanks!
Just 10 more and I win the game!

Would not happen in a nation more tolerant of fisticuffs.

No fisticuffs necessary. I got the last word in with her as she descended the staircase. "Thanks. You're very helpful." and I put an extra sardonic emphasis on the word 'very'. Booyah, grandma!

I guess I'll write a couple of things that irk me about what Koreans say. Not so much what they do.

The one that stood at to me the most that someone else earlier mentioned:
When Koreans refer to Korea as 우리- "Our language, our country, our products."

Sometimes it is acceptable. But I sometimes tell Koreans that whenever they use the phrase "We," they separate themselves further from the rest of the world. They often say that it's just their language... well no duh, I speak it too and understand but they don't understand the psychological power that the word "We" has. As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America. There is no concept of a border-less world to them. Humans created the borders, they didn't exist before. All we need is a passport and a plane ticket to travel, what stops us from being more multicultural? These kinds of attitudes.

~~~

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

You're rapidly becoming one of my favourite posters for your posts.

I'm confused.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

 

.... As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America.

...

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

Slurps ramen, shows deference to old people...

Sounds like you have made your choice.

:)

And here we have a person on the other side of the fence saying I'm not welcome. *sob*  (Sarcasm)

It's great to play either side as appropriate, isn't it?

.... As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America.

...

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

Slurps ramen, shows deference to old people...

Sounds like you have made your choice.

:)

And here we have a person on the other side of the fence saying I'm not welcome. *sob*  (Sarcasm)

It's great to play either side as appropriate, isn't it?

Oh yes, it's also nice to be in the middle of a dodgeball court having balls thrown at your from both sides, then finally being asked to join a team when that team is down 10 players, then being called a traitor by the other side, then finally being told to "go back to your team" after they jailbreak their previous 10 downed players, being denied and having balls thrown at you again from both sides...

I find it pretty annoying when I'm out with my significant other, and I ask a question to some service staff in a restaurant or store, and they completely comprehend and understand, and then start answering - to my significant other.

It's not them asking for confirmation or clarification - they're literally answering the question I just asked, but not looking at me.


And then I'll make some comment or acknowledge that I heard their answer to my question, and either thank them or ask a follow-up question, and they will continue to speak to my significant other as if it was her talking.

This happens probably about 30-40% of the time when we're shopping together.

I ranted about that a bit, and significant other said that if she talked to someone in my home country, it would be the same thing. So when we went on vacation to my home country, I made a point to watch for it. And actually I was surprised - it did happen, but only once.

But yeah. DANG that's irritating.

Whenever I'm out with non-Asian friends, Koreans always look to me, even if my friend was the one asking something.  I tell them I don't speak Korean.  They keep looking to me anyway as if I'm just pranking them and will magically rescue them from having to attempt speaking English.

Teehee, MFers. 

.... As a mixed (Korean/American) this is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Korean language to me, it teaches them that your are either Korean or you are not, and indeed even my own family always has to pressure me into picking a side. I've been told multiple times that I must choose to either live as a Korean or eventually go back to America.

...

As for people complaining about all the slurping as stuff... I can never imagine eating ramen without slurping. Some food just tastes better when you slurp it. In America I'm more conscious of the understanding that slurping is a no-no, but if I walk into a Japanese restaurant joint in downtown, I'm still going to slurp my damn ramen because that is what you are supposed to do.

Now... I do not like people who chew with their mouths open... it's tolerable when old people do it but not young people.

Slurps ramen, shows deference to old people...

Sounds like you have made your choice.

:)

And here we have a person on the other side of the fence saying I'm not welcome. *sob*  (Sarcasm)

It's great to play either side as appropriate, isn't it?

Oh yes, it's also nice to be in the middle of a dodgeball court having balls thrown at your from both sides, then finally being asked to join a team when that team is down 10 players, then being called a traitor by the other side, then finally being told to "go back to your team" after they jailbreak their previous 10 downed players, being denied and having balls thrown at you again from both sides...

I hear you.

I am also bi-cultural.

I find it pretty annoying when I'm out with my significant other, and I ask a question to some service staff in a restaurant or store, and they completely comprehend and understand, and then start answering - to my significant other.

It's not them asking for confirmation or clarification - they're literally answering the question I just asked, but not looking at me.


And then I'll make some comment or acknowledge that I heard their answer to my question, and either thank them or ask a follow-up question, and they will continue to speak to my significant other as if it was her talking.

This happens probably about 30-40% of the time when we're shopping together.

I ranted about that a bit, and significant other said that if she talked to someone in my home country, it would be the same thing. So when we went on vacation to my home country, I made a point to watch for it. And actually I was surprised - it did happen, but only once.

But yeah. DANG that's irritating.

Whenever I'm out with non-Asian friends, Koreans always look to me, even if my friend was the one asking something.  I tell them I don't speak Korean.  They keep looking to me anyway as if I'm just pranking them and will magically rescue them from having to attempt speaking English.

Teehee, MFers.

Oh. I should've clarified that I'm speaking Korean when this happens. And to protect my fragile ego, I'll point out again that they totally understand what I said and aren't asking for confirmation. They're just literally answering the question to a different person. Like, I don't expect them to English.

But yeah.

Nah, bruh, I gotcha.  Just relating the other side of the coin.  My friends did ask in Korean (simple stuff like "how much is this?" and whatever) and though their pronunciation still leaves something to be desired, I think it was hardly impossible to understand them. 

Also, I like the term "fisticuffs" and I too enjoy cjszk's posts. 

Just a few weeks ago I was riding my bike on the curb side of the bus lane and a car purposefully swipes ahead of me and abruptly parks to let out his wife next to the subway station. I stop my bike and give him an annoyed glare, but I'm ready to leave it at that, when he rolls down his window, sticks out his head and immediately launches a flurry of curses at me. I explain that this is the bus lane and I was far off to the side when the wife, who is now out of the car, starts lecturing me that I shouldn't be riding my bike in the road, and when I ask 'Where should I ride?' she helpfully offers 'nowhere'.  

   Well, this story just spiked my blood pressure by about 10 points. Thanks!
Just 10 more and I win the game!

Would not happen in a nation more tolerant of fisticuffs.

No fisticuffs necessary. I got the last word in with her as she descended the staircase. "Thanks. You're very helpful." and I put an extra sardonic emphasis on the word 'very'. Booyah, grandma!

Watch out now!