Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Some foreign residents find the regular extolling of South Korea's supposedly unique
characteristics or achievements, both by the media and South Koreans themselves, a tad
tiring—and indeed, heartfelt dissertations on the nutritional value of the local staple kim-
chi or the “scientific” properties of the local script tend to lose their appeal when you've
heard them dozens of times. Some also find that while South Koreans are big proponents of
the “when in Rome” philosophy—meaning that foreigners should conform to local cultural
norms—they seem to stick to the “Korean way” wherever they happen to be, and genuinely
believe their culture is one that non-Koreans will never “get.”
It's difficult to deny that Caucasians sometimes receive better treatment than visitors of
other ethnic backgrounds, especially at the hands of officials or employers. This is mainly
the result of a naive but still common view that “developed” nations have more to teach
South Korea and that their people are therefore more deserving of respect. Japanese and
U.S. nationals may find some South Koreans are less than enamored of their home countries
due to the checkered history Korea shares with both places, but this prejudice rarely mani-
fests itself as anything serious. Basically South Koreans find
all
foreigners equally confus-
ing and curious.
While it is not much of an issue in Seoul, foreigners in less cosmopolitan parts of the
country may experience what some have termed the “freak” factor. Non-Koreans are a relat-
ively rare sight in many places and can find themselves being stared at, trailed by schoolkids
shouting greetings, or otherwise singled out for attention, which can be traumatic or a lot of
fun, depending on the mood of the victim.
So how does one deal with these sometimes exasperating experiences? First, don't take
it personally—most South Koreans have little trouble differentiating between individuals
and their nation or government, and any negative sentiment directed toward where you hap-
pen to be from is almost never intended as a personal slight. Second, practice understand-
ing—this is a country that has suffered at the hands of larger nations more than most, and
it is still to some extent rebuilding its pride and identity. Third, remember that the South
Koreans are relatively new to all this—overseas travel was rigorously controlled for years
by dictatorial governments, and it's only in the last decade or so that the country has had
a sizable contingent of nonmilitary foreign residents, so it's natural that some of the inter-
actions between foreigners and locals can be a bit gaffe-prone and awkward. And finally,
remember that despite what the government and some media outlets may lead you to be-
lieve, many South Koreans are highly conscious of their country's failings and discuss them
exhaustively—it's simply a dialogue that, for reasons of language and pride, foreign nation-
als are rarely involved in. South Korea has become a much more diverse and tolerant place
