Is South Korea A Narcissistic Culture?
A former Washington Post journalist has released a new book that details his experiences living and working in South Korea:
In his new memoir, Ahrens, a former Washington Post journalist, tells of the three years he spent in Seoul working for Hyundai and his rough adjustment adapting to a culture that is, in many ways, the polar opposite of how we live in America.
When Ahrens’ wife, who worked for the Foreign Service, received a posting in Seoul, Ahrens was hired by Hyundai to head up their global p.r. effort. But almost two decades in a Washington, DC, newsroom hadn’t prepared him for his new home.
For one thing, Korea’s culture of personal improvement would make a Kardashian blush, as plastic surgery is far more pervasive than in the US. This obsession with appearance is known there as “lookism.”
“South Korean women use on average three times as many daily skin-care products as Western women,” Ahrens writes, noting that plastic surgery is so common, it’s regarded as a major economic engine.
“There is a medical-tourism booth in Incheon International Airport. Korea has the highest number of plastic surgeons per capita and the world’s highest rate of cosmetic surgery. Buses and subway ads all over Seoul show highly graphic, often gruesome before-and-after photos.” [New York Post]
You can read more at the link, but the article describes many things most readers here would probably not be surprised by such as Koreans drink a lot of soju.
This is article is typical of an unprepared Westerner in Seoul. Nothing he says in the article about Korean business culture was false but his moronic lack of understanding of a place he was set to work in was beyond comprehension. Just as foreign workers in the U.S. must adapt, we as visitors in other countries must learn to adapt as well. This “my way or the highway” attitude which some Americans have is quite frankly embarrassing.
““my way or the highway” attitude which some Americans have”
Myyess… because America has that copyrighted. 🙄
Smokes – I was just expressing my disgust with the prevailing attitude of a lot of Americans who are guests in Korea saying things like “that’s stupid”, “that’s f**ked up” or “why can’t they do it our way?” (more often than not out loud and directly to Koreans). I realize that we do not have a monopoly on being inflexible but in a global economy and increasing globalization in a lot of sectors it’s time for things to become more tolerant. In my time in Korea I saw too many Americans that were WAY to inflexible when it came to adjusting to life in Korea. I hope that this clears up my point of view for you.
I know what you what doing, no need to clarify. I was also expressing… expressing my.. uhh.. meh-gust. In your hunt for social justice you might want to ease off on the weasel word use though lest you become one of those intolerable hypocrites that plague the internet these days. If you can’t see that Korea’s a vain culture then perhaps you weren’t there long enough.
I’ll quote my wife, a Korean with over 40 years experience living there:
“South Korea is stupid because it is intolerant of natural looks.”
And here’s a quote of mine, to many KATUSA who’ve tried to get me to “understand their culture”:
“I’m not a guest here. I’m here to work the mission, at the request of your government. I don’t have the time or desire to learn about your BS. When this country figures out how to get its collective head out of its a55 and not rely on America for safety maybe then I can come visit as a guest.”
So Ahrens skipped doing research…
I agree with your wife. This whole “white culture” as I put it (the obsession with having milky white skin) that is rampant in Asia (in both men and women) and the obsession with beauty that South Korea has is way overboard. However, I am a live and let live kind of person. Everyone is free to conduct their lives as they wish. I don’t like it when I am forced to do things but I do not complain and belittle people for what they believe is right. As I stated in my initial reply “Nothing he (Ahren) says in the article about Korean business culture was false.”
So far as attitude goes, I see that I am “preaching to the choir” on this one. :shutmouth:
Hey don’t get me wrong, I like the RoK. I’m not going to hold them to some impossible standard that the US can’t even adhere to. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to complain about things thou. 😎
@Smokes, I have always felt that US soldiers need to act like guests when off duty when off post. Best example is subway behavior which I have personally corrected soldiers on.
As far as complaining about Korea, considering all the crap hole countries I have been to the complaints I have about Korea are insignificant. Who cares if they are obsessed with plastic surgery and drink too much when socializing? It is not bothering me other than when I have to jump over sidewalk pancakes the next morning from someone who had too much to drink. 😉
“Who cares if”
Wait a second, you’re the one who started this conversation. What are you some kind of troublemaker who tosses out “hot button” topics and steps back while everyone devours the meat off the bone?
Sickie… 👿
On a serious note, I don’t need to “act like a guest” because my default mode is to act reasonably. A reasonable person would know that while stationed in the RoK it’s not your place to champion social reform. “Act like a guest” is like saying “parade rest” it shuts things down and is condescending.
When you say it like that I understand. I spent 20 years in the Navy and you know what they say, “A sailor who ain’t bitchin’ ain’t happy.” Hehehe 😎 😎
@Smokes, you can substitute act like a guest for “reasonable person” or what ever other term you want to use, but there are expectations in regards to how servicemembers should act off duty in Korea and acting the fool on the subway is not one them. Fortunately the vast majority of servicemembers conduct themselves in a responsible manner when in Korea.
yes, to answer the question in the title..