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Forum Question Posted By: Replies:
Seoul
Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Tue June 22, 2004 11:14 AM UTC
Hi all, hope you can give some advice... I am living in Australia. In 2 days time, I have a 19 year old Korean girl who speaks very little English arriving to stay with me for 3 weeks....(we speak no Korean) She is doing and intensive English course at Uni and staying with my family. I have never met her before and the Uni gave me guidelines about what is expected on a domestic level. I have organised a gift for her arrival and a welcome card to make her feel at home. She is here to experience Australian life... would it be acceptable to offer to take her to church with my family? I need some advice regarding Korean manners and culture etc. Anything that might help us feel comfortable with each other. I do not want to unintentionally offend her.
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 RubyMother 7 replies

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Seoul
Re: Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Tue June 22, 2004 11:43 AM UTC
the best way must be to ask her gently. koreans are usually shy, and more so when one is not fluent in english. trying not to intimidate her should be the key.

fyi, more than 40 percent of koreans are christians (w/ the majority being protestants), and around 40 percent, buddhists. so we can say that christians are the majority closely followed by buddhists in korea.

check her religion and ask nicely. even if she is a buddhist, she may accept your offer as she will be there anyway to get exposed to "western" culture which is often equated with christian culture by koreans.

maybe she is willing to experience whatever comes to her. that could be why she is visiting australia.

cheers.

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Seoul
Re: Re: Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Tue June 22, 2004 11:48 AM UTC
one thing YOU may be surprised by are her table manners.

in korea it is quite normal not just to eat food off the same plate as other people, but even to share eating utensils.

i'm not suggesting you do this, obviously. but don't be surprised if (for example) half way through a meal you ask her to pass you some more potatos and she jabs them with her fork and drops them on your plate.

koreans are also quite tactile and you may find she intrudes into your personal space more than you are used to.

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Seoul
Re: Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Tue June 22, 2004 03:25 PM UTC
Hi,
I am hosting a Korean girl ( exchage student) at the moment. She had a good English skills, You'll be suprised by the way that learn English (like a sponge).
We ask her If she was confortable going to church and she is going yo places with us without any problems.
They are shy but as she feels confortable with your family she be talking more.
Don't forget she is in Australia to learn English and be expose to western culture.
She' ll pick up table manners and things tha will do very quickly.
Be open mind and enjoy because we learn more than we teach.
silnik from canada

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Seoul
Re: Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Thu June 24, 2004 08:21 AM UTC
The other posts were pretty accurate. Here in Seoul, I have taught many Korean students who are planning to go study abroad. Koreans are usually very shy (especially the girls) but generally very nice and friendly. In Korea it is perfectly normal and acceptable to ask questions about age, marital status, religion, etc., so you most certainly ask if she is Christian and if she might like to come to church with you. If she is Christian, she will be very appreciative of your offer.

Koreans are generally used to having far less privacy and families are often very tight units. She would probably like to be included in family activities as much as possible, but always make it clear she doesn't have to participate. Some young women discover the thrill of freedom and independence when they leave Korea.

Table manners are certainly different here. It's acceptable to put your face down to your plate or to slurp soup and, yes, for everyone to eat from the same dish. I think she will likely be sensitive to the fact that she is a guest, though, and leran by observing.

Just try not to make her feel self-conscious, and she will likely adapt pretty quickly to your family's lifestyle and manners. It might help if you tell her that she can ask you questions about anything she's not sure of.

I'm sure it will prove to be a great experience for your family and your guest!

S.

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 Supernib [Reply]
Seoul
Re: Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Fri July 2, 2004 02:24 AM UTC
Thankyou for all this great advice...

The Korean student has now been with us for a week... she is delightful and very easygoing.

She is enjoying the beautiful Australian sunshine and beaches and is loving the food too.

thanks again... Ruby

ps she's a buddhist and went to the markets on Sunday morning, no stress.

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 RubyMother [Reply]
Seoul
Re: Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Fri July 2, 2004 08:36 PM UTC
Hi Ruby,
Enjoy your time with her.
It wil go very fast, my girl just left last Monday and we miss her.
Good Luck, Silvia

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Seoul
Re: Korean Cultural Advice
Posted: Sun July 4, 2004 04:25 AM UTC
just read all of the Local Customs in South Korea and Seoul as well as on my site (http://hometownyeouido.blogspot.com) and other blogs.

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