| [영어뉴스] 최종수정일 / 2008년 05월 15일 |
According to the Korea Immigration Service, foreign residents in Korea, including temporary visitors staying for a brief period, surpassed a million for the first time. The international student population also reached 41,780.
These numbers indicate that Korea is quickly becoming a multiethnic and multicultural society, a transformation that has drawn the attention of the press, which has broadcast programs revealing the experiences of foreigners in Korea.
A few foreigners have become, in turn, celebrities and stars, appearing in TV dramas and commercials. One of the most popular TV talk shows, The Beauties' Chatterbox (Minyeodeul-ui Suda), focuses on these women's perspectives on Korean culture.
In similar fashion, DAU Media Center offers the opinions of foreign students currently attending our university. How do Korea and our university look to them
Six foreign students contributed their perspectives: Hukugawa Hayato (24) from Japan, Mengwen (22) and Shin Jung Runa (24) from China, Chen Yen-Jen (22) from Taiwan, Nara (26) from Mongolia, and Vyslanko Irina (29) from Russia. Hukugawa Hayato is a graduate school student, and the rest are studying Korean at DAU's Office of International Relations and Education.
DAU Media Center(DAU) : Why did you come to Korea
Chen Yen-Jen : I'm an exchange student majoring in Korean language in Taiwan, so I'm interested in Korea a lot. I came here to learn to speak Korean well.
Shin jung Runa : When I went to University in China, I wanted to learn about the development of Korean art. That's why I came to Korea in January, 2007.
Mengwen : I'm here to study in a university. I chose Korea because I like Korean soap operas very much and Korean food, which I ate occasionally in Korean restaurants in China. So I really wanted to come to Korea at least once in my life. Korea has nice people, and I saw many wonderful places in the dramas. I think it really has a vibrant culture and society.
Nara : I had worked for a company in my country. Through the company's human resources program, I entered a study abroad program for Korea 7 months ago.
Vyslanko Irina : I came to Korea 3 months ago. I majored in Korean at college in far eastern Russia. I came to Korea to improve my Korean language ability. It will be very helpful for employment because there are many Korean companies in far eastern Russia.
Hukugawa Hayato : I came to Korea to study in graduate school in February last year. Through my major in Korean politics at college, I became interested in Korea, studying the nation in earnest. The "Korean Wave" was booming in Japan during 2005~2006 when I was a college student, making me curious about the origins of this phenomena.
DAU : What's your view of Korean attitudes to foreigners Have you had any experiences regarding the way Korean people perceived you
Mengwen : I think Korean people are generally kind. I didn't have many chances to meet Korean friends, though. However, I had an encounter with a drunk man one night, who screamed and shouted in front of my house. I was scared, so I called my Korean friend. Then he called the police, who arrested him. He was provoked by the Chinese flag on my window. Some Koreans are rude to Chinese students for political reasons.
Hukugawa Hayato : They're kind. One day, I was waiting for the bus. A woman said to me, "Since it's raining, why don't you go into the building to avoid the rain "
DAU : What do you usually do after school
Chen Yen-Jen : I usually review alone what I learned in class at home. Also, I watch Korean dramas to improve my language abilities. Nowadays, I'm watching Leesan, On-Air, and Who Are You , which are very interesting! Moreover, I'm involved in producing a newspaper with other foreign students, which will be published this month.
DAU : Which Korean food do you like or dislike
Mengwen : What I most like are Kamjatang and Deonjang Zigae. I dislike all kinds of seafood. In China, someone who doesn't like fish is foolish. If that's true, then I'm a fool. Don't you think I'm silly
Hukugawa Hayato : I like all Korean foods. My favorite Korean food is Sulrungtang. I have no Korean food that I dislike. I have even eaten dog meat. It was yummy. I like and enjoy spicy food, too.
Chen Yen-Jen : I love Jajangmyeon, which tastes better than the Taiwanese version. Taiwanese Jajangmyeon is a little bit salty, but the Korean dish is sweet and yummy. However, I don't like kimchi because I don't like spicy food.
DAU : What was the most surprising discovery you made about Korea
Shin jung Runa : I belong to a minority in China in both ethnicity and religion. As a Muslim, I can never eat any pork, but most Koreans are Christians or Buddhists. Pork is not forbidden to them. It is difficult for me to eat in Korean restaurants because most items on the menu contain pork. I am forced to eat chicken or to cook a meal at home. I was also surprised to find so many bacon barbecue restaurants here.
Vyslanko Irina : It was surprising to me that Korean people use so much tissue paper in the restroom. It looked very wasteful. Another surprise was the spiciness of Korean food compared to Russian. Last thing is that people spit without any qualms on the street.
Chen Yen-Jen : Korea is a country of soju. Koreans drink too much. It's funny that every restaurant sells soju. In addition, all Korean students go to bars; Taiwanese students usually go to singing rooms.
DAU : What do you think of Korean college culture Are there any differences from your country
Hukugawa Hayato : Korean college students study hard. There are many seats available in the library. There are more students who study English here than in Japan. Japanese students don't study TOEIC as much as their Korean counterparts. English is not a requirement for employment in Japan.
DAU : What inconveniences do you encounter when using school facilities or services
Mengwen : Every morning I walk up to DAU's main building because the shuttles are always full. That is a super-inconvenience. Another inconvenience is the school cafeteria. Though I like Korean food, the cafeteria food does not suit my taste. I eat out off campus every lunch.
Chen Yen-Jen : You have to climb too many stairs to reach the dormitory entrance. Air-conditioners are in the men's dormitory, but not in women's. I think double rooms are not good. If more than two students live in one room, it's very noisy. Although there are many chances to make friends, speak Korean, and learn about Korean culture, students cannot take advantage because they are assigned other foreign students as roommates.
DAU : Have you ever been discriminated against or had any unpleasant experiences in Korea
Shin jung Runa : When I went shopping in Seomyeon and tried to bargain, people treated me unkindly because I was not a Korean. I felt very uncomfortable. I heard from my Chinese friend who had a part-time job at Yuganae restaurant in front of DAU, that she was promised 700,000 won per month by the owner. He said that he would give her more money including board. But she was paid only 300,000 won. She protested for several days. Finally, he paid her another sum of 300,000 won. But she still hasn't been paid the 100,000 won that she is owed.
Vyslanko Irina : People stare at me all the time when I walk on the street, or whatever I do, because I look different, making me uncomfortable. When I meet someone for the first time, a Korean person would ask me directly such personal questions as "How old are you ", "Do you have a boy friend ", "Are you married ", "Where do you live " and so on. Such questions are not asked in Russia, and I find it very unpleasant. In Russia a person's name is the customary question asked in a first meeting.
DAU : What do you think of Korean public transportation
Mengwen: I can't stand crowded places. I usually walk to school. When I go somewhere far like Seomyen, normally my brother gives me a ride, or I take a taxi. Taxis are very fast and convenient but expensive.
Hukugawa Hayato: There is no bus or subway schedule, so it is a little inconvenient.
Chen Yen-Jen : In Taiwan there is no subway, but the public transportation system here is similar to MRT(Mass Rapid Transit) back home. Sometimes I am terrified when Busan bus drivers drive too fast.
DAU's foreign students have offered us a glimpse of how they have experienced--visually, aurally, physically--Korean culture, helping us to better understand their situation and to learn from their perspectives problems that we must solve. We have to avoid prejudice in action and words, caused simply on the basis of a different appearance and nationality. Most have come to Korea, drawn by their interest in our culture and language. Like good hosts, we must welcome them and ensure that their stay here is pleasant.
By Kang Myoung-a
Kim Yeon-jeong
Kim Do-hyung
Kim Hee-jin
Seo Se-il
저작권자 © 동아대학교 다우미디어센터 무단전재 및 재배포 금지
