Korean Culture Seen through Foreigner's Eyes
The interaction between each country is active enough to make a border look small in comparison. Now we can easily see foreigners on the street. Since they already became part of our society, what do they think about Korea? We met with Dong-a's global zone instructor, Steffany (Canadian, 26) and listened to her opinion about what she thinks about our country.
"Principally, I cooked Canadian traditional food as a staple food by myself, but I like Korean food so much that usually I go to a Korean restaurant with my friends. And among Korean food, I love gukbap most. Steffany lived in Korea more than two years, and she said that she goes to the beach to make new friends on weekends.
Although Korea is already a multicultural society, foreigners still draw attention. She said, "Korea's young people have an open mind about globalization. However, when I get on the subway and many old people's eyes were turned on me, I feel that in Korean society, foreigners are considered to be a 'different person.'"
Since early times, our history emphasized 'a nation-state' and has grown our community spirit. In this country, foreigners could feel a sense of alienation. Steffany opened her heart frankly: "for foreigners, the community spirit of Korea can also be a wall, and the conception of 'us' maybe helpful to unite the nation more tightly. But it is hard for a foreigner to integrate into Korean society." Steffany, however, said that sometimes she feels warm affection in Korea's community spirit: "the sight of all family members around the table with their spoons, or a stranger doting on and caressing a little child really impressed me." This is quite different from her homeland of Canada.
The culture of alcohol etiquette emphasizing community spirit can be a strange sight to a foreigner visiting Korea for the first time. Steffany said "although alcohol makes a meeting with unfamiliar person comfortable, Korea's culture of offering oneself the alcohol compulsorily and drinking over one's drinking capacity should be criticized."
How did she feel about the order of rank in our country "I just met students in the global zone. so I don't have any direct experience about that, but in Canada friendship is not dependent on age. In Korea we have to express some 'respect' to older people even if it is only one year, and of course professors are not friends to young people. The important thing is not age but closeness."
As shown in the interview with Steffany, there's no unanimous culture. Since birth, we lived Korea for decades, so we can't feel any strange aspect of Korean culture, breathing it in like air. However, for foreigners, it can be considered a wall. Finally Steffany emphasized, "I just want to be Korea's friend, so don't consider foreigner as a 'special' person. We are all the same people."
by reporter Lee young-sil
hakbolys@donga.ac.kr
