Messages to Foreigners Living in Korea

By Lee Ji-young

After my article entitled, ``Living in Korea," was published in The Korea Times on April 19, I have been getting a lot of responses from foreigners.

Most of them showed me their appreciation of how it helped them understand Korean society and people in general.

What surprised me was that I didn't receive any responses from Koreans. My previous article might have sounded a little harsh with criticism of people's attitudes.

However, everything I wrote was true based on experiences and general opinion and I tried to give constructive criticism that Korean people should keep in mind.

In the end, I didn't forget to mention all the great things about living in Korea.

Each country has both good and bad points: America is wealthy, but the cost of health care is extremely high; Canada is beautiful, but winters are very cold in most areas; Japan has a strong economy, but the cost of living there is very high.

Korea might have its share of problems, but it also has many wonderful things about it. I like living in this country and do not want to live anywhere else.

This time, I would like to write about the attitudes that foreigners should have in Korea. We all know the old saying, ``When in Rome, do as Romans do." What this proverb basically means is when you are in another country you should follow their customs and regulations.

In addition, what you do and say can have a big impact on impressions of not only yourself but also on other people in your country.

It always impresses me when I see foreigners trying to learn about Korean culture and language. I appreciate their efforts and interests in learning about another country they are living in.

Even knowing the very basics makes a huge difference. It not only makes it easier for them to go around and do things, but also local people will appreciate their efforts.

I am not saying that all foreigners living here should be able to speak Korean. My point is that it is very important for them to respect Korean culture during their stay here. It is also important to understand why people act in certain ways and their way of thinking.

When I was traveling in another country, I was a little offended when most people there didn't know anything about Korea. Soon I found out their schools did not teach them about a lot of things outside of their country. The problem was not their attitudes, but their educational system and curriculum.

For those who think many Koreans are racists, I would like them to think of it this way: The way people think is largely developed by their upbringing and what they have seen and heard.

Koreans are not used to seeing people of different ethnic backgrounds therefore it is natural for them to have prejudice against people from outside of the country. It comes from lack of diversity and your understanding will be highly appreciated.

As a person who has been associated with a lot of foreigners here, I would like to give some valuable tips to these three groups: Foreign tourists, English teachers and businesspeople.

For those who are traveling here from abroad, I would like to tell them Korea is famous for its beautiful nature and has many tourist attractions across the country. Seoul is a highly populated city and there is a lot of traffic.

However, it is a very attractive city and I suggest you explore all the great places and things the travel brochures recommend, which you will never forget.

This message goes out to English teachers: English is very important to a lot of people in Korea. They depend on you and teaching is one of the most rewarding things you could ever do in your whole life.

Learning about Korean culture and society will help you tremendously with your teaching and it will help your students as well. I have so much respect for all those teachers that come here from half way around the world. For the benefit of your students, I hope you do the best you can to help them learn the English language. They will really appreciate it!

Here is an important message for businesspeople: Korea is now one of the largest economies in the world. It is constantly growing and will continue to grow. A lot of multinational companies here are doing very well. There is a huge demand for imported products in almost every industry in this country.

Learning about Korean people and culture is very important in business in general. Wal-mart came to Korea and their business closed down. The reason was that they didn't try hard to adapt to Korean people's preferences and market trends. What works in America doesn't always work in another country.

People in every country have both good and bad qualities. When I was living abroad, I met all kinds of people who didn't treat me with respect and only cared about money. However, I tried not to be judgmental and did not turn against everyone. It paid off and I was able to blend in well with a lot of good people there.

Looking back, living in another country was a big challenge, but it was also a great experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world. It gave me a new perspective on life and people.

It also made me recognize all the wonderful qualities of Koreans that people in other countries do not possess. A lot of foreigners here told me they were impressed with Koreans' hospitality and their commitment to work.

My advice for Koreans is they need to be global-minded and should never judge anyone based on looks, ethnic backgrounds or stereotypes. They also have to be courteous when driving, using cell phones and standing in lines. A little courtesy goes a long way.

For those who are living here away from your home country, I hope you make the most of your stay here and have a lot of great experiences in Korea!

The writer is an English instructor in Seoul. She can be reached at stkate27@gmail.com.