Unfriendly and Prejudiced Koreans?

By Celeste Chua

Are Koreans unfriendly and prejudiced? If Socrates were alive, he would answer, ``I'd be happy to tell you, but first could you please tell me what people are like in your previous home country?"

Socrates was sitting outside of the gates of Athens when a man came to him and said, ``I'm thinking about moving to Athens. Can you please tell me what it's like to live here?"

Socrates replied, ``I'd be happy to tell you, but first could you please tell me what it's like in your previous home city?" The man quickly roared, ``Oh, it's awful. The people stab you in the back and rob you blind. I'm not leaving any friend, only enemies." Socrates frowned and continued sadly, ``Well, you'd better be on your way because you'll find the same thing here in Athens."

A little while later another man arrived and asked Socrates, ``I'm considering moving to Athens. Can you tell me what it's like to live here?" Socrates again replied, ``I'd be happy to tell you, but first could you please tell me what it's like in your previous home city?"

The man smiled and said, ``Oh, the people there work together and help each other. Kindness is everywhere and you're never treated with anything but the utmost respect." ``Welcome to Athens," smiled Socrates, ``You'll find the same thing here."

Before I moved to South Korea, I was warned that Koreans are not friendly and are prejudiced against people from poor countries. However, I was undaunted by this warning because I see that like Ancient Athens, in every race or culture today, there are always good and bad people. But, like the men intending to live in Ancient Athens, who we often bump into, the good or the bad, depends on our own perspective.

Since I share the perspective of the second man in the aforementioned anecdote, I expected that mainly positive things would happen to me in Korea. Indeed, during my first month in Seoul, I have met many, kind, helpful and wonderful Koreans.

Whenever I get lost and the person I ask cannot explain the directions to me in English, the person accompanies me to my destination. I am helped even without having to ask for it.

I have had this amazing experience at the subway station ― twice. I was staring ― with a probably, so-perplexed facial expression ― at the subway map that an old man felt the need to help me. He approached me and asked where I was going. With pleasure, he showed me the way. This has happened again, elsewhere. Different stations, different individuals, same acts of kindness.

To forget the driver who helped me look for a particular restaurant in Seoul is not justice. I was in the cab and told the driver that I had no map, no landmark and not even the exact address. The driver, using his mobile phone, called the Seoul service center. He had been driving for maybe five minutes when we found the restaurant. Because I had been in the cab for only a few minutes, he refused to accept any payment.

I think the Koreans that I have met are happy to help, meet and talk to me. I expected kind-hearted Koreans, so I found them, appearing like angels. Maybe if I had expected Koreans who would 'stab me in the back and rob me blind,' I would certainly have run into them on the very day of my arrival.

The writer is a former philosophy instructor in the Philippines, was married to a Korean and now resides in Seoul. She can be reached at celeste.chua@hotmail.com.