Many of my friends have always commented that Koreans don’t really respect Western employees. They often point out that Koreans think that if you are working in Korea, for a Korean company, then you probably couldn’t “make it” back home. I have often been asked by Koreans why I would ever want to live and even work or study in Korea. When I tell them that I like the country they seem a little taken back, some are flattered, but many think that I am stupid. I am not sure if I can agree with my friends’ attitudes or comments, but evidently their ideas are not new.
I remember the first time that I met “Marmot” and my first impressions of his style of dress. I think that it is wonderful that he has adopted the old-style of Korean attire (even though most Koreans don’t wear their traditional style clothing - even during their holidays) and pretty much “gone native” because not many Westerners have really “gone native.” The only ones that I can really think of are von Mollendorff (1882-1885) and the Rev. McKenzie (1890s). Their fates were not good - Mollendorff was relieved of his position with the Korean Government (he was the first Western employee - not shipwrecked and forced) and Rev. McKenzie ended up committing suicide with a shotgun blast to his head in a fevered state. I am sure that Marmot will do much better than either of these gentlemen.
[Blogger note} Marmot - this is that article that I promised to post. It is from The North China Herald and is dated August 7, 1885. Peter and Hamel - here is one of the footnotes that you are always asking about.
The Mainichi Shumbun contains a telegram from Pusan, dated the 21st July, stating that Herr von Mollendorff has resigned his position as Vice Ministe of Foreign Affairs, and will, in future, act as Superintendent of Customs only. This seems a very sensible move on the part of the Russian baron, and the only question is whether he would not have shown a great deal of better sense if he had originally confined himself to his proper duties. No doubt the idea of ruling the foreign destinies of the latest country thrown open to civilization is a grand one, but unfortunately every one is not qualified to fill the position. It is much easier to be a good Commissioner of Customs than a good Foreign Minister, and this Herr von Mollendorff has found to his coat, and has had to put off his borrowed plumes. We doubt much whether any one really regrets Herr von Mollendorff?????s fall, but himself. On his late visit over here, he was looked upon even by Japanese with contempt. A man who adopts Corean manners and customs not only degrades himself in the eyes of the inhabitants of every other country, but also does an injury to Europe in general, by showing the Coreans that there are some men who think so little of civilization and its advantages, that, for the sake of making a few dollars, they will, so far as they can, abandon their country, and its culture and refinement, and instead of teaching the people amongst whom he may find himself, will show their opinion of that conduct. Herr von Mollendorff although, however, he has failed in his principal object, seems still unwilling to abandon the loaves and fishes, for he still retains his Superintendency of Customs. Our only wonder is that he does at once clear out, and take refuge amongst his new friends, the Russians, for if that very truculent old gentleman, the late Dai Won Kun were to return to the land of his birth, and calmly replace his imbecile son, the King, it would seem that Herr von Mollendorff?????s position would be rather a precarious one, and it is a moot question after his open abandonment of German allegiance, and his very pronounced affectation of adopting Corean nationality and dress, whether the officials of his ex-country would interfere strenuously on his behalf. Perhaps, however, he is still willing to risk much for the sake of the dollars for which he has sold himself. To degrade oneself to the level of a Corean, and then not to reap your reward, must be heart-rending to a man of the Mollendorff stamp. ??? Japan Herald
17 Comments
next blog entry, you should discuss why “Corean” became “Korean.” implications for modern relations between Corea/Korea and Japan.
“Russian baron”? Huh, isn’t he German? As far as I know Paul Georg von M?¶llendorf worked for the Kaiserreich and later became an underling of Li Hongzhang in Imperial China. Li recommended M?¶llendorf as an able advisor to his Korean buddies.
My sense is that the typical Korean employers’ disrespect for foreign employees is just an extension of their disrespect for all employees. What distinguishes it perhaps is the extra frisson of pleasure that the employer gets from the illusion that by having a foreign employee he has proven himself better than both the Foreigners (for whom the foreign employee is proxy) who have always dominated little Korea and especially other Koreans who obviously don’t have the “sand” (to use an Americanism) he apparently does.
I have found this attitude at least as prevalent among supposedly “better” Korean employers, even in professional contexts. I have experienced this more than once myself and just walked out when it became apparent it was a fixed attitude, generating a fair amount of ill-will. Recently, I ran into one of the employers from ten years ago at a business/social function and was amazed and appalled at his obsequious effrontery in trying to glad hand me as an old buddy - no doubt because not being in his employ I’ve suddenly morphed into someone once again deserving of common courtesy and, perhaps more to the point, he now wants my business.
Despicable.
Hendrik Hamel referred to Koreans as “Coresians” in his account of the Kingdom of Corea
Koreans will always see waygook employees as disposable trash no matter how well you speak the language or parade around in a hanbok. The day comes that they will regard you as “the man who knows too much” and they will dispose of you. As a second class citizen, there is nothing you can do about it.
Marmot wears hanbok?! BWAHAHAHA ahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
ahahahaha
aaaaahhhhhhhahhaahahahahah
hahahahahahahahhahahahaahahahahahahaha
HAH
*cough* *cough*
hah..hahah…HAHAHAAhahahahahahahahahahahaaa….
*sigh*
dude im sorry. i picture you feverishly writing posts trying to sound serious.. in a hanbok… maybe with a long Choson-style Confucian beard… do you have a top-knot too???
hahahaha
In point of fact, no, I don’t have the beard or top-knot. My hanboks, by the way, are the modernized sort, not the traditional kind you see worn on New Years.
You may return to your regularly scheduled period of derisive laughter.
Hey Marmot, The problem with being a foreigner living in Korea is that we get to see its warts close up, to the point that they sometimes obscure the positive aspects of Korean society. There is much to respect and admire in Korea, and wearing hanbok is a nice way of letting Koreans know that some waegooks do so.
Some years ago I used to dress up in a loincloth and Rhade tribal shirt for animal sacrifices, as did many of the other “Roundeye” members of my unit. The problem with the loincloth was that you spread the flaps to hang over the front, but twisted the rear so that it rode up your backside like a gee string. We (three Yards, two Yanks, and an Aussie) got pulled over by American military police outside Pleiku at about 02:00 early one morning, after having imbibed several gallons of their version of Makali (Mnam pay). Needless to say, none of us were feeling any pain. The MPs merely shook their heads in wonder or shock, asked what army we were with (FULRO - United Front for the Struggle of Oppressed Races, we chorused) mumbled something about a curfew, and let us on through.
The equation in those days was quite simple: If someone was good enough to live and die beside you, his tribal clothing was good enough to wear on special occasions.
For those who have chosen to make their living in present day Korea, living among Koreans and working for a Korean company, that equation should be pretty much the same.
As Wallaby Wilkes would have said: Right on yer, Mate!
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