I'm Korean, AMA

[NightsIn]

I'm a Korean mum of one. I used to live in the UK for two years.

If you have any questions about culture, life, coronavirus, education, politics, language, child rearing, food or amything else in Korea, let me know!

(I'm not really up to date with the latest music/dramas, so might not be able to answer much about that but I can try!!)

"Do you have a good recipe for kimchi?"

I'm too lazy to make kim chi, I get it all from my mum and aunties.

You can try here hmart.co.uk/shop/en that's where I got it from in the UK, they deliver everywhere.

I recommend Bibigo brand.

Are you happy in the way poor dogs are tortured and abused in your home country? Skinned alive or kept in tiny wire cages with Tim cans put on their mouths? Actually are you happy with how all the animals are systematically tortured before death?

@nicky7654 No I'm not, but I volunteer at a dog shelter.

Very few people eat dog meat these days.

Are you happy with the treatment of farm animals in the UK?

Why are Korean hagwon employers so racist/discriminatory towards potential black and asian hagwon teachers? When I worked in S Korea there were lots of job postings which specifically stated they only wanted white teachers.

Also how do you feel about the way the LGBT community in S Korea are treated? With no anti discrimination laws or marriage equality?

When you were studying in the UK, what were the most common micro-aggressions which came your way from British people and how did you deal with them?

"Why are Korean hagwon employers so racist/discriminatory towards potential black and asian hagwon teachers? When I worked in S Korea there were lots of job postings which specifically stated they only wanted white teachers."

I am not an English teacher so not sure about that. There is still a lot of discrimination in Korea against all sorts of people, sadly.

"Also how do you feel about the way the LGBT community in S Korea are treated? With no anti discrimination laws or marriage equality?"

We're getting there. When I lived in the UK, there was no marriage equality there either at that time so we're not so far behind. :)

"When you were studying in the UK, what were the most common micro-aggressions which came your way from British people and how did you deal with them?"

"Do you eat dog?" and doing the slanty eye gesture were pretty common. I just dealt with it by trying to educate them or ignoring them depending on who it was.

At DSs old school there was a Korean family who brought a ‘traditional drink’ to international day (fantastic dresses). Any ideas what it was - it was whiteish with lumpy jelly like things in it. I wasn’t a great fan but the son was so cute and insisted on topping up everythones glasses!

Bubble tea maybe!

Frogspawn - apt name! I’ve seen bubble tea here. Yes - is that a Korean thing then?

"At DSs old school there was a Korean family who brought a ‘traditional drink’ to international day (fantastic dresses). Any ideas what it was - it was whiteish with lumpy jelly like things in it. I wasn’t a great fan but the son was so cute and insisted on topping up everythones glasses!"

It sounds like 삭혜, Sikhye, a kind of sweet rice drink. We usually drink it in the sauna. Were the white lumps like rice that had been cooked for a long time?

Bubble tea is available in Korea but it's from Taiwan.

Yes - like little fat rice! I don’t remember much taste to it, just the texture being lumpy.

"Yes - like little fat rice! I don’t remember much taste to it, just the texture being lumpy."

Yes, that was probably sikhye. I like it but it is a bit bland I suppose. We drink it a lot in the bathhouse/sauna and it's really nice and refreshing there.

Here’s another Q - I love the traditional style dresses - with the high waist and long skirt. Would I look a complete arse if I wore that a type (plain)?

"Here’s another Q - I love the traditional style dresses - with the high waist and long skirt. Would I look a complete arse if I wore that a type (plain)?"

They are getting quite popular these days as every day wear. It's called modern hanbok. I think it looks good on everyone!

@NightsIn
I can understand why the feelings towards Japan run deep. My cousin worked in Japan for a number of years teaching and he said to me the general feeling in Japan amongst 'normal' civilians is one of shame over their past but they also feel they are victims over ww2 (because of the 2 bombs) and believe they are owed an apology.

The evils of our past will never escape us. My grandfather was a POW in ww2. Until the day he died he detested Germans and Germany. When you hear the horrors of what he went through its not surprising.

Happy Korean Liberation Day

I’d love to channel the Korean relaxed but smart dress sense. Is there any shops/websites/staple pieces you’d recommend as a starting place?

Do you like trot music? I have been following the Mr Trot competition and am now totally in love with Lim Young Woong.

만나서 반갑습니다 mannaseo bangapseubnida nice to meet you!

What is your impression of overseas South Korean diaspora - those in China North East region, Japan, USA (New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles etc), Canada, Australia, Uzbekistan and central Asia and those in Germany and United Kingdom in particular? Do you feel those in East and Central Asia are more traditional and those in European and western nations less traditional or bi-cultural etc?

What do you feel about the androgynous look of many/most South Korean male media stars? Does this manufactured trend appeal to younger female audiences only or do some older adults have the same preference! What do you think the more traditional confident masculine Korean men think?

I have been to South Korean several times many years ago post graduate university studies and had an amazing time exploring South Korean culture and food long before the recent K entertainment, street fashion and beauty industries went global! What's the next big K lifestyle trend?

London New Malden is a popular place to venture to for more authentic Korean food as we all know! I like both Korea Foods and H Mart. Korean BBQ with Vietnamese Pho and Taiwanese Boba bubble tea is a very indulgent combination for a great start to the weekend!

Thank you 감사합니다 gam-sa-ham-ni-da!

I can't think of any questions OP but thanks for the thread. I know nothing about Korea so this is fascinating!

OP I didn't get a response to my Q