Korean Soap Operas
Just spent the weekend watching a Korean soap opera by proxy about a woman who lies about her age to get a job in a clothing design company. Here's what I learnt:
Age is the THE status determinant. In Korea the first most important question is "how old are you?" because that will determine how people address you and treat you.
People bow a lot. Eye contact between rich and poor is deeply uncomfortable.
There's a LOT of greet with a smile and a knife in the back. (It's a Chinese phrase)
Management is happy to allow underlings to take out their frustrations on each other.
Physical and verbal abuse in the workplace is the norm.
Women are either doormats, psychotic clingy gfs, psychotic co-workers, bitchy and controlling mothers or pretty vacant.
Men are either useless, controlling, way too physically interactive or as emotionally lively as a dead fish.
Passive aggressive is the key form of communication.
Apropo that last point, if you are really pissed off you talk whilst staring into the middle distance.
Japanese is a lot nicer sounding language and softer on the ear.
