On Open-Minded Korea

Korea? Open-mindedness? Those of you who live here may think I'm making a joke here, but I'd like to invite you to open your mind to this perspective.

Since moving to Korea, I've had multiple opportunities to be told I am crazy, irresponsible, or out of control; to be laughed at, ridiculed, re-educated (in the proper way!), or outright shunned. I won't go into the personal details of most of these occasions but on most of them just what you expected had happened. Someone called me crazy, taught me a lesson, or laughed at me.

More recently though, I've taken note of a change. Or, more precisely, a change occurred without me really noticing at all. Lately, I have had more of these chances to be called a whack-a-doo, but have been met with very different results than what I (and you, c'mon, be real) expected. I have in fact been told what I'm doing is understandable, acceptable, even cool, interesting!

Some sort of shift towards greater acceptance, openness has begun slowly grinding it's gears in Korea over the past 8-10 years as it did in the US during the 60's. I see fewer and fewer married by age 25 housewives of the 90's (equivalent to 50's American gals) and more unwed 30-something ladies pleased as peaches to live independently. Men eager to woo a woman, start a family, and father heirs have given way to those who move away from the parents, start their career, and find their priorities lie in a more solo vein. This is just the beginning of the changes I've marked. Along with freedom from familial obligations, a new-found desire for education, independent financial strength, and sexual liberation.

It is this sexual revolution that is most outwardly visible in the culture. From explicit hip-hop blaring out of shop doors to pop stars appearing on cable TV wearing very suggestive clothing and young girls imitating them, anyone who's lived in Korea will tell you it's a curious thing: The seemingly open sexuality is juxtaposed with a prudish attitude towards actual sex and PDAs. Young couples (who often still live with their parents) feel forced to make out in secret, private places like singing rooms and DVD rooms, and rarely show affection beyond hand-holding in public.

Although this is still true, now that more youths are moving out of their parent's home, they create a private escape for themselves and whomever they wish to share it with. Even though it's still occurring under wraps, this setting would be more permanent and stable. I'd argue that unmarried couples would begin to feel more comfortable with their... extra-curricular activities. That's gotta have an impact on how young people think about sex and openness. I also can't help but think this has some tiny connection to the recent influx of us wild, no-limits foreigners. We're here to teach English or practice our business trade, but inevitably, we make an example of our culture and behavior.

Whether I'm responsible in some small way or not, I have to say these changes seem long overdue. Those of you who know me personally also know I'll welcome freedom from conservative pressures on young people any day!

What in the world is happening?

In Korea, I have a limited set of resources for world events at my fingertips. Of course, I can always search the internet for the latest information on current goings-on, and I do. The difference from my life in the US is that I don't have newscasters boring a hole in my head with the same newsreel everytime I turn on the TV or radio. And to be sure, I'm pretty lazy. I'd rather not spend my break times at work watching video news on the web or sorting through network websites for articles. (And I quite dislike reading news articles on the computer.)

Aside from all this, I have been watching CNN intermittently for the past few days to get updates on the latest in world terrors. First was the attack on two stations in Moscow's underground by a pair of female suicide bombers. As of a day ago (according to this AP Report), 39 people were killed and 71 were hospitalized after the two Chechen rebel attackers entered the subway and detonated vests filled with steel bolts and wire.

Really? Bolts?? Reports are saying that women of Islamic militant groups from the Northern Caucasus, called Black Widows, have initiated other attacks on Russian targets to avenge the deaths of loved ones. But I can't see how 39 innocent business people, children, or housewives out shopping have anything to do with those women's lost family members.

Secondly, I heard from MSN Home yesterday that 9 people from a Christian extremist group were arrested for selling pipe bombs in connection with an attack plot. Allegedly, they had planned to kill a police officer and then bomb the funeral "in hopes of touching off an uprising against the U.S. government." The group is called the Hutaree, and it seems they've been in the woods in Michigan training and learning how to make bombs for the past 2 years. MSNBC Article: 9 Arrested in Michigan

So far, there have been no victims of these bombs (that we know of), but this is scary stuff. Making and selling munitions in rural MI? And, I'm pretty clever, but even I couldn't imagine bombing the funeral of an officer I'd killed in order to cause a rebellion.

ABC News Blogger Marisa's Musings on these two (among other) issues

Now how can anyone honestly feel the least bit justified to fear, insult, hate, or distrust those who come from outside? People, foreigners whom we don't know? To all those living in the midwest, look around you. You may be living next to a "terrorist." You live in Melbourne? LA? Shanghai, Saskatchewan, Sweden? South Korea? Terrorists. I'm just saying, the news lately has reminded me that the last time I worried about a "terrorist" threat from within was probably 1995 (Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh & Terry Nichols). There have also been various school shootings since then with victims numbering around the single digits to the 20s. Think long and hard next time you pull your handbag closer while passing someone who looks different from you or is speaking another language. Consider the recent goings-on next time you warn your children to be wary of trouble; remember that strangers are strangers no matter where they're from, but also that good, kind, warm people also come from everywhere.

Pop singers turned advertisers

And I bring you yet another pop song, this one by the boy band sensation 2PM. This song, like so many these days, was made for a product, for a television commercial. If you like this one, follow one of the links at the bottom to see more pop ads. Enjoy them^^

2PM - Crazy4S (Spris Commercial)

More like a music video (all cell phone commercials):
Big Bang feat. 2NE1 - Lollipop / Director's Cut Version
Girls' Generation - Chocolate Love
Big Bang - Ice Cream

More like a commercial:
Big Bang - Baskin Robbins 1 / Big Bang - Baskin Robbins 2
Lee Min Ho feat. Dara (of 2NE1) - Cass Beer commercial
DongBangShinKi feat. Girls' Generation members - Let's Haptic phone commercial
Big Bang Hite Beer commercial / Making of the video (with full song, lyrics)*
This one is actually pretty cute: Rain, Shin Min Ah, & Jang Dong Gun - Na Dap Gae

*Funny thing, there are 5 members in Big Bang, but one was missing here: Only 4 were of drinking age when they made the commercial!

Fan Death

Ask a Korean!: FAN DEATH IS REAL

Right, well, if you've lived in Korea you may be familiar with the concept of fan death. Most of us foreigners just dismiss it as hooey - so did the Korean, who later did his research and blogged about it. It's more than an interesting and informative read.

Uploading...

So, I am now sitting at work uploading photos like crazy. There are a few excuses I could give for my absence recently, but I'd rather not be like that. Instead, I'll just offer you an update on my life.

It's only just been sunny the past 2 days - that's after more than a week of cloudy, rainy, and bitterly cold days. Very unusual for Korea, even more so for Busan. I worked for a whole 3 days before classes started to be cut in favor of end-of-year festivities and preparations. Class president elections, graduation practice, movie showings, classroom cleaning, old-book-recycling and -new-book-acquisition... The list goes on. So, last week I taught 10 of my 21 regular classes and 2 of my 6 afterschool classes. We had a long weekend for the Lunar New Year holiday (aka Chinese New Year), then this week I have taught 0 classes so far! I have had to come into work and "desk-warm" (mainly consisting of watching movies/uploading/downloading/facebooking/blogging/a little desk cleaning). Might have 4 on Thurs/Friday, but I kind of doubt it. Next week I'm off work entirely~ yessss!

So, last weekend commenced with a dinner and singing room outing on Friday night, then an early morning train to Daegu for the Seollal (Lunar NY) holiday. Spent most of Saturday eating, as per usual on this holiday and went out for beer and more food later with a bunch of Koreans who didn't speak much English. Humor ensued.

Unfortunately, this Seollal fell on Feb 13-15th which meant I skimmed over Valentines day this year. Just as well I guess, in Korea V-day indicates the time when girls give to boys. A month later, 3/14 is White Day, when boys give to girls. Won't miss that one! ;)


On Sunday it was back to Busan for a quick rest before round 2 with a friend at his gramma's place. All the aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents from his mother's side were there, and we ate all day then drank beer at night again. Swear I gained measurable weight over those 3 days... His grandma did give me some Seollal money, as is the tradition with the grandchildren!



And with that passes the last big holiday of the 2009-10 holiday season. Next one to look forward to I guess is my birthday, which is Children's Day in Korea; great because I always have a day off school! But, this year it's a Wednesday. >.<
Til the next interesting thing happens, hang in there; after all, spring is almost here!