Unpopular opinion – Koreans are just as bad at adapting to host countries (or even worse) as westerners but don’t receive anywhere near as much flack for it
(disclaimer 1 – I’m not bashing anyone in this so don’t jump on me, personally I believe all expats are in their host country for their own reasons and should live their own way. This is just a simple observation of double standards between western and Korean expats)
(disclaimer 2 – this doesn’t mean “all” westerners or “all” Koreans by any means. This is just from first hand observations of several years living, working and travelling in various parts of Asia
Ignorant western expats are the butt of every joke, by locals and other expats alike and will rightfully get shamed for making no effort to learn the local language or culture.
But what is never spoken about is how badly Koreans had adapted. Take a walk in Saigon’s Phu My Hung neighborhood and notice the sheer amount of Korean bars, restaurants, cafes and businesses, you could literally be in Korea. Korean families will go about their business, send their kids to Korean international schools, the dad’s go to work at their Korean expat gigs and the moms hang out with the other Korean moms in the Korean cafes between yoga classes never daring to step out of their bubble and rarely interacting with either local Vietnamese or other expats. Manila’s BGC is the same, Koreans flock there with neither English nor Tagalog and spend their time in Korean cafes, international schools and avoiding anyone else as much as possible. I don’t mean Koreans migrants to the US in the 1960s but modern day Koreans in other parts of Asia.
But the Koreans never get anywhere near as much flack as maladjusted westerners.
Which of course they are fully within their right to, I’m just saying why is it ok for them to do that but shameful for a westerner to live the same way?
Also, if I am wrong, please explain with real evidence and examples beyond “actually I disagree” or “you’re racist”. I’m open to all POVs.
submitted by /u/bumder9891
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