Of course it makes sense to have models for a cosmetic store. But models/celebrities endorse almost everything in South Korea. In addition, right now Psy’s face from Gangnam Style is plastered everywhere.
Being competent about diversity can be stressful for a Social Work major, but taking an anthropology class about a certain society doesn’t really give access into the different aspects of a another world. It’s hard to understand the minds of the people in a society without living among the locals. Remember that no problem or idea is simple. Everything within a society is interconnected with something else.
But too often it is easy to scoff at ways in which we aren’t familiar with and don’t understand. Take for example, the grueling Korean high schools where kids are expected to attend school from early in the morning to late at night. From an American standpoint this may seem cruel and unusual as well as child abuse.
Look at it through a Korean standpoint and we can see that the Koreans feel that education is a privilege not a right. Students need to work hard if they want to obtain their goals. It is important to also note that South Korea still remembers the images of a desolate country after the Korean war – which was just 50 short years ago.
It doesn’t matter who is right in such issues. As a social worker, our job is to be aware of these circumstances and to understand and create the best plan to help the client. After all, the best client/social worker relationships rely on trust and communication.
With that being said, I have compared and contrasted some things about the U.S. and South Korea through my eyes, to get a better understanding of the society.
This nifty little idea saves a lot of energy. Once you leave the room, you’re suppose to take out the card which shuts off the electricity to the room.This looks like a bridge but it is actually the subway line near Konkuk. Public transportation is not only fast but easy to understand.This is the bike rack in front of a Konkuk dorm building. Biking is a common form of transportation in Seoul since most anything can be bought in walking distance, not to mention their eco-friendly attitude.
South Korea
USA
Eco-friendly Society
Fines will be given to those who don’t comply
In the dorms, there is this system where you take out a card when you are out of the room to shut off all the electricity
Homogenous mix of people
Foreigners are easily spotted
School children are known to say “hi” to foreigners as they have never seen one before
Sneezes and coughs are not required to be covered, and “bless you” is not a common reply
Most laundry is hang dry
Smoking is a social thing and drugs are strictly banned from use or selling. Also, it is almost impossible to get drugs in South Korea and there are stiff penalties for those who use them.
Fashion styles
Most girls wear heels, leggings, etc. year round. Jeans are not very popular. Girls wear skirst like we wear jeans – almost every day.
Beauty is very important
Guys make effort
Plastic surgery is big thing. Double eyelid surgery, shaving jaw, anything to look more western.
Always on their phones doing something. They have a texting and walking problem.
High school is hard, college is easy. They have a difficult examination to enter college.
Bombardment of media and TV
They even have advertisements in the bathroom stalls
Almost everything is endorsed by a celebrity: soda, restaurants, water, men models for bras, etc.
The market is brutal
Different makeup store all lined up on the same street
Sometimes even have the same store on the same block (Might be a space issue though)
Voluntary compliance with environmental policies
Incentive program such as cash for aluminum cans
Heterogeneous mix of people
It’s hard to tell if someone is a foreigner even if they have an accent
Foreigners can “blend in” well in American life
Cars are the main transportation used by a majority of people
First black president
Covering your coughs is common decency
Mildly germaphobic culture due to our individualistic culture
Dryers are mostly used for drying clothes
Smoking is known to be a horrible addiction. Drugs can be easily attained.
Some girls make an effort to dress up. There’s also a standard: jeans and heavy clothes in the winter; skirts, dresses in the warmer months. Guys aren’t expected to make an effort.
Plastic surgery is usually used for breast, nose and is not overly common
Not always on our phones – reserved for younger people. Have a problem with texting and driving.
College is hard, high school is easy
No college examination, just application process
Bombardment of media is bad but not as extensive as Korea. We have TV, Internet, phone, and billboards, etc.
The market is different in America. Stores selling the same thing usually are usually far apart and a drive is required. Also competition usually has a winner who monopolizes an area.
