Smudger

LATEST ARTICLES ( 123 )

• The Trouble with Learning Korean

  

  I have lived in Korea, on and off, for about 3 years now and have been married to a Korean wife for over two years but I am ashamed to say that my Korean... Read more

  Posted on 05 January 2013 LANGUAGES, TRAVEL

• Korean Kindness

  

  If you speak to Koreans about kindness they will say that Korea is the most warm-hearted of all the countries in it's vicinity. Read more

  Posted on 29 December 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Korea Fatigue

  

  Although I have lived in Korea for over three years now, I have done it in three different visits, which means that I have had regular breaks from Korean... Read more

  Posted on 23 December 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Ministry of Gender Equality and the Banning of Tetris, Sugar Puffs, and Car...

  

  Well, not strictly speaking sugar puffs but 죠리퐁I came across an interesting department of the Korean government the other day while my wife was reading an... Read more

  Posted on 15 December 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Korean Obsession with Being Warm

  

  In many of my blog posts I have compared ways of thinking and doing things between my culture and Korean culture and come to conclusions that certain aspects... Read more

  Posted on 08 December 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Reasons for the Poor Treatment of Dogs in Korea

  

  Well, it finally had to happen, a blog post about the treatment of dogs in Korea. I have been trying to avoid it as it is just so obvious, but I have touched... Read more

  Posted on 01 December 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Medical Treatments in Korea

  

  Korea has perhaps an unexpectedly good and efficient healthcare system, with doctors surgeries and hospitals aplenty in the average city. Read more

  Posted on 24 November 2012 HEALTH, MEDICINE

• Attitudes to Abortion in Korea

  

  In August this year South Korea's constitutional court upheld a 59 year long ban on having abortions. South Korea banned abortion in 1953 with exceptions for... Read more

  Posted on 17 November 2012 CURRENT, DEBATE, SOCIETY

• Is a Clash of Culture Inevitable and Irreconcilable?

  

  From the perspective deep inside the culture of Korea with Korean in-laws it starts to become clearer to me why the East and West do have so many problems in... Read more

  Posted on 10 November 2012 CURRENT, POLITICS, SOCIETY

• Brand Names and Status Games

  

  One of the first observations my mother made of Korean people when she visited me a few weeks ago was that everyone wore such nice shoes, especially the women,... Read more

  Posted on 04 November 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Night "Study" Exposed

  I know for a fact that most Korean students absolutely hate being at school for all hours of the day, but that does not stop them making the best of a bad... Read more

  Posted on 28 October 2012 CURRENT, HUMOR, SOCIETY

• The Stories Behind Korean Food

  

  When my in-laws decided to make a two hour detour from a trip back home the other day to visit a town that was famous for Deokkgalbi, I have to admit I was... Read more

  Posted on 19 October 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Aging Population of Korea

  

  This is following on from last weeks post about the stress created by the relationship between the young and old in Korea and particularly regarding families. Read more

  Posted on 13 October 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Christmas Comes Every Week in Korea

  

  This post is perhaps more relevant because we have all just had Chuseok here in Korea, the equivalent of Thanksgiving for people in Canada and America, but I... Read more

  Posted on 06 October 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• What is It with Koreans and Plastic Surgery?

  

  It is fairly common knowledge that South Korea is plastic surgery capital of the world... Read more

  Posted on 30 September 2012 CURRENT, HEALTH, MEDICINE

• Smoking in Korea

  

  There are a few things I dislike about Korea but nothing irks me quite like smoking. I have always hated the habit right from a small child when my father... Read more

  Posted on 23 September 2012 CURRENT, DESTINATIONS, EXPAT, SOCIETY

• Funny, Sad, and Revealing Answers to Questions from Korean Students.

  

  I think most Native English teachers living in Korea really end up quite liking their students. There are also many that despise them, but if you can build up... Read more

  Posted on 16 September 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• The Ongoing Fight Against Racism in Korea

  

  The latest scandal involving Korean xenophobia has stirred up more controversy this week with a bar in Itaewon - probably the most popular area in Seoul for... Read more

  Posted on 09 September 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Anti-Korean Sentiment in the Western Community

  

  We have all heard of the Anti-Western sentiment within the Korean community, but what I find a little worrying from our own perspective is that Anti-Korean... Read more

  Posted on 02 September 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY

• Korean Superstitions and Advice

  

  Korean people are a fairly superstituous bunch and have lots of theories about the world and how best to live one's life within it. Read more

  Posted on 26 August 2012 CURRENT, SOCIETY