
Korean-American Responses
Esther Shin:
1. It’s a large part of my identity and lifestyle.
2. The idea of care (정). I don’t believe there’s a good translation in English... that truly encompasses the nuances. Perhaps along the lines of care, affection, and hospitality, despite maybe the other being a stranger. This sense of friendliness (that I assume comes from Korean collectivism), is something that’s stuck with me forever.
3. Unfortunately grown to be nosy in other’s businesses. But I’d like to see it as a way of caring?
4. Being stuck up and judgmental. And the infamous- Koreans eat dogs.
Situational 1. Definitely in the beginning there was a language barrier and assimilation into American beliefs. Though I have adjusted better, my parents are still rather traditional. The clash of values between the two dynamics is still difficult today. (My whole family moved from Korea).
Situational 2. It’s the common issue. American/Western values focus on individualism. Korean/East Asian cultures focus on collectivism- emphasis on family. I can’t be selfish for my own good... I’d have to and have grown accustomed to always considering my family and peers.
Seok (Steve) Kim
1. My ethnicity/background, culture that I grew up surrounded by, and a large factor in shaping my values/ideals.
2. Family, hard work, respect.
3. It shaped my ideals and how I act (from small things such as not wearing shoes indoors to larger things like respecting parents).
4. We're not all BTS.
Situational 1. Not growing up in "american" culture means im not informed on certain american traditions/habits that others naturally grow up with (goes both ways, others might not understand mine), people cant pronounce my Korean name.
Situational 2. Diminished it in some parts (there are many aspects of my lifestyle in which I act more American than Korean, such as usually going by Steve instead of Seok), but my primary identity still lies as Korean.
Christine Lim
1. Having good values and food.
2. Respect for elders.
3. When I was younger I was ashamed to be asian, korean. So it made me have less confidence growing up. However, now I realize that korean culture has made my life so unique.
4. That Korea is a very poor country and everyone farms there.
Situational 1. I think first gen means to be forever confused about which culture u associate urself with more. Being first gen has made me “grow up” fast. My parents didn’t speak English and I had to navigate “society” alone. I had to learn how to talk for myself since my parents coildnt. My parents couldn’t teach all the nuisances of American culture which led to me facing a large cultural disparity with my peers at school.
Situational 2. I think being American has led me to feel distant from my korean culture. Korean culture is something I want to learn more about but it’s hard since I don’t actually live in korea. There are just some things I will never understand about korean culture and I as a korean-American will have to learn to accept that.