I'm writing a group research about differences in delivery service in 3 countries - Poland, Taiwan and South Korea. As you can guess my group has members of all those countries:D Generally this research is our BIG problem this semester. But today when we had meeting we started discussion about our cultures. And my Korean friend (as a foreigner I can call him that) told us really interesting things about Korean relationship culture. Though I thought I know anything because I saw some Korean movies and dramas, it turned out I had no idea  at all.

Generally we talked about  senior-junior relations, you know sempai-kouhai stuff. It is so strong in Korea it really surprised me. The age and grade are very important, and when you meet a new person usually that would be first thing to learn about her/him. In university juniors always have to use polite language when addressing seniors, and seniors always have the right to speak first and all. For example, my friend said, he wouldn't be able to smoke around his senior, but his senior can smoke around him without asking.  And you don't call friend someone who is even one year older than you, it's impolite.  Wow, I thought it must be really hard. 
On the bright side, seniors need to treat juniors. He said during his first month in uni he never bought a lunch, always was treated. And even now juniors ask to go out, which means he will have to pay. Hehe.

For me it seems very difficult to accept. Equality and respect earned not gained by age is what I grew up believing it. I can't understand why I wouldn't be able to call my friend by his first name just because he's year older. But they're used to that and even expect this so it's ok for them. I apologized to my friend because he is around 3 years older than me. but my way of talking to him is not very polite, we're rather mean to eac h other, in a joking style of course. But now I see where our little fights came from before.

Well he says when he's abroad he doesn't mind, he switch to "equal" culture, but he says when he goes back Korea he switches back. But I think even here he is more respectable to those our friends who are older than him. It's not bad thing. And I respect him, after 9 month I really think he is someone who is worth respect. And generally respect is not a feeling I often have towards my friends so often. But I can't call him any other than by his first name or "Oppa" (that piss him off, because it not only means big bro, it's also a way girls call their boyfriends - no misunderstanding here, I call him that because I watch way too many dramas XD).

I need to be more careful with all this culture stuff, I think I know so much, but being realistic, my poor knowledge is based on fiction.

So tell me when I'm wrong and let me understand you all better ^_^

Muka