The economic crisis has brought with it a severe drop in employment rates. As competition heats up for a limited number of jobs, Korean job seekers have found themselves searching for more diverse ways to increase their competitiveness in the job market. Abreast with the ever-developing obsession sweeping the nation, the most compelling new ‘criterion’ being required of would-be employees has been found in appearance. Online communities sharing information about finding employment are opening up separate posting boards for discussing appearance and how to use the tool of beauty to increase one’s chances of being hired. Cosmetic surgeons are presenting to clients not only standard “beautiful” faces but “professional” faces that exude an aura of trustworthiness and capability.
But to what extent is it acceptable for a culture and its distribution of livelihoods to depend so much upon external qualities? South Korea, among other East Asian countries, is famous worldwide for having beautiful stewardesses and saleswomen. Although this may be seen as an asset, the problem becomes larger when an obsession with appearance extends into sectors that are not service-oriented. For example, it is a badly kept secret that law firms are widely selecting freshman employees using appearance as a criterion, and that teachers who want to lecture through online recordings are receiving cosmetic surgery in order to increase their chances of becoming a popular lecturer. It is questionable whether it is appropriate in these sectors, where professional ability should be the first consideration, for employers to even consider appearance as a factor in their judgments. Of course, it may be argued that when a pool of applicants presents a large number of candidates with similar ability, appearance is as good as any other criterion for breaking ties. However, it is disturbing to a traditionally ethical mind that appearance should be increasingly accepted as a standard for judging people’s capabilities as members of society.
This phenomenon leaves SNU as no exception. Students who hope to find employment directly after graduation begin caring after their appearance beginning in the junior year of college. They take diverse measures ranging from buying a few expensive suits a month to extremes such as cosmetic surgery. It has become commonplace to see skin care or diet clinics targeting SNU students as clients, believing that as SNU students are relatively well-qualified in the job market compared to other students, they will seek to perfect their resumes with a tidy appearance.
Unfortunately, it does not stop there. Even after finding employment, people in high ranks find themselves pressured to maintain appearances that ‘fit’ their status through material possession. Korea’s distinctive culture has historically attached great importance to “saving face.” Throughout Korean history, there have been many people who have, in extremes, chosen to trade their lives for dignity. Though less radical, a culture based on similar value systems survives to today’s Korea. ‘Saving face’ in 21st century Seoul has evolved to being able to show the amount of one’s personal possessions. Advertisements today specifically target this mindset, cooing that “where you live shows your value” or “your well-being is measured by your car.”
People with high status think that they are or must be different from common people, and to be different, they purchase luxury goods – even when they cannot afford them. Korean society takes it for granted that a man with high status must have better goods or service than a man with lower status. If a person with low rank is found to have “better” things than a higher-ranking employee, the person with higher rank is thought to be “careless” or perhaps undeserving of his rank. What you have or how you look has now become what you are. The job market, for those within it and those who are trying to enter it, is becoming more and more merciless to the ugly and the poor. Although some consider this phenomenon in a positive light, claiming that such perfectionism is the key to success in modern world society, questions of ethics and morality remain as to just how far one can justify using the accident of birth (in wealth or in beauty) in the game of people’s livelihoods.
written by: Yeon Dong-hyun, Pia Won
2009년 4월 22일 수요일
[Vol.19] SNU Looks in the Mirror: What do SNU Students Think about the Importance of Appearance?
We are living in a world where people’s most prized possessions are becoming their mirrors. All across Seoul, appearance is becoming the measure of a man’s worth. Despite the rage over diets and cosmetics all over the city, Gwanak seems yet peaceful. How far, if it has at all, has this obsession spread inside Gwanak? The SNU Quill surveyed students from a variety of colleges in SNU to understand how much SNU students were aware of the current trend of judging people based on their appearance, and what they thought about the phenomenon. Although from outside SNU is widely perceived as an exception to the rule when it comes to the pressures of appearance, many students on campus were obviously stressed from the feeling of needing to tend to their appearance in order to “succeed.” The Quill wanted to find out exactly how much, if at all, this trend was affecting SNU students’ lives.
The survey included questions asking about topics ranging from general feelings of being assessed by other people on campus to spending habits and perceptions of other people. It covered a variety of topics related to the overarching theme of appearance, hitting subjects including cosmetic surgery, luxury brands, and employment. The results of some of the questions are shown in the graphs. Please note that the numbers have a margin of error due to some participants not answering some questions or choosing multiple answers.
Pie/Bar Graphs:
1. When people passing by you laugh, have you ever checked yourself, thinking that they were laughing at your appearance?
Yes – 70
No – 105
2. Do you always spend time fixing your appearance (putting on contact lenses, wearing makeup, etc.), even if it means being late to class?
Yes – 61
No – 114
3. What percentage of your total expenses is taken up by consumption related to appearance (apparel, skin care, makeup, etc.)?
Less than 10% - 40
10~20% - 51
20~30% 46
30~50% - 27
More than 50% - 7
4. When do you think appearance has the most influnece over social relationships?
Before entering college – 16
First two years of college – 100
Later years in college – 12
After graduation (including graduate school) – 29
5. When you see a person wearing or carrying luxury items, what is your standard for differentiating between people who “dress well” and people who are “wasteful?”
The sophistication of style – 64
Appropriateness to time and place – 69
No difference; they all seem like good dressers – 4
No difference; they all seem like money wasters – 5
6. Have you ever purchased a ‘fake’ luxury item?
Yes – 43
No – 134
6-1. If you answered yes, why did you purchase that item?
I liked the item regardless of its brand design – 25
The actual item was too expensive – 11
7. What do you think is the most important factor other than professional capability in finding employment?
Family background – 27
Facial appearance – 48
Dress – 14
Polite attitude – 93
8. When applying for employment in the private sector, how important is appearance?
Very important – 24
Important – 140
Unimportant – 12
9. Did you consider plastic surgery before entering college?
Yes – 26
No – 148
10. Why do you think most people who receive plastic surgery do so?
Self-satisfaction – 65
Social pressures – 15
Employment – 0
To look good to others – 87
11. Society holds the prejudice that SNU students are not as attractive, or do not spend as much effort as others on their appearance. Do you agree?
The prejudice is generally correct – 86
The prejudice is completely incorrect – 64
12. Even within SNU, there exist preconceptions about students of certain colleges being more physically atractive than those of others. Do you have such a preconception?
Yes – 105
No – 71
12-1. If you answered yes, which college has the best “image?”
College of Music – 43
College of Fine Art – 30
College of Business Administration – 31
College of Life Sciences – 14
College of Humanities – 11
Other – 8
While analyzing results from the survey, some interesting patterns were found. First of all, the amount of money spent by most SNU students on appearance was surprising. Most students answered that they spent 20~30% of their total allowance on items relating to their appearance. Even in the midst of an economic crisis, the willingness to spend this much money on appearance illustrates that SNU students feel they need to constantly invest in their appearance as a way to ensure their futures. This spending pattern was not limited to female students. Even some male students answered that they spend more than half of their money on their appearances, showing that male students are also beginning to feel social pressures to present themselves as physically attractive in order to succeed.
Another interesting pattern was found in the period of time in which students felt that appearance mattered most in social relationships. Although the overall totals showed a clear majority voting for the ‘first two years of college,’ a more careful breakdown of the answers to this question showed that students generally chose the period of life that they were currently in. That is, the majority of votes were focused on the ‘first two years of life’ answer choice because most of the survey participants were currently freshmen or sophomores. Older students tended to choose ‘the later years of college’ or ‘after graduation’ answer choices. This showed that SNU students, no matter what their age, felt that they were currently being judged by society based on their appearance.
written by: Pia Won, Choi Seohyun
The survey included questions asking about topics ranging from general feelings of being assessed by other people on campus to spending habits and perceptions of other people. It covered a variety of topics related to the overarching theme of appearance, hitting subjects including cosmetic surgery, luxury brands, and employment. The results of some of the questions are shown in the graphs. Please note that the numbers have a margin of error due to some participants not answering some questions or choosing multiple answers.
Pie/Bar Graphs:
1. When people passing by you laugh, have you ever checked yourself, thinking that they were laughing at your appearance?
Yes – 70
No – 105
2. Do you always spend time fixing your appearance (putting on contact lenses, wearing makeup, etc.), even if it means being late to class?
Yes – 61
No – 114
3. What percentage of your total expenses is taken up by consumption related to appearance (apparel, skin care, makeup, etc.)?
Less than 10% - 40
10~20% - 51
20~30% 46
30~50% - 27
More than 50% - 7
4. When do you think appearance has the most influnece over social relationships?
Before entering college – 16
First two years of college – 100
Later years in college – 12
After graduation (including graduate school) – 29
5. When you see a person wearing or carrying luxury items, what is your standard for differentiating between people who “dress well” and people who are “wasteful?”
The sophistication of style – 64
Appropriateness to time and place – 69
No difference; they all seem like good dressers – 4
No difference; they all seem like money wasters – 5
6. Have you ever purchased a ‘fake’ luxury item?
Yes – 43
No – 134
6-1. If you answered yes, why did you purchase that item?
I liked the item regardless of its brand design – 25
The actual item was too expensive – 11
7. What do you think is the most important factor other than professional capability in finding employment?
Family background – 27
Facial appearance – 48
Dress – 14
Polite attitude – 93
8. When applying for employment in the private sector, how important is appearance?
Very important – 24
Important – 140
Unimportant – 12
9. Did you consider plastic surgery before entering college?
Yes – 26
No – 148
10. Why do you think most people who receive plastic surgery do so?
Self-satisfaction – 65
Social pressures – 15
Employment – 0
To look good to others – 87
11. Society holds the prejudice that SNU students are not as attractive, or do not spend as much effort as others on their appearance. Do you agree?
The prejudice is generally correct – 86
The prejudice is completely incorrect – 64
12. Even within SNU, there exist preconceptions about students of certain colleges being more physically atractive than those of others. Do you have such a preconception?
Yes – 105
No – 71
12-1. If you answered yes, which college has the best “image?”
College of Music – 43
College of Fine Art – 30
College of Business Administration – 31
College of Life Sciences – 14
College of Humanities – 11
Other – 8
While analyzing results from the survey, some interesting patterns were found. First of all, the amount of money spent by most SNU students on appearance was surprising. Most students answered that they spent 20~30% of their total allowance on items relating to their appearance. Even in the midst of an economic crisis, the willingness to spend this much money on appearance illustrates that SNU students feel they need to constantly invest in their appearance as a way to ensure their futures. This spending pattern was not limited to female students. Even some male students answered that they spend more than half of their money on their appearances, showing that male students are also beginning to feel social pressures to present themselves as physically attractive in order to succeed.
Another interesting pattern was found in the period of time in which students felt that appearance mattered most in social relationships. Although the overall totals showed a clear majority voting for the ‘first two years of college,’ a more careful breakdown of the answers to this question showed that students generally chose the period of life that they were currently in. That is, the majority of votes were focused on the ‘first two years of life’ answer choice because most of the survey participants were currently freshmen or sophomores. Older students tended to choose ‘the later years of college’ or ‘after graduation’ answer choices. This showed that SNU students, no matter what their age, felt that they were currently being judged by society based on their appearance.
written by: Pia Won, Choi Seohyun
[Vol.19] Mission Impossible: Stuck at Exit 3
At the beginning of the semester, whoever attends school might think that, “In this semester, I’ll really try hard at studies for a good grade and also never skip any class.” But looking at a long line of people waiting for a school bus, he or she thinks again, “For once, it may be okay to be late.” After suffering through the long waiting lines and the crammed and stifling buses and eventually, being late and repeating it several times, a student who was once enthusiastic may decide to withdraw that class. This is not only the case of early days of a new semester. Attending school is an arduous work. Everyone in SNU would agree.
The routes students use to go to school are largely divided into three: the Seoul National University station, Naksungdae station and Nokdu street. The most crowded time around the stations and bus stops is the period just before the morning classes, held in the first or second hour. In front of the Seoul Nat’l Univ. station, the line waiting for a shuttle bus to come sometimes extends to the entrance of the station.
Last May, the transportation company decided on combining the routes of bus number 5511 and 5512 into one. After the change, the number of buses heading to the Business School (bus number 5511) increased from 11 to 16. And the interval between buses decreased into 4-8 minutes, the half of previous operation time. On the other hand, the buses toward the administration building (bus number 5513) decreased and only 5 buses are currently operating. According to a survey conducted by the Student Government at that time, the number of users of the two buses was almost the same. Considering the fact that combining the two bus routes worsened the traffic congestion, this change was ironical to the students who had currently took the bus 5513 and whose discomfort has doubled.
The problem of transportation is not only confined at Seoul Nat’l Univ. station. The students taking the local village bus, number 02, at Naksungdae station are also having a hard time. To lessen the constant flow of waiting students, the Student Government had operated shuttle buses from Naksungdae station to the College of the Engineering during last October to November. But because of the shortage of its users, it was discontinued within a month. Every morning a huge number of people are waiting for the local bus. But were users of the school bus scarce? What was wrong?
Many students who had once used Naksungdae shuttle bus point out some problems. Firstly, the bus stop was a bit far from the station. Even many people did not know the presence of a new bus. And secondly, destination stations were obscure and different from being announced. After all, if the new means of transportation had been more efficient and advertised, it might have helped alleviate the transportation problems of Naksungdae. The main cause was not the small number of users, the planning and operation was the problem of the unsuccessful shuttle bus.
Then who or what is to blame of this chronic every-weekday-morning transportation problem? It is mainly due to the unusual location of Gwanak campus. Unlike most university campuses including the Yeongeon campus situated in the downtown area of the city, Gwanak campus is sprawled vastly along Mt. Gwanak. The campus is even said to pass the border of Seoul and Gyeonggi-Do; the campus extends itself to Gwacheon. Besides the enormous size of the campus, the campus has only two proportionately small entrances which are difficult to access by foot. The two subway stations, the Seoul National University and Naksungdae, unfortunately, are too far away from the campus to walk. In the busy morning hours, the only way for most students to get to school is by taking either buses or taxis. To come to school, for students, the use of public transportation therefore, is inevitable.
The transportation issues bring out other problems including the safety issues some students are worrying about. As a bus arrives, the many students who have been waiting file into the bus. The bus is soon crammed with students; some fortunate students are sitting and the majority of them are standing. The students have to be careful not to get injured by falling down, or being stepped on by other students while the bus sways. The bus driver may not be able to see the side mirrors because of so many students, which might lead into an accident. The morning transportation problem also brings about the issue concerning public etiquettes. The morning rush around SNU makes some students cutting in the bus line. The way to school presupposes a variety of possible accidents and discomfort that students have to cope with.
The complaints from students are increasing and to solve the many problems the school transportation is causing there should be reinforcements on transportations reaching Gwanak campus. Students should not be tired out even before they reach school; the chronic transportation issue should be thought over with consideration and alleviated with effort.
written by: Yum Sooyun and Lee Song-Yi
The routes students use to go to school are largely divided into three: the Seoul National University station, Naksungdae station and Nokdu street. The most crowded time around the stations and bus stops is the period just before the morning classes, held in the first or second hour. In front of the Seoul Nat’l Univ. station, the line waiting for a shuttle bus to come sometimes extends to the entrance of the station.
Last May, the transportation company decided on combining the routes of bus number 5511 and 5512 into one. After the change, the number of buses heading to the Business School (bus number 5511) increased from 11 to 16. And the interval between buses decreased into 4-8 minutes, the half of previous operation time. On the other hand, the buses toward the administration building (bus number 5513) decreased and only 5 buses are currently operating. According to a survey conducted by the Student Government at that time, the number of users of the two buses was almost the same. Considering the fact that combining the two bus routes worsened the traffic congestion, this change was ironical to the students who had currently took the bus 5513 and whose discomfort has doubled.
The problem of transportation is not only confined at Seoul Nat’l Univ. station. The students taking the local village bus, number 02, at Naksungdae station are also having a hard time. To lessen the constant flow of waiting students, the Student Government had operated shuttle buses from Naksungdae station to the College of the Engineering during last October to November. But because of the shortage of its users, it was discontinued within a month. Every morning a huge number of people are waiting for the local bus. But were users of the school bus scarce? What was wrong?
Many students who had once used Naksungdae shuttle bus point out some problems. Firstly, the bus stop was a bit far from the station. Even many people did not know the presence of a new bus. And secondly, destination stations were obscure and different from being announced. After all, if the new means of transportation had been more efficient and advertised, it might have helped alleviate the transportation problems of Naksungdae. The main cause was not the small number of users, the planning and operation was the problem of the unsuccessful shuttle bus.
Then who or what is to blame of this chronic every-weekday-morning transportation problem? It is mainly due to the unusual location of Gwanak campus. Unlike most university campuses including the Yeongeon campus situated in the downtown area of the city, Gwanak campus is sprawled vastly along Mt. Gwanak. The campus is even said to pass the border of Seoul and Gyeonggi-Do; the campus extends itself to Gwacheon. Besides the enormous size of the campus, the campus has only two proportionately small entrances which are difficult to access by foot. The two subway stations, the Seoul National University and Naksungdae, unfortunately, are too far away from the campus to walk. In the busy morning hours, the only way for most students to get to school is by taking either buses or taxis. To come to school, for students, the use of public transportation therefore, is inevitable.
The transportation issues bring out other problems including the safety issues some students are worrying about. As a bus arrives, the many students who have been waiting file into the bus. The bus is soon crammed with students; some fortunate students are sitting and the majority of them are standing. The students have to be careful not to get injured by falling down, or being stepped on by other students while the bus sways. The bus driver may not be able to see the side mirrors because of so many students, which might lead into an accident. The morning transportation problem also brings about the issue concerning public etiquettes. The morning rush around SNU makes some students cutting in the bus line. The way to school presupposes a variety of possible accidents and discomfort that students have to cope with.
The complaints from students are increasing and to solve the many problems the school transportation is causing there should be reinforcements on transportations reaching Gwanak campus. Students should not be tired out even before they reach school; the chronic transportation issue should be thought over with consideration and alleviated with effort.
written by: Yum Sooyun and Lee Song-Yi
[Vol.19] Transitions and Adaptations
“I wish I could wash the kimchi before putting it in my mouth.” says Alexey (Department of Electrical Engineering ‘08). “It is tasty but way too spicy for me.” He leaves to refill his glass of water.
It is not easy to live in a foreign country for an extended period of time but the greatest difficulties are often faced in the beginning. This problem is particularly acute for those who come to pursue full-time studies at SNU and not just as exchange students. Staying at one place for a long time requires a totally different set of adaptations as opposed to staying for one semester – which is more like a form of educational tourism. For students staying for just a semester, the problems are usually circumvented by Lonely Planet or by the company of Korean friends but for those who intend to stay longer, assuming the role of a tourist is a luxury that they cannot afford. Today the world seems all too familiar with the Western way of life; however, for many people, the Orient continues to be a mystery. People often have expectations very much removed from reality and it is only after they have arrived here, that they become aware of the actual situation on the ground. As a result of which the culture shock arising from migration from East to West is far less than the opposite case.
Till a few months back, finding information in English was a difficult task indeed. In a large number of restaurants and coffee shops, many foreigners observe that the only English word on the menu is the word “Menu” itself! One of the most pressing problems is the complicated procedure for getting a phone connection. The number of lectures offered in English is also often inadequate to cover all the areas of interest. But things are improving. Announcements in shuttle bus are made both in Korean and in English. The mailing service from Global Information Center, highlighting the main events of the week, is helpful in keeping foreign students informed. With time hopefully, the usage of English will become more widespread.
To a foreigner, Korean cuisine can be summarized in just a single word – kimchi. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Korean cuisine involves a large number of other dishes which are a bit spicy for some but nonetheless very interesting and delicious. For people new to Korea, it is an experience that most of them would cherish but for people who wish to stay for an extended period, things cease to be exotic after sometime. Making Korean food a part of one’s daily life can be a difficult task. The World Line in the Dormitory cafeteria is a welcome effort in easing the transition.
But of all the problems, the most appalling is the invisible curtain that separates Koreans and foreigners. Koreans often stare at foreigners with wide-eyed wonder but any effort to strike up a conversation is almost always thwarted by – what many people describe as a mild panic! It is interesting to note that Koreans form the largest active student group in the USA (according to the data published by the US government in July 2008), comfortably ahead of India and China. At the same time a large number of Koreans travel abroad - either for work or tourism. The number stands at more than 12 million. Among the Korean tourists travelling overseas, it was found that the most important reasons for travel included – places of interest, adventure and the urge to explore something different. However, a thing like the language barrier doesn’t even feature in the top 10 reasons. These findings and the reality encountered in Korea is almost paradoxical.
In the end, I have just one request to the Korean reader. A foreigner living in Korea is having a hard time getting used to a new country, often lonely and very eager to know you. If you are inquisitive about a foreigner, go ahead and strike a conversation – don’t be daunted by any barrier (of the mind or the language). Very often, lasting and fruitful friendships start out of chance encounters. Go forward and break the ice - you will not regret it!
written by : Subhojit Chakladar
It is not easy to live in a foreign country for an extended period of time but the greatest difficulties are often faced in the beginning. This problem is particularly acute for those who come to pursue full-time studies at SNU and not just as exchange students. Staying at one place for a long time requires a totally different set of adaptations as opposed to staying for one semester – which is more like a form of educational tourism. For students staying for just a semester, the problems are usually circumvented by Lonely Planet or by the company of Korean friends but for those who intend to stay longer, assuming the role of a tourist is a luxury that they cannot afford. Today the world seems all too familiar with the Western way of life; however, for many people, the Orient continues to be a mystery. People often have expectations very much removed from reality and it is only after they have arrived here, that they become aware of the actual situation on the ground. As a result of which the culture shock arising from migration from East to West is far less than the opposite case.
Till a few months back, finding information in English was a difficult task indeed. In a large number of restaurants and coffee shops, many foreigners observe that the only English word on the menu is the word “Menu” itself! One of the most pressing problems is the complicated procedure for getting a phone connection. The number of lectures offered in English is also often inadequate to cover all the areas of interest. But things are improving. Announcements in shuttle bus are made both in Korean and in English. The mailing service from Global Information Center, highlighting the main events of the week, is helpful in keeping foreign students informed. With time hopefully, the usage of English will become more widespread.
To a foreigner, Korean cuisine can be summarized in just a single word – kimchi. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Korean cuisine involves a large number of other dishes which are a bit spicy for some but nonetheless very interesting and delicious. For people new to Korea, it is an experience that most of them would cherish but for people who wish to stay for an extended period, things cease to be exotic after sometime. Making Korean food a part of one’s daily life can be a difficult task. The World Line in the Dormitory cafeteria is a welcome effort in easing the transition.
But of all the problems, the most appalling is the invisible curtain that separates Koreans and foreigners. Koreans often stare at foreigners with wide-eyed wonder but any effort to strike up a conversation is almost always thwarted by – what many people describe as a mild panic! It is interesting to note that Koreans form the largest active student group in the USA (according to the data published by the US government in July 2008), comfortably ahead of India and China. At the same time a large number of Koreans travel abroad - either for work or tourism. The number stands at more than 12 million. Among the Korean tourists travelling overseas, it was found that the most important reasons for travel included – places of interest, adventure and the urge to explore something different. However, a thing like the language barrier doesn’t even feature in the top 10 reasons. These findings and the reality encountered in Korea is almost paradoxical.
In the end, I have just one request to the Korean reader. A foreigner living in Korea is having a hard time getting used to a new country, often lonely and very eager to know you. If you are inquisitive about a foreigner, go ahead and strike a conversation – don’t be daunted by any barrier (of the mind or the language). Very often, lasting and fruitful friendships start out of chance encounters. Go forward and break the ice - you will not regret it!
written by : Subhojit Chakladar
[Vol.19] Editor's Letter
I remember the shock I felt when my mother told me that especially for girls, looks can matter when getting a job. It seemed completely irrelevant and moreover unfair that external appearance should be a factor in the job market. Yet I’ve become more or less accustomed to such premises. Yes, looks do matter.
Since becoming a student in Gwanak, I have not been able to give up my high heels, for I felt not only physically small but also less assured and confident without them (despite the geographical traits of our campus which makes stilettos more or less a symbol of torture). You may consider me obsessed, but obviously I am not a peculiar case, for I see almost as many girls on heels than in sneakers on campus. There are more than only a few of us who are willing to sacrifice our comfort for better looks.
And it is not just about the heels. Although society’s image of SNU students is that we are neither sensitive nor sufficiently skilled at fashion, the view from the inside reveals a school community as sensitive to external beauty as any other community. When the Quill surveyed approximately 170 students, 75 of them answered that they have had the experience of being self-conscious because they thought others were laughing at their appearance, and over 160 of them thought that appearance is either “very important” or “important” when applying for employment in the private sector.
I have wondered whether it would have been more appropriate to talk of more “serious” matters such as political or economical issues for our cover story, but seeing the survey results, I came to realize that seemingly superficial matters of appearance were just as deeply rooted and influential to our identities and interests. The old proverb claims that “Beauty is only skin deep,” but it seems as if skin deep has become the depth of our society.
Of course, there are many other stories to tell. The Arts team interviewed Ralf Sander, the professor who is preparing for the upcoming exhibition at MoA; the Campus team dug up some interesting facts about the history of SNU and ranted about how it is so difficult to get to school each morning, and the Feature team did an online survey on Men’s Beauty. Above all, the Quill has recruited 8 new members in step with the new semester and this was their first edition on board! I would like to tell them how thrilled and happy I am to meet them, and I hope they enjoyed working on this issue as much as I did. I hope they will find as many treasures as I found from the Quill.
Envying the new Quillers? Then join us next semester. Maybe you’ll not be greeted with a surprisingly warm spring breeze then, but I bet the autumn sky will be just as admirable when you are a newly recruited Quiller. Meanwhile, enjoy each new edition of the Quill, and admire the flowers while you still can.
written by: Choi Naeun (Editor-in-Chief)
Since becoming a student in Gwanak, I have not been able to give up my high heels, for I felt not only physically small but also less assured and confident without them (despite the geographical traits of our campus which makes stilettos more or less a symbol of torture). You may consider me obsessed, but obviously I am not a peculiar case, for I see almost as many girls on heels than in sneakers on campus. There are more than only a few of us who are willing to sacrifice our comfort for better looks.
And it is not just about the heels. Although society’s image of SNU students is that we are neither sensitive nor sufficiently skilled at fashion, the view from the inside reveals a school community as sensitive to external beauty as any other community. When the Quill surveyed approximately 170 students, 75 of them answered that they have had the experience of being self-conscious because they thought others were laughing at their appearance, and over 160 of them thought that appearance is either “very important” or “important” when applying for employment in the private sector.
I have wondered whether it would have been more appropriate to talk of more “serious” matters such as political or economical issues for our cover story, but seeing the survey results, I came to realize that seemingly superficial matters of appearance were just as deeply rooted and influential to our identities and interests. The old proverb claims that “Beauty is only skin deep,” but it seems as if skin deep has become the depth of our society.
Of course, there are many other stories to tell. The Arts team interviewed Ralf Sander, the professor who is preparing for the upcoming exhibition at MoA; the Campus team dug up some interesting facts about the history of SNU and ranted about how it is so difficult to get to school each morning, and the Feature team did an online survey on Men’s Beauty. Above all, the Quill has recruited 8 new members in step with the new semester and this was their first edition on board! I would like to tell them how thrilled and happy I am to meet them, and I hope they enjoyed working on this issue as much as I did. I hope they will find as many treasures as I found from the Quill.
Envying the new Quillers? Then join us next semester. Maybe you’ll not be greeted with a surprisingly warm spring breeze then, but I bet the autumn sky will be just as admirable when you are a newly recruited Quiller. Meanwhile, enjoy each new edition of the Quill, and admire the flowers while you still can.
written by: Choi Naeun (Editor-in-Chief)
[Vol.19] The Fear Factor behind that Korean coolness towards foreigners
The recent influx of foreigners on campus is truly astounding. The sight of foreign grad school students dining in the cafeteria or boarding the school shuttle is no longer rare, and even foreign undergrads are spotted occasionally among this year’s fresh faces. These signs, if nothing else, attest to the four-fold increase in the number of international students during the past 10 years. SNU’s efforts at attracting international students seem to have been rewarded with welcome results.
Changes are being implemented to many aspects of SNU to accommodate them and ease the process of getting accustomed to the life in this foreigner un-friendly country. Classes conducted in English - check. Additional cafeteria menus to better suit international palates - check. Announcements made in English at all bus stops and all-around help provided at Global Information Center – check, check. Just name it, and the school has it all.
These kindly considerations should indeed be helpful to those placed on unfamiliar grounds, but they bear little or no relation to what makes up the greatest part of our daily lives – personal, trivial, but nevertheless important, interactions between people. Interactions between international students and native Korean students, in particular, seem somewhat strained. Effort seems to be expended on both sides, but they continue to remain in somewhat uncomfortable, dissatisfying situations.
The truth is that most Korean students have spent their lives thus far without being in a situation where the person standing across from them, who they now have to strike up a conversation with and befriend, did not share the same nationality. The strangeness of the situation is enough to make them nervous, even before other, more practical factors come into play. With an education that emphasizes the uniformity and superiority of the Korean culture over the values of harmonious integration, perhaps students cannot but greet foreigners with a small degree of alarm.
Then there is the notorious language barrier. It is generally accepted that few nations spend as much time and money on learning English as Korea does, and few speak it as badly. But perhaps the bigger problem lies not in the actual level of linguistic fluency, but in the fact that Koreans perceive themselves in this self-effacing way. Lack of experience tends to go hand-in-hand with lack of confidence; Korean students seem to virtually shrink in the presence of foreigners and otherwise well-constructed sentences emerge in inaudible mumbles.
“My roommate seems like a nice girl, but we don’t really know each other. She told me once that she would like to talk to me, but her English isn’t good, so she’s not sure how she’d do that,” said an international student about her new Korean roommate. While the primary function of language is to enable communication, Korean students have the tendency to become obsessed with perfecting their grammar, which is quite irrelevant when it comes to getting the point across. Perhaps such reluctance to plunge into conversations is a vestige of middle and high school education, which is centered on the grammatical, rather than the practical.
And while much attention is being paid to introducing Korean cultures to international students (think kimjang festivals and folk museum tours), not much effort is being made to introduce foreign cultures to Korean students. If an understanding of Korean culture helps foreign students better familiarize themselves with Korea, it should work the other way, too. Truth to be told, if such a project is to be undertaken, it would by no means be an easy job. Problem one: close to fifty different nationalities are represented on SNU campus. Problem two: how does one exactly achieve an understanding of a culture? The tasks seem too big to even attempt.
Admittedly, there are already some, though not abundant, opportunities for Korean students to meet foreign students and cultures such as the SNU Buddy program and the annual International Food Festival (IFF). Regretfully, the short-lived programs and festivals stop at being just a taste of the myriad cultures out there. Students are then practically left on their own to understand cultures they have no access to.
There’s a reason why just about every imaginable organization seems so enthusiastic about going global these days: globalization really is a great idea. Inviting international students to join us is bound to create a colorful, dynamic environment in SNU which can only be said to be beneficial for all parties involved. Now that the long-awaited waves of globalization are finally washing ashore, what SNU needs to do is, against the natural impulse to turn and run, to greet them with a smile.
written by: Helen Kim
Changes are being implemented to many aspects of SNU to accommodate them and ease the process of getting accustomed to the life in this foreigner un-friendly country. Classes conducted in English - check. Additional cafeteria menus to better suit international palates - check. Announcements made in English at all bus stops and all-around help provided at Global Information Center – check, check. Just name it, and the school has it all.
These kindly considerations should indeed be helpful to those placed on unfamiliar grounds, but they bear little or no relation to what makes up the greatest part of our daily lives – personal, trivial, but nevertheless important, interactions between people. Interactions between international students and native Korean students, in particular, seem somewhat strained. Effort seems to be expended on both sides, but they continue to remain in somewhat uncomfortable, dissatisfying situations.
The truth is that most Korean students have spent their lives thus far without being in a situation where the person standing across from them, who they now have to strike up a conversation with and befriend, did not share the same nationality. The strangeness of the situation is enough to make them nervous, even before other, more practical factors come into play. With an education that emphasizes the uniformity and superiority of the Korean culture over the values of harmonious integration, perhaps students cannot but greet foreigners with a small degree of alarm.
Then there is the notorious language barrier. It is generally accepted that few nations spend as much time and money on learning English as Korea does, and few speak it as badly. But perhaps the bigger problem lies not in the actual level of linguistic fluency, but in the fact that Koreans perceive themselves in this self-effacing way. Lack of experience tends to go hand-in-hand with lack of confidence; Korean students seem to virtually shrink in the presence of foreigners and otherwise well-constructed sentences emerge in inaudible mumbles.
“My roommate seems like a nice girl, but we don’t really know each other. She told me once that she would like to talk to me, but her English isn’t good, so she’s not sure how she’d do that,” said an international student about her new Korean roommate. While the primary function of language is to enable communication, Korean students have the tendency to become obsessed with perfecting their grammar, which is quite irrelevant when it comes to getting the point across. Perhaps such reluctance to plunge into conversations is a vestige of middle and high school education, which is centered on the grammatical, rather than the practical.
And while much attention is being paid to introducing Korean cultures to international students (think kimjang festivals and folk museum tours), not much effort is being made to introduce foreign cultures to Korean students. If an understanding of Korean culture helps foreign students better familiarize themselves with Korea, it should work the other way, too. Truth to be told, if such a project is to be undertaken, it would by no means be an easy job. Problem one: close to fifty different nationalities are represented on SNU campus. Problem two: how does one exactly achieve an understanding of a culture? The tasks seem too big to even attempt.
Admittedly, there are already some, though not abundant, opportunities for Korean students to meet foreign students and cultures such as the SNU Buddy program and the annual International Food Festival (IFF). Regretfully, the short-lived programs and festivals stop at being just a taste of the myriad cultures out there. Students are then practically left on their own to understand cultures they have no access to.
There’s a reason why just about every imaginable organization seems so enthusiastic about going global these days: globalization really is a great idea. Inviting international students to join us is bound to create a colorful, dynamic environment in SNU which can only be said to be beneficial for all parties involved. Now that the long-awaited waves of globalization are finally washing ashore, what SNU needs to do is, against the natural impulse to turn and run, to greet them with a smile.
written by: Helen Kim
[Vol.19] “Unity in Diversity”; an Interview with the President of SISA
Every student, for once, at least, dream of leaving all the burdens; one wishes to forget about all the classes, the assignments, the presentations and dive into an exotic land. Some students succeed in fulfilling such dreams and they leave their home country and seek a better fortune in a foreign world. Nowadays, many international students are setting their eyes on Korea and among them are students attending SNU. The number of international students in SNU has been increasing dramatically and currently, about 1,500 students from more than 40 different countries are studying at SNU. Living and studying in a foreign country, however, is challenging in every aspect and international students in SNU have numerous obstacles to overcome.
Such difficulties of international students may just be the very reason SISA(SNU International Students Association) has been established. SISA, the first official International Students Association formed in Korea, was established by the university administration in March, 2007. Associated within the Student Affairs Department, SISA represents all international students currently attending SNU, from short-term exchange students to degree-seeking students. SISA has a short history, compared with the Korean students’ association, which has a history of half a century. The demand of an association for international students, however, has been great and the members of SISA are working hard to make SNU a more hospitable place for international students.
“Our main problem is this: because of the short history, SISA is unknown to many people. Many Korean students and even some international students do not know that there is an official organization for international students.” says Selim Kacar(Department of Economics ’07), the present president of SISA. “There are numerous activities and services for international students provided by SISA. Instead of feeling bad and frustrated by the difference of the system and culture of a totally different country, I hope every student could participate in these events with us and enjoy their lives in Korea to the fullest.” he adds.
There are, without doubt, various events held by SISA, including the annual SISA Ambassadors Meeting, Korean Cultural Trip, the Sport Festival, and volunteer works. At the SISA Ambassadors Meeting, ambassadors or representatives from 35 countries, from Switzerland to Burma, are invited to SNU in the name of the president of SNU himself. The meeting is a rare and honored occasion for the students as they get the chance to meet the ambassador of their own country and receive advices and support from the ambassadors. The Korean Cultural Trip is also one of the main events held by SISA where 150 students visit traditional Korean villages and experience the traditions and history of Korea. Students have tried making food like tofu and green tea and also participated in the traditional Korean wedding ceremony. Through this two-day travel, international students have opportunities to experience the other Korea, the Korea outside of the campus and the city.
The activities of SISA are not confined in the enjoyable occasions where students could befriend each other. There are practical orientations in which board members of SISA introduce freshmen and newcomers about the student life in SNU. This year, SISA held an orientation exclusively on class registration. Registering classes is much more difficult for international students, especially because of the language difference. Therefore, the orientation was conducted in two languages, Korean and English and about 150 students came. The board members of SISA introduced how to register the classes online and also the information from our own experiences, such as the Korean classes for international students and classes conducted in English that freshmen would be more comfortable with.
Tall and rigid, the language barrier is the one of the biggest obstacle international students confront in life in Korea and SISA board members, each with different nationalities and fluent Korean, translate every school announcement, including SMS messages, and information on scholarship and internship programs in 8 different languages. SISA has also sent the election pledges from two candidates after translating the pledges into six languages (Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, Russian, English, and Spanish) for the Student Government election held last year. “International students, as SNU students, have a right to vote. The pledges of the president candidates, however, are in Korean and the turnout of international students has been extremely low. Last year we asked the candidates to send us their pledges and two candidates sent them to us and many students who received the translated version of the pledges voted for the president of the Student Government. I hope that in the next election, more candidates would consider the votes of the 400 international students.” Kacar says.
When asked about the difficulties of managing an international student association, Kacar emphasized yet again, the importance of information. “We upload the recent school announcements on our homepage and send e-mails to students but there are students whom we could not contact or do not know about SISA. For international students, information is essential because various things, applying for a scholarship for instance, are conducted in a different way. We are putting up posters and banners on campus and on the portal site to inform students of SISA.” he says.
SISA is a young and sprouting association with many projects but their future plan was surprisingly simple. “SISA will be continuing all the activities and gatherings of course. But our future plan is to form the ‘senior-junior relationship.’ I think the unique Korean senior-junior relationship is what international students also need. In Korea, seniors assist juniors start their new lives as university students and they get friendly by frequent meetings and meals. This relationship is not what SISA could plan on, but we try to make such atmosphere where international students, regardless of their nationalities or majors, could form such relationships and become more united.”
The “Global SNU” project still in progress, more international students would be attending SNU. There are systems and school policies regarding international students to be improved, of course, but what is equally, and maybe more important is the attitude of both Korean and international students. “I’ve seen the ‘Dynamic Korea’ advertisement on CNN and thought that we, international students might have more influence to the world than the advertisement.” Kacar says. “When a foreigner visits, or lives in a foreign country, they leave with an impression on the country based on their experiences. Students who have enjoyed their stay in Korea would have a great impression on Korea throughout their lives; they would become a fan of Korea. But the system works the other way around, too. Once you get a bad impression on Korea, you may not ever change your thoughts. If all international students leave Korea with a good impression, the effect will be in further time, immense.”
Written by: Yum Sooyun
Such difficulties of international students may just be the very reason SISA(SNU International Students Association) has been established. SISA, the first official International Students Association formed in Korea, was established by the university administration in March, 2007. Associated within the Student Affairs Department, SISA represents all international students currently attending SNU, from short-term exchange students to degree-seeking students. SISA has a short history, compared with the Korean students’ association, which has a history of half a century. The demand of an association for international students, however, has been great and the members of SISA are working hard to make SNU a more hospitable place for international students.
“Our main problem is this: because of the short history, SISA is unknown to many people. Many Korean students and even some international students do not know that there is an official organization for international students.” says Selim Kacar(Department of Economics ’07), the present president of SISA. “There are numerous activities and services for international students provided by SISA. Instead of feeling bad and frustrated by the difference of the system and culture of a totally different country, I hope every student could participate in these events with us and enjoy their lives in Korea to the fullest.” he adds.
There are, without doubt, various events held by SISA, including the annual SISA Ambassadors Meeting, Korean Cultural Trip, the Sport Festival, and volunteer works. At the SISA Ambassadors Meeting, ambassadors or representatives from 35 countries, from Switzerland to Burma, are invited to SNU in the name of the president of SNU himself. The meeting is a rare and honored occasion for the students as they get the chance to meet the ambassador of their own country and receive advices and support from the ambassadors. The Korean Cultural Trip is also one of the main events held by SISA where 150 students visit traditional Korean villages and experience the traditions and history of Korea. Students have tried making food like tofu and green tea and also participated in the traditional Korean wedding ceremony. Through this two-day travel, international students have opportunities to experience the other Korea, the Korea outside of the campus and the city.
The activities of SISA are not confined in the enjoyable occasions where students could befriend each other. There are practical orientations in which board members of SISA introduce freshmen and newcomers about the student life in SNU. This year, SISA held an orientation exclusively on class registration. Registering classes is much more difficult for international students, especially because of the language difference. Therefore, the orientation was conducted in two languages, Korean and English and about 150 students came. The board members of SISA introduced how to register the classes online and also the information from our own experiences, such as the Korean classes for international students and classes conducted in English that freshmen would be more comfortable with.
Tall and rigid, the language barrier is the one of the biggest obstacle international students confront in life in Korea and SISA board members, each with different nationalities and fluent Korean, translate every school announcement, including SMS messages, and information on scholarship and internship programs in 8 different languages. SISA has also sent the election pledges from two candidates after translating the pledges into six languages (Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, Russian, English, and Spanish) for the Student Government election held last year. “International students, as SNU students, have a right to vote. The pledges of the president candidates, however, are in Korean and the turnout of international students has been extremely low. Last year we asked the candidates to send us their pledges and two candidates sent them to us and many students who received the translated version of the pledges voted for the president of the Student Government. I hope that in the next election, more candidates would consider the votes of the 400 international students.” Kacar says.
When asked about the difficulties of managing an international student association, Kacar emphasized yet again, the importance of information. “We upload the recent school announcements on our homepage and send e-mails to students but there are students whom we could not contact or do not know about SISA. For international students, information is essential because various things, applying for a scholarship for instance, are conducted in a different way. We are putting up posters and banners on campus and on the portal site to inform students of SISA.” he says.
SISA is a young and sprouting association with many projects but their future plan was surprisingly simple. “SISA will be continuing all the activities and gatherings of course. But our future plan is to form the ‘senior-junior relationship.’ I think the unique Korean senior-junior relationship is what international students also need. In Korea, seniors assist juniors start their new lives as university students and they get friendly by frequent meetings and meals. This relationship is not what SISA could plan on, but we try to make such atmosphere where international students, regardless of their nationalities or majors, could form such relationships and become more united.”
The “Global SNU” project still in progress, more international students would be attending SNU. There are systems and school policies regarding international students to be improved, of course, but what is equally, and maybe more important is the attitude of both Korean and international students. “I’ve seen the ‘Dynamic Korea’ advertisement on CNN and thought that we, international students might have more influence to the world than the advertisement.” Kacar says. “When a foreigner visits, or lives in a foreign country, they leave with an impression on the country based on their experiences. Students who have enjoyed their stay in Korea would have a great impression on Korea throughout their lives; they would become a fan of Korea. But the system works the other way around, too. Once you get a bad impression on Korea, you may not ever change your thoughts. If all international students leave Korea with a good impression, the effect will be in further time, immense.”
Written by: Yum Sooyun
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