I would rather say Koreans and French share a similar attitude towards members of other nationalities.

Not only do I agree with everything in your post, I have had the experience of people coming up to me when I am not in any way, shape or form lost and offer help. Perhaps I just naturally have a "lost" expression but this seems to happen a lot - almost to the point of occasionally being a nuisance. I think folks just see me as a "safe-looking" foreigner to approach and practice english on. Some of my best interactions with locals have started out this way.

I also seem to have lost, english-speaking foreigners hunt me down to ask directions, which is another thing entirely. More of that "safe" look, I guess.

My biggest hurdle with Korea is the food - the local fare - just can't get into it - but the Koreans themselves? Hostile?? Did you go to Pyongyang?? I have never found Koreans hostile - ever - and I have lived in Korea in the past, too. Interesting how perceptions vary so widely. I've always thought Koreans were much more welcoming than the Japanese.

Indeed. I also have spent a lot of time in Korea (and even more in Japan), and I find that Korean-style xenophobia is unique in its virulence.

Superficially, they can be quite open and friendly (and a lot of fun), but their national ideology is a combination of pride, self-reliance, and fighting spirit that is structurally not conducive to accepting foreign influence or advice.

Doing business in Korea is a spectacular PITA.

Oh yeah, and I would add more but this is a family station! There was that Judo tourney I worked that exploded that "Korean" myth forever.......

I've driven in an number of places where they drive on the "wrong" side of the road. It takes care and paying attention.

Actually, on my first visit to Japan, people stopped me on the street to talk with me--mostly how much they loved America. People wanted to take my picture (a first--we got to swap picture taking sessions). I had no trouble with people wanting to help me find things.

I'm not sure about how cluttered my country is. Parts are highly populated; parts are not.

Yes, I've been to Korea. A very quick visit, though. Not too much of an impression.

There is an island I visit a lot and I'd just as soon all the foreign tourists stayed away. Particularly the Dutch who think that just because the island is part of the Netherlands they belong there. Oh, wait a minute. . . I am the foreigner there. Oh well.

Hmmm, yes and no. It is quite difficult to get "inside" a Korean business circle.

But once you do, also the battles against other Korean clans are fought together and you are considered a younger or older brother depending on age. Similar to the Japanese "kohai" and "sempai" but more strict due to the military experience all Korean males share.

Actually, having done some sort of military service beforehand is the best way to prepare for business in Korea, IMHO. Helps to understand the company structures and behaviour quite a lot.

Thanks for that , but I should have written "my" in the post above. Until that tournament work experience I my opinion was completely different. It was easy to see why the 2 groups don't see eye to eye!

Perhaps "ak�shū" is the more appropriate term.

This is a very interesting observation, and sounds like good advice. On the other hand, it can't explain it all. Many other countries have compulsory military service and their corporate structure doesn't mirror the military. Israel comes to mind.

Contrary to what you say, my experience is that outside of cities virtually all roadsigns are in both Japanese and Western characters. Made navigation much easier than I expected.

Interesting observation. Your "wink" doesn't give me much clue about what aspect of French and Korean attitudes you feel are similar. I'm somewhat skeptical of the idea of a "national attitude", but I've observed that many of my French friends are convinced of the superiority of all things French and appear to be not particularly bothered whether outsiders perceive things in the same way. I think this is the attitude that some people refer to as "French arrogance" etc.

OTOH, some Koreans that I have met and done business with have said things within the first moments of our discussion to emphasize the superiority of Korea and Korean culture (in particular the superiority of Korea in relation to Japan). On more than one occasion this need to say that Korea is great has been quite odd in the context of the discussion we were having. On those occasions I got the feeling that the person I was speaking with was suffering from insecurity rather than having a superiority complex.

There is a depth to Korean culture that is not obvious at first sight and I think some of the superiority feeling comes out of that, not insecurity.

The insecurity surely also plays a role but I feel the core of Korean national ethos is in this all-encompassing philosophical and ethical structure of advice, rules and traditions.

China has an equal and longer tradition but maybe more elements and variety due to sheer physical size and different ethnic backgrounds.

This is not something based on academic observation. just a gut feeling that has developed during the years.

Seems to me that you could replace French with about 100 or so other nationalities: Italians, Spanish, Chinese, British (good Lord, very definitely British), New Yorkian, Midwestern, Princetonian, ad infinitum/nauseum. (There are variations, of course. E.g., Russians are convinced of the superiority of all things Russian, but they are also convinced of the inferiority of all things Russian, which makes for an interesting contrast.)

I'm in Tokyo right now and although it is difficult not knowing Japanese, it's not a huge hurdle. I think if you have dietary restrictions it might be harder, but I've found just smiling and guessing at a menu has ended me up with some amazing meals!

Today I was in a noodle shop where I ordered through a vending machine and was delighted with what I ended up with. I saw that everyone else had a glass of water, but I didn't see where it had come from. I was looking around and started stressing out about how I was going to have to ask for it. Another customer must have noticed my distress and got up, got me a glass of water and came over and handed it to me and said "water" and bowed. It was incredibly nice.

The thing I love about Japan is that people are very genuine in their offers to help. In many countries you have to suspect peoples motives when they offer to bring you somewhere or help you find something. At the very least, many of them ask for money after they have helped you. Not so in Japan. Even though people here are often insecure about using what English they do know (I feel the same way about Japanese), their desire to help is very real.