South-East Asians and Japan

This thread may raise some eyebrows, but I will ask away for the sake of discussion. How do the Japanese feel about 1) South-East Asians coming and staying in Japan; and 2) South-East Asians in general? I'm not asking for your individual opinions, but the attitudes you have encountered among Japanese people in general. When I say South-East Asians I'm talking about people from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, etc. The reason why I ask is because among my own people (Koreans) many see them as lower-class Asians (especially among older generations). In fact, many South-East Asians come to South Korea just to find work so that they can send money back to their respective countries (and some native Koreans don't like this). Just wondering, is the same sentiments expressed among the Japanese too?

I always thought South-East Asia included Korea ?

Probably the same attitude as the Koreans.

And no diferent from how Americans feel if these people went to live and work in the U.S. or the Europeans if they went to Europe.

well, different countries probably have different customs about someone new comig in... Americans invite them and give them a chance for work and citizenship..

Japan may not do that... they may lock them up, deny them entry, or whatever....
(japan is already packed as it is)

squallleonheart said:

well, different countries probably have different customs about someone new comig in... Americans invite them and give them a chance for work and citizenship..

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Right. Go tell that to the Mexican illegal aliens who are picking fruits and vegetables under the hot sun in California.

I have been working with engineer from Vietnam and his ability was way better than general Korean engineers. (I am engineering major student and worked for a company for my part time job in last summer vacation)

The Koreans who usually look down them are in insecure complex or just ignorant like some violent workshop supervisors or uneducatd ones.
Actually Korea is greatly benefiting from their labour and talents.
The middle -small sized company cannot dure the payment of salery without them. and the high level ability required engineers are doing very well in their responsibility.

You should not post this kind of topic because korea once used to receive economical assitance from Myanma,philipine and even Laos in 1960's.

Knowing ourselves first,Koreans dont deserve to look down them and its become much better in Korea after medias had been criticizing those bad attitude for years. I think some of the overseas Koreans still living under old aged mind in 1960's 70's when they leave Korea for immigration.

As far as I know, country like Malaysia was doing better than Korea during the 60's and 70's, though it is not as good as Korea now, but not that bad too, and countries like Singapore and Brunei are far more richer than Korean people. So how do Korean look down on people who are doing better than them or even not far from them? I really don't understand, may be a korean could explain it...

@seasurfer-you have some misunderstanding here.
yes I agree that Korea has nothing to look down any other countries whatever they are richer or poorer,they are stronger or weaker ,

Normal people who have a fine regular education and keep on caring to the medias do not look down anyones.
Only the insecure and uneducated biased ones do that.As far as I know ,those people exist everywhere.
I think the Koreans who look down some foreign workers should know themselves first because we have also many illegal workers in Japan and other countries. maybe I think the thread starter have some biased ones around and he thinks like that therefore posted this thread?
Please do not get us wrong.
We usually do not look down anyones ,there are many more cases that we are usually looked down because we are koreans than the cases that we look down other foreigners. You know usually the name prestige of Korea is not so favorable in the world although it had become much better than before.
Still many people remind of dog eaters,korean war,north korea etc etc etc negative things when they hear the country name-Korea.


I really dislike this thread.
Thank you.

stupidumboy said:

I really dislike this thread.
Thank you.

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I am with stupidumboy on this one.
I am ashamed that a fellow countryman posted this.
Very sorry. Please lock this thread. Very sorry about this.

I wouldnt let it get to you guys, he obviously doesn't view himself as much of a korean anyway given that the original op has stated Canadian as his nationality.
From the SE Asians I have seen here in Korea, they pretty much stick to themselves, they dont cause problems. So what if they want to send money home to their families? There is not such a high number of unemployment here anyway. They arent taking jobs away from Koreans. They wouldnt be allowed to stay here if they were. I know it's difficult to get a working visa here, unless you are going to be an English teacher and have any degree. Or as an entertainer. Therefore they obviously hold some positive aspects to be granted a visa to stay longer than the given 3 months (although im not sure how many months they receive on arrival).
Maybe he is thinking more as a Gyopo than a Korean citizen living in Korea.
When I first moved to Korea, there were alot of SE Asians living in my area. From talking to people, nobody had any problem with them, I never saw anyone spitting on them or treating them badly. The general consensus was that they were hard working and had darker skin. That was about as 'bad' as it got. Dont really see much negativity there.
Anyway he is speaking on behalf of 'native' korean, making it sound like he considers himself to be one, yet he doesnt even have the decency to show it under his nationality. Therefore I think its fair to say that what he is saying is just an absurd opinion that he thought up all by himself. As there are only 2 active koreans on this forum, and they have both spoken their distaste for this thread, its fair for everybody else to assume that this thread is indeed pathetic, and should not be taken seriously. Im not even Korean, but I can vouch that of all Koreans I have spoken to, they have better things to talk about than their distaste for certain races. They are not an overly rascist nation, and I think that they are genuinely grateful for other countries offering assistance whether it be labourous, entertainment wise, or educational.
Enough said, I am blabbing because I am with the two 'korean' koreans on this one.

Actually no, I havent de-angered myself enough yet.
Another person made a comment that Americans and Europeans would feel the same. This is so maddening and pathetic, I hardly see how it can cause such problems and anomousity.
In New Zealand we also have a large number of SE Asian immigrants, and actually they probably get less racial harassment than the Koreans, and Chinese. Im sorry to say that there are some racial issues, but usually its just from the uneducated untravelled biggits, or children whose parents dont have an open mind and think that the New Zealand population grew overnight from the grass because obviously they have forgotten that originally the only way to get there was by boat. Who has the right to stop that? Ok ok, off topic.
Majority of Korean and Chinese immigrants seek for a better future for their families and open up buisnesses. For some reason few New Zealanders dont like that, probably because they dont have the brain power or motivation to do it for themselves and are jealous. (Im only saying this about the REAL as$holes that give asians a hard time.)
However generally the SE Asians are given a break. They are not taking our jobs, they are filling the gaps made by the lazy people who would rather live on the tax payers money. Sitting at home growing marijuana, and drinking beer with their mates. They dont care because it means they dont have to work.

AAARRRGGHHH still angry.
Anyway they are F$#*#@G hard workers, and dont need the sort of crap that a couple of people above have dealt them.

If i may be so bold to say, and forgive it if it offends but, mainly amongst older generations, asian peoples seem to not so much willingly and openly hate others, but in general as a social phenomena, not think about, or think less slightly of other asians.

It would be wrong to say its a universal fact of asia, many asian people are friendly towards everyone, be they natives, a westerner or another asian, but, i think there's always been that rivalry between asian nations.

Its somewhat like the old attitudes scots and english had about each other, though i see this attitude declining heavily in my short time on this earth.


I could be wrong though and no doubt, ive made myself look a bit of a noob, but, its a hypothesis anyway, europe has had its nationalistic phases (wooo two world wars.... ) but i think, especially for places like china and other asian countries who's economies are on the rise and becoming increasingly industrialised, they are going through that nationalistic phase europe already had.

Anyway disregard my rant, im pretty sure im way off, but, it was just a angle to considor.