Chris Arreola's power

[Gandalf]

Fighting/Violence is nothing to brag about and im not even glorifying anything. I never said being a fighter was cool or anything but im just stating the facts, the reality... WOuld you buy it if I told you that I knew more about the Europeans than you do? Probably not... I think you only know certain aspects of the Korean people but you clearly dont see the whole picture. I still have close friends and relatives out there so i'm updated with whatever is going still going out there. And FYI, yea, the best fighters in school are the most popular and they get all the girls and the power.

You clearly dont understand our people as much as I do but that's only normal.

BTW, i made some edits because of typos.. Im not trying to pump us up as if we're some superheros..

I have lived out here for a decade, married a Korean, have an extended Korean family and taught thousands of Korean people. Heck I even have permanent residency in this country. I know my way around pretty well, you might be more Korean than me, but I know the society pretty well myself. The good looking guys get the girls, not the best fighters. Have you seen the K-pop singers that look like ladyboys? That's who the young girls are swooning over, not some bone headed mafia type.

I hear ya.. Im sick and tired of those girlyboys and boybands lol.. Come to think of it, maybe I'm still stuck in the 80s/90s Korea. I know things are a lot different now but some things will never change. It really depends on the area too cuz I know places like Dae Gu, Chul la Namdo and mokpo that makes sicily feel like Disneyland. I know these young korean girls are into skinny, gay looking boys but it wasnt like that at all when I was growing up and i know lot of other parts of korea that havent changed much. ( In my late 20s btw )

Are you an english teacher at an after school program or at a public school?

That's one of the things about Korea, it is forever changing. It has changed a lot even in the time that I have been out here. I totally agree with you that organised crime exists, just as it exists anywhere. Mokpo as you point out is quite well known for it's criminal elements and gangs do exist. But on the whole that stuff is low key and for most life goes on in a civil manner. There isn't a strong police presence out here because it just isn't needed. Most altercations are nothing more than a shouting contest and blowing off steam. Lawbreaking is primarily running traffic lights, not paying taxes and prostitution (where I think organised crime largely operates). It's one of the few countries where you can walk at night practically anywhere and feel quite safe and that is a credit to this society. You can't say the same thing about many parts of the UK. The strong sense of family really keeps this country on the straight and narrow (along with the rigorous educational system and male military service). Korea is on a good path and I really hope it doesn't follow Western models too much. For instance they have recently banned corporal punishment in schools and I think that is only going to lead to trouble. It will definitely make things much more like how you seem to have experienced things, namely kids running amok and thinking they can do what they want. That's dangerous. You need deterrents and control.

I used to teach in public schools and then freelanced at academies. I now teach at a university. I don't think there are many wannabe gangsters in my classes though, some serious soju drinkers yes, but potential hardened criminals? No, they are a bunch of softies and I mean that in the kindest possible way. Nice young people. If called on to be tough I think a lot of them could, but that's the same of a lot of people regardless of where they are from. Brocktonblockbust was perhaps a little bit racist assuming a race of people are weaklings, just not true.