Comments on: Ask Korean Guys 4

By: kaekaed

kaekaed — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 03:02:00 +0000

You’re right, I didn’t know that about the hanging up first thing. Thanks. 😀

By: magda

magda — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 07:18:00 +0000

Hello Mr. Gwon… Hello GD x)

By: Andrew Watson

Andrew Watson — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 17:37:00 +0000

In reply to Nic (MyKoreanHusband). Thanks!

By: Nic (MyKoreanHusband)

Nic (MyKoreanHusband) — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 01:31:00 +0000

In reply to Andrew Watson.

I asked my husband about this and he seems to think they may be confused about what is personal name and what is family name because it’s opposite in Korea. The other reason is that they may find your surname easier than your first name.
Can’t really be sure but maybe try to clarify with them that in English the name that comes first is the personal name. Koreans can get quite confused by this, even my husband after being in Australia for years often checks with me when encountering a new name.

By: Andrew Watson

Andrew Watson — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 23:51:00 +0000

Merry Christmas! My question: why do older Korean men call Western men by their surnames? I have a couple of friends in Korea–I know I should not call them by their given names, but I was also told (by people who have stayed in Korea) that I should not call them by their surnames. Or could it be perhaps that Koreans think it is polite to call western men by their surnames–sort of upper-class British thing?I know that my Korean friends are not trying to be rude by calling me by my surname, but I’m pretty sure that it would not be right for me to call them by their surnames…