Interview a South Korean

Interviewer: Thanh Dao
Interviewee: Dennis Cho

Preparation:

Dennis is a roommate of my friend in St. Cloud. I believed we will have a great conversation because I would love to know more about Korea. I have some friends from Korea when I was in High school in Wisconsin and they were always proud about their country. I rearranged some questions in order so the interview could be more fluent. I also added a few more questions I wanted to know about Korea for Dennis. He added my facebook when my friend told him that I need to interview a Korean. He seemed very nice. At first I told him to meet at library but he want to meet in Atwood. I was going to interview him on Friday so I knew Atwood will have so many events. Anyways, I said it's okay and we had a quite hard time to find a quite place in Atwood.

After the interview:

I think Dennis is very cooperative with me. Even though he didn't know a lot about the information. We had a great talk even though it's not very long but I still get many information. We laughed a lot in the interview. We did have fun and enjoy it. Now I understand more about Korean culture. My questions covered a lot of things around Korea. Sometimes he misunderstood the question so he answered it in a different way. I explained for him again and guided him to the correct way. Now I have so many more knowledge about Korea and have another friend, too.

Country report

South Korea is a sovereign state, which is located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. It has a population of 50 million and the capital - Seoul is also the largest city in South Korea with a population nearly 10 million. South Korea used to be annexed by Japan until the end of the Korean Empire in 1910. Nowadays, South Korea is one of the most developed country in Asia with many famous brands spread out all over the world like Samsung, Daewoo, LG, etc...

Most of South Korean are Buddhist and Christian. Christianity is South Korea's largest religion, accounting for more than half of all South Korean religious adherents. South Korea and North Korea share their traditional culture, but they have developed distinct contemporary forms of culture since the peninsula was divided in 1945. Since the success of the film Shiri in 1999, Korean film has begun to gain recognition internationally.South Korean mainstream culture, including televised drama, films, and popular music, also generates significant exports to various parts of the world. Many K-pop stars and groups are also well known abroad, especially in other parts of Asia.

South Korea also has a lot of famous place to visit like Seoul - the capital, Busan - a city with many beautiful beaches and Jeju island. 

"South Korea." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea>.

The interview:

Me: Hi, how are you today?
Dennis: I'm good
Me: Today I'm gonna interview you about your country - Korea. So, just tell me a little bit about yourself. How long have you been to the U.S?
Dennis: Actually this is my fourth year in America.
Me: And the first year in St. Cloud right?
Dennis: Yeah. I was in High school for three years. This is my first year in college.
Me: Okay. First I want to ask you about your family in Korea. What's the value of a family in your country?
Dennis: Om... I think is like..It's almost the same for everybody, the most important thing in our lives, and stuff...
Me: So what's your family structure like? Like the head of house...
Dennis: Actually, of course my father is the head of the house.
Me: So is it any related to gender matters?
Dennis: No.
Me: Oh so just you father is the head of house?
Dennis: Yes.
Me: So where's your hometown?
Dennis: Busan - Korea. South Korea, of course.
Me: Yeah. Is it near the capital - Seoul?
Dennis: No, it's totally opposite way of Seoul
Me: So how does your home country culture different from the U.S culture?
Dennis: Culture? Korean are really respect the elders. When we see old people, we say hi first. Even in our own language, we have different ways to say to older people and our ages. I think it's different with American.
Me: Yeah, it's similar to my country, too. So, can you tell me about the highlight in your culture? Like, what things will make people immediately think about your country? Probably like food, clothes or anything.
Dennis: Maybe it's is..crazy about study.
Me: Crazy about study?
Dennis: Yeah, like, in high school, we started at 8 o'clock in the morning, and then ended at 9pm or 10pm. And everybody thinks that study is the most important thing in our lives which is not true.
Me: Oh yeah, but I mean something like about culture...
Dennis: Culture? Actually... Clothing? I don't really know about it.
Me: Really? Like the Hanbok? (I pronounced it incorrectly)
Dennis: Hanbok?
Me: I don't know if I say it right..
Dennis: Hanbok, Hanbok...?
Me: I don't know if I say it right. I mean the traditional clothes of your country?
Dennis: Oh, Hanbok.
Me: Hanbok. Okay.
Dennis: yeah, that's the traditional clothes.
Me: Do you know any history of it?
Dennis: History? I don't know. I just know all people wear it.
Me: Oh okay. So yeah... Can you tell me a little bit about your city? Is it a big or small city?
Dennis: Oh yeah, my city - Busan is the second largest city in Korea. It's near the sea, and we many good beaches. Very pretty. We have a lot of sea food. It's really good city.
Me: Can you tell me about the music culture in your country?
Dennis: Oh, it's not really different between Korean and American music. It's kinda similar I think.
Me: Yeah I think Kpop is very popular now.
Dennis: Yeah, Kpop is popular because of pretty girls and good looking guys in it.
Me: How about marriage? Is it important in your country?
Dennis: I don't think so. These days, people change their minds. They think they don't have to marry because it will take a lot of money to grow children. So they are worried about to have a baby so they don't want to get married.
Me: So it's not important right?
Dennis: Yeah.
Me: How about gender, race/discrimination? Is it still happening in your country?
Dennis: I don't think so.
Me: It's good. So if I come to Korea, where would you suggest me to travel?
Dennis: Seoul, actually. It's the capital so you should go there actually. If we have time, we should come to Busan. Good food.
Me: Yeah, I have some friends from Seoul, too.
Dennis: I think it maybe more fun to go to Seoul, it's bigger than Busan.
Me: So... you study in the U.S since in high school right?
Dennis: Yup
Me: So you have 9 years in Korea? So can you tell me about education in your country? What's the education system in your country?
Dennis : Like what I said before, we stayed all the time at school everyday. Even in middle school we ends at 5, and in high school is at 10. Students are really crazy. Some people they get some pressure and they suicide.
Me: Stressful?
Dennis: Yeah, really stressful.
Me: In your country, do they force you to study any specific subject like...what's the most important subject in your country?
Dennis: Yeah. English and Math are the most important subjects in my country.
Me: Do students have to wear uniform everyday at school?
Dennis: Yup yup.
Me: Every school?
Dennis: I'm pretty sure 100%.
Me: So.. Do you like it?
Dennis: Before, when I was in Korea, I really hate it, but now I'm in America, so I don't really care about it.
Me: But when you're in Korea, do you hate it?
Dennis: yeah, kinda. yeah.
Me: You can;t wear short or flip flop to school right?
Dennis: No, we cannot.
Me: Do a lot of people get a chance to attend college in your country?
Dennis: Ughh..sure.
Me: Everybody has the chance
Dennis: Yeah. But they don't want to go to bad college so they just don't apply for it but they have chances.
Me: Let's talk about food. What's the famous foods in your country?
Dennis: Kimchi, bulgogi, galbi,...
Me: Oh can you write it down for me?
Dennis: Okay.
Me: There's a lot right...
Dennis: yeah
Me: I like kimchi, too... Do you still have it when you come to the U.S? Do you still make it?
Dennis: I don't know how to make it but I can buy it in the Asian store.
Me: Where is it?
Dennis: I don't know... The Vietnamese store.
Me: Oh the Viettien?
Dennis: Yeah yeah yeah.
Me: Okay. So what food do you think is the best?
Dennis: Uhmm I think bulgogi is the best.
Me: Is it spicy?
Dennis: It's not spicy. It's the beef. It's really good. It has special sauce
Me: Do most people in your country eat spicy?
Dennis: Yeah a lot
Me: Do you like spicy?
Dennis: I like spicy but I can't eat the really spicy food.
Me: Me too. So can you tell me top 3 social past time/ hobbies in your country? Like what sports do you usually play?
Dennis: We love to play soccer. But we don't play football like America. And these days people like baseball. In my city we love baseball. And basketball is okay.
Me: Do you like any sport?
Dennis: I play soccer.
Me: That's good. Do you think people in your country generally reserve when meeting new people? Are they friendly?
Dennis: I don't know. I think it's personal thing. It depends on each person. For me, I'm not really friendly to new people. When I'm close, I'm really friendly. But I'm not really.
Me: So do they limit the children each couple have?
Dennis: Can?
Me: Like...as many as you want?
Dennis: yeah, as many as you want. There's no limit for that.
Me: So do you know which age is considered adult in your country?
Dennis: 19.
Me: At that age you can move out or still stay home with your parents?
Dennis: You can move out when you're 18.
Me: 18 or 19?
Dennis: Ah...19. You can drink, you can smoke, whatever you want.
Me: So you can't drink or smoke at 18? Go to pub or?
Dennis: I think if they want, they can do it. They cannot buy it you know...
Me: Oh you have to have ID to buy it?
Dennis: Yeah.
Me: Do you think people in your country are hard workers?
Dennis: Um..kinda..maybe..haha I think... I'm not sure. I'm not a hard worker so I don't know.
Me: What are the different religions in your country? Do you have many religions?
Dennis: yeah, we have most of religions. Like Buddhism, Catholic... We have everything.
Me: So what's the predominant religion in your country?
Dennis: I would say Buddhism. I think so. Maybe
Me: What's your religion?
Dennis: I don't have religion but my parents, they believe in Buddhism.
Me: Let's talk about some special occasions in your country. What are some holidays you celebrate in Korea?
Dennis: Like out own holiday? Or general?
Me: Ah, like your own holiday.
Dennis: August 15th. That's the day we're independent from Japan. We celebrate it.
Me: How do you celebrate it? Do you have fireworks or you just have a day off?
Dennis: Yeah, just a day off.
Me: Can you tell me what things you do not like about your country? And something you like?
Dennis: What I don't like is...um..
Me: Study too much?
Dennis: Study too much, and then boys have to go to the army when they're after 18.
Me: Do you have to go?
Dennis: I have to go.
Me: Did you?
Dennis: Did I? No, I will. Next January
Me: So you have to come back to Korea?
Dennis: Yeah I will go back to December 24th, this year. I just stay here for the first semester and come back to Korean and come back later.
Me: How long you have to go?
Dennis: 2 years. It s...ks..
Me: Can you me about what do you feel proud of?
Dennis: Proud of? Ughhhh
Me: Korean culture spreads out all over the world.
Dennis: Oh, Kpop. I'm really proud of it. A lot of people they like it. Even the Gangnam style. I didn't know it's gonna be that famous. I'm really proud of him.
Me: And also Korean food too...
Dennis: Oh yeah?
Me: Okay, alright. Thank you so much for the interview.
Dennis: Thank you.

MY RECORD