At a glance: 30+ ways to differenciate between peoples in Korea and Japan.
Having lived for an extended period in both Korea and Japan, people have asked me on several occasions if I can tell the difference between both peoples on sight. In response to that, (and more or less as an act of intellectual masturbation), I decided to write out all the different ways that I've come to tell the two peoples apart, and then publish the list on this blog.
I don't think there's anything in here that either side will find to be offensive, but if anyone notices anything, I would appreciate their saying so. Also, in reading it, please keep in mind that these are simply generalizations based on observation. I didn't do any research into this, and as is always the case with describing people, there are always exceptions to be found.
Also, please keep in mind that 3 out of these 4 categories are only directly relevant in their respective countries. Fashion generalizations, as with Body Type and Mannerisms, can (and almost always are) modified by the country one lives in, regardless of what nationality we may be. I know I, for one, have picked up all kinds of mannerisms from both Koreans and Japanese people, and if it wasn't for the fact that I'm a 6' 2" black male, I might have ended up being mistaken for either. At least my Korean and Japanese friends seem to think so.
In any event, the hardest group I've found to differenciate are Koreans raised in Japan, but even so, a lot of the criterion for faces and body types still hold true. In riding the trains in Tokyo, I still see enough and can differenciate enough Koreans (which I can verify once I hear which language comes out of their mouth) that I feel comfortable publishing my thoughts on it. Who knows how many I may be silently missing though. Anyway, keeping all that in mind, I hope that you all enjoy reading this list, and may, in some way, find it helpful.
Facial Features:
1) Insomuch as I've seen, between the two, outwardly curved nose bridges are only found on Japanese people. Both peoples occasionally have freckles, but I've seen them much more commonly (and much more pronounced) on Japanese people.
2) Koreans tend to have higher cheek bones and flatter faces. Japanese faces are generally rounder. (Although not always).
3) The epicanthal folds around the eyes tend to be more pronounced in Koreans, making their eyes, on average, appear narrower. Japanese people tend to have rounder eyes and also larger pupils.
4) In Korean eyes, the upper epicanthal fold comes down to meet the lower fold in the inside corner of the eye (as opposed to the lower fold coming up to meet the upper fold across the median of the eye), giving the inside edge of the eyes of Koreans a really distinct curving "wedge" shape.
5) As a function of this unique shape, when many Koreans smile, the shape of the eyelids makes an upward curve that peaks in the center of the pupil.
(*And interestingly enough, For those of you who have ever seen a traditional smiling Korean mask, this is how the eyes are always portrayed)
6) Also, in Koreans there is an extra crease along the lower outside of the eyes that is also distinctive. I have seen that feature on some Japanese people, although not nearly as commonly or as pronounced.
7) As a function of the amount of tea that people drink, browning of the teeth is more common in Japan.
8) Raised Canines are more commonly seen in Japan.
Mannerisms:
1) Culturally, as a function of the percieved importance of social harmony, Japanese people tend to be outwardly less emotionally expressive around people who they know, but not very well. Particularly when it comes to negative emotions. At the same time however, they can very expressive around total strangers (i.e. 'outgroup' people who's opinions are of no relavance) or very very close friends (in-group). Koreans (much like Westerners) are generally quite expressive regardless of who is watching.
2) In addition to this, the Japanese style of communication is usually quite indirect, and requires a lot of reading between the lines, while Koreans tend to be quite expressive about their full range of emotions.
3) Koreans are generally more outwardly physically affectionate, whereas Japanese tend towards being much more reserved in public.
4) Koreans friends (both Men and Women) tend to hold hands a lot. Oftentimes as they are walking along, and or when talking to each other. In Japan, although one does see couples holding hands from time to time it's not common, and for friends it's even more rare.
5) Koreans tend to drag out the last final syllables more when they speak.
6) Japanese people move their mouths much less.
7) Koreans tend not to be offended at getting poked fun at, and can see humor in their eccentrisities. Japanese people tend to be much more serious about their outward appearance.
8) Although in both countries, people tilt their head when they are confused, in Korea, that tilt is usually accompanied with a hissing sound as the breath is drawn in through the teeth. In Japan, it is usually accompanied with the word 'a-re?' spoken in a short breath.
9) The sense of privacy is also quite different between the two countries. Koreans seem to absolutely share everything, but as a function of that, there is little in the idea of privacy. In Japan although when in groups of friends, they share everything, much like in the west there are very well defined limits to what is shared and what isn't.
Body Type:
1) Koreans tend to be taller and thicker (I'm assuming as a function of the fact that they eat more protein). Japanese tend to be a little shorter, and thinner.
2) Japanese people tend to have thicker legs and longer torsos than Koreans.
3) Koreans have wider feet.
4) Some Japanese tend to have more body hair. (which I'm guessing is a result of having a mixed ancestry with the indiginous inuit people who were actually caucasian- which I'm guessing is also why they tend to have bigger eyes)
5) The funny thing about this however, is that as a function of the fact that they don't have much, Korean men tend to admire body hair. Japanese men don't.
6) As a function of their diet (i.e. the fact that they tend to eat much more garlic, and saltier foods)Koreans tend to have a stronger natural body odor than Japanese people do. (Which I don't mean as 'BO' or in any negative sense whatsoever).
7) Again as a function of the difference in diet, (Korean food is a lot saltier)people in Korea will at times have a faint white residue left on their clothing after sweating. (Although for the most part, you can only see on dark clothing).
8) Bowed legs and pigeon toes (the latter especially in women) are much more common in Japan.
Fashion:
1) Koreans tend to wear baggier, looser fitting clothes. (both men and women). Japanese people tend to wear much closer fitting styles.
2) Japanese men tweeze and shape their eyebrows. Korean men don't.
3) On average, Younger Japanese women wear higher heels (and shorter skirts) than Korean women. (Which I'm guessing is a function of the fact that they are shorter and they do so elongate their figures. (Not that I mind that or anything ;)
4) Koreans tend more towards wearing their hair in it's natural color, whereas dying hair is much much more common in Japan.
5) Also, when they do die hair, People living in Korea tend to do so in streaks, whereas in Japan, it's much more common to die hair uniformily.
6) Korean women, when wearing their hair in buns, do so with a bun on the back of their head, and the 'scrunchies' they use (if that's what those things are called), tend to be more elaborate and/or formal looking.
Young Japanese women usually use a simple rubberband, (if anything at all), and make the bun by winding the hair around itself. Also, more often than not, they make the bun on the top of their head instead of the back.
7) 'Funky' and/or alternative clothing styles are more common in Japan than in Korea.
I don't think there's anything in here that either side will find to be offensive, but if anyone notices anything, I would appreciate their saying so. Also, in reading it, please keep in mind that these are simply generalizations based on observation. I didn't do any research into this, and as is always the case with describing people, there are always exceptions to be found.
Also, please keep in mind that 3 out of these 4 categories are only directly relevant in their respective countries. Fashion generalizations, as with Body Type and Mannerisms, can (and almost always are) modified by the country one lives in, regardless of what nationality we may be. I know I, for one, have picked up all kinds of mannerisms from both Koreans and Japanese people, and if it wasn't for the fact that I'm a 6' 2" black male, I might have ended up being mistaken for either. At least my Korean and Japanese friends seem to think so.
In any event, the hardest group I've found to differenciate are Koreans raised in Japan, but even so, a lot of the criterion for faces and body types still hold true. In riding the trains in Tokyo, I still see enough and can differenciate enough Koreans (which I can verify once I hear which language comes out of their mouth) that I feel comfortable publishing my thoughts on it. Who knows how many I may be silently missing though. Anyway, keeping all that in mind, I hope that you all enjoy reading this list, and may, in some way, find it helpful.
Facial Features:
1) Insomuch as I've seen, between the two, outwardly curved nose bridges are only found on Japanese people. Both peoples occasionally have freckles, but I've seen them much more commonly (and much more pronounced) on Japanese people.
2) Koreans tend to have higher cheek bones and flatter faces. Japanese faces are generally rounder. (Although not always).
3) The epicanthal folds around the eyes tend to be more pronounced in Koreans, making their eyes, on average, appear narrower. Japanese people tend to have rounder eyes and also larger pupils.
4) In Korean eyes, the upper epicanthal fold comes down to meet the lower fold in the inside corner of the eye (as opposed to the lower fold coming up to meet the upper fold across the median of the eye), giving the inside edge of the eyes of Koreans a really distinct curving "wedge" shape.
5) As a function of this unique shape, when many Koreans smile, the shape of the eyelids makes an upward curve that peaks in the center of the pupil.
(*And interestingly enough, For those of you who have ever seen a traditional smiling Korean mask, this is how the eyes are always portrayed)
6) Also, in Koreans there is an extra crease along the lower outside of the eyes that is also distinctive. I have seen that feature on some Japanese people, although not nearly as commonly or as pronounced.
7) As a function of the amount of tea that people drink, browning of the teeth is more common in Japan.
8) Raised Canines are more commonly seen in Japan.
Mannerisms:
1) Culturally, as a function of the percieved importance of social harmony, Japanese people tend to be outwardly less emotionally expressive around people who they know, but not very well. Particularly when it comes to negative emotions. At the same time however, they can very expressive around total strangers (i.e. 'outgroup' people who's opinions are of no relavance) or very very close friends (in-group). Koreans (much like Westerners) are generally quite expressive regardless of who is watching.
2) In addition to this, the Japanese style of communication is usually quite indirect, and requires a lot of reading between the lines, while Koreans tend to be quite expressive about their full range of emotions.
3) Koreans are generally more outwardly physically affectionate, whereas Japanese tend towards being much more reserved in public.
4) Koreans friends (both Men and Women) tend to hold hands a lot. Oftentimes as they are walking along, and or when talking to each other. In Japan, although one does see couples holding hands from time to time it's not common, and for friends it's even more rare.
5) Koreans tend to drag out the last final syllables more when they speak.
6) Japanese people move their mouths much less.
7) Koreans tend not to be offended at getting poked fun at, and can see humor in their eccentrisities. Japanese people tend to be much more serious about their outward appearance.
8) Although in both countries, people tilt their head when they are confused, in Korea, that tilt is usually accompanied with a hissing sound as the breath is drawn in through the teeth. In Japan, it is usually accompanied with the word 'a-re?' spoken in a short breath.
9) The sense of privacy is also quite different between the two countries. Koreans seem to absolutely share everything, but as a function of that, there is little in the idea of privacy. In Japan although when in groups of friends, they share everything, much like in the west there are very well defined limits to what is shared and what isn't.
Body Type:
1) Koreans tend to be taller and thicker (I'm assuming as a function of the fact that they eat more protein). Japanese tend to be a little shorter, and thinner.
2) Japanese people tend to have thicker legs and longer torsos than Koreans.
3) Koreans have wider feet.
4) Some Japanese tend to have more body hair. (which I'm guessing is a result of having a mixed ancestry with the indiginous inuit people who were actually caucasian- which I'm guessing is also why they tend to have bigger eyes)
5) The funny thing about this however, is that as a function of the fact that they don't have much, Korean men tend to admire body hair. Japanese men don't.
6) As a function of their diet (i.e. the fact that they tend to eat much more garlic, and saltier foods)Koreans tend to have a stronger natural body odor than Japanese people do. (Which I don't mean as 'BO' or in any negative sense whatsoever).
7) Again as a function of the difference in diet, (Korean food is a lot saltier)people in Korea will at times have a faint white residue left on their clothing after sweating. (Although for the most part, you can only see on dark clothing).
8) Bowed legs and pigeon toes (the latter especially in women) are much more common in Japan.
Fashion:
1) Koreans tend to wear baggier, looser fitting clothes. (both men and women). Japanese people tend to wear much closer fitting styles.
2) Japanese men tweeze and shape their eyebrows. Korean men don't.
3) On average, Younger Japanese women wear higher heels (and shorter skirts) than Korean women. (Which I'm guessing is a function of the fact that they are shorter and they do so elongate their figures. (Not that I mind that or anything ;)
4) Koreans tend more towards wearing their hair in it's natural color, whereas dying hair is much much more common in Japan.
5) Also, when they do die hair, People living in Korea tend to do so in streaks, whereas in Japan, it's much more common to die hair uniformily.
6) Korean women, when wearing their hair in buns, do so with a bun on the back of their head, and the 'scrunchies' they use (if that's what those things are called), tend to be more elaborate and/or formal looking.
Young Japanese women usually use a simple rubberband, (if anything at all), and make the bun by winding the hair around itself. Also, more often than not, they make the bun on the top of their head instead of the back.
7) 'Funky' and/or alternative clothing styles are more common in Japan than in Korea.
posted by Chuck at 6:31 AM
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