Beards and why they make you look dirty (Korean men and facial hair)
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009Facial hair in Korea.
First, let’s take a look at some background source material. A selection from the American literary classic: A Brief History of My Face by Matthew.
I’m a hairy guy. I’ve resisted this natural protein growth by shaving, plucking, waxing and zapping my way to relative hairlessness in order to attract the opposite sex. I’ve endured scalding hot burns, embarrassing ingrown hair blemishes, and unspeakable pain as I have journeyed to a discover the perfect balance between ‘naked-mole-rat’ and ‘rocky-mountain-man’. I’ve spent an innumerable amount of precious funds on razors, trimmers, creams, gels, lotions, and toners all in a vain effort to control my undying masculine mane.
But now, I shave my entire face slowly and shamefully. I die a little inside with each calculated drag of Gillette’s finest across my face. Lather. Repeat.
Where did I go astray? Why not just let it all
hanggrow out? When did I become such a sellout?
Believe it or not, in my death metal early 20s heyday I was a member of a hardcore rock band. We produced several albums; two of which I was the singer. Facial hair was a part of the tough, post-emo ‘yeah he’s dirty but at least he’s clean enough to take a shower’ look. I was old man winter. Like a carpenter, I was proud of my work. I cared for it, shampooed it, brushed it and cradled it to sleep. I loved it and it loved me.
But then I had to go and move to Korea.
Suddenly, my fierce furry follicles were no longer miniature objects of sexual desire. No, they were now tell-tale signs of homelessness. If it wasn’t already painfully clear, I now had “외국인” all over my well-carpeted face. I sported the Korean equivalent of a facial mullet. I was a dirty, swine-flu carrying foreigner. I was doing something bad. I was expected to purge myself of these epidermic sins.
So now I cleanse myself of all facial sins three times a week. Sometimes more if I’ve been really evil.
But don’t think for a moment that I’ve lost my edge. Dude, I’m still sooo hardcore. I mean sometimes on the weekends, I even let my facial hair grow out until Sunday night. But you should see it when I shave it. It’s like mad burly. Until bedtime at 8pm after I drink a tall glass of soymilk, I’m rocking out a full millimeter of facial hair. Take that, society.
Yeah. I’m a rebel. I still got it. Just don’t tell my girlfriend.
Classic reading material, isn’t it?
But not everyone buys into it. It’s not that facial hair is completely devoid in Korea it’s just that it’s mostly devoid in Korea.
Some believe it’s due to the simple fact that Koreans are less hairy than Westerners. Others believe that due to social constraints, Koreans are pressured to shave in order to fit into the norm. Others just believe that facial hair is dirty looking.
While there’s certainly no data to back this up, I would guess that some American women like facial hair while others prefer a clean-shaven guy. Perhaps 50/50. Others may even tolerate a full forest of gruff and call it “nice”. Others might puke in their mouth. The difference is that instead of only some American women puking in their own mouths at the sight of questionable chin growth, most Korean women have already puked and are looking for a towel.
The real point here is that Koreans tend to look at facial hair slightly differently than Americans. Where some facial hair might be acceptable in a professional setting, it’s seen as unrefined here. Where a thick man-forest of cheek hair might be a symbol of pure studliness in the states, you just look decrepit in Korea. This shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for most businesspeople. Some American company dress codes require a professional demeanor at all times; to include a fuzz-free face. Also, you should look like you don’t sleep underneath a bridge at night.
So, my fellow hairily confident foreigners, I ask you: what are we to do? Fall in line and recreate a facial version of a baby’s bottom? Or are we doomed to rock out with our hair out? Won’t we look like fuzzy freaks, though?
Well, to those of you thinking that facial hair has a place in Korea, I offer you these fine gentlemen. Surely this is how we must look.
So, the next time you ask your significant other “면도 해야할거 같아?”, you’ll understand if she hands you the razor with glee. It’s not because she’s madly in love with you. It’s because you looked like a bum.
To get into the more hairy parts of this topic, I suggest this fantastically funny 2005 paper, a interesting post from the walrus blog, and of course everyone’s favorite 교포 has covered this and plenty more at AAK.
Thoughts?
Posted by Matthew in How Koreans Do It |
October 13th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
[…] Beards and why they make you look dirty (Korean men and facial hair) […]
October 13th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
It’s funny this came up because I just started growing mine out. In my hagwon days, the day I walked in where I figured I should shave but was too lazy or didn’t have time, was the day that my coworkers and students would at least notice my facial hair. They didn’t tell me to shave it however, but I did anyway.
My buddy on the other hand, at the same hagwon at the same time, grew out a beard. Everyday the students and the teachers would tell him to shave it, in a nice way of course.
Another friend of mine kept his beard after his school told him to shave it. They were pissed and he told them off regarding his personal choices. He retained his job and his beard.
I don’t care about the Korean perspectives that you have mentioned, unless someone really lets me have it at work. I’m a teacher. They know I’m a teacher. My status is already known so the beard is just peculiar. I’m really doing it just for fun anyway, to see the reactions. When I enter my classes I see the students touch their faces as they look at mine. South Korea is a ‘free’ country after all, isn’t it?
October 13th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I like your response Peter. As a woman here I don’t have this problem. But I don’t wear make up or high heels. I never get a what you should wear lecture here.
Really what can they do?
As for Korean men and facial hair I wish my bf would grow a little beard to look like those guys in the Korean dramas during the Chosun dynasty. so sexy!
I like facial hair. I think it gives a guy character. Of course it should be neatly trimmed though.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
People and their prejudices. I quickly counter this nonsense by pulling up a picture of Jesus and ask these fools if they would demand that he shave or whip out a 10,000 won note (when in South Korea) and ask if they would demand that this “great” king shave.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:53 am
Well, I prefer guys without a beard 99% of the time… and it’s not like I don’t do my fair share of shaving. What are the trends about women’s body hair in Korea?
October 14th, 2009 at 8:49 am
@ Peter - thanks for the insight! I love hearing stories like this~ I’m also considering to grow out a ‘chock value’ beard but I’m not sure if I’ve been here long enough to cause a healthy amount of trouble without actually causing trouble. But I usually do grow out a Santa beard every winter…
@ John - I’d imagine that in Sejong’s time, a beard was a symbol of something dignified. It’s interesting how times have changed. Perhaps over time, the beard will make its way back into popular trends. Until then, as you pointed out, there will be prejudices against it.
@ Chriss - Women’s body hair? hmm…how to tackle this subject without sounding creepy…. 흠. I think I’ll leave that someone else ㅋㅋ
October 15th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Matt I don’t usually laugh at peoples blogs, nor take the time to read all of it.. But I did when I read yours, you’re an entertaining writer with interesting choices of words! and I don’t usually respond to threads, I just read what others say and agree or disagree as I’m chain-smoking cigarrettes. But, I have valuable info I think for this topic. I have not shaved once during my contract and I’m almost finished (yes I know, it’s a big accomplishment). The key is to start our contracts unshaven and be consistent with our dirtiness. That way, they don’t expect us to be clean-shaved, they expect the former. So when we do shave, it’s slightly uncomfortable for them because they are so used to it the other way. A similar concept like Pavlov’s conditioning. Having it trimmed is important though. So yes, let’s be fuzzy freaks, and be true to our funky follicles~
October 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Matthew, well it would sure be fun seeing you try! ㅋㅋㅋ ^ ^
October 15th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
@ kyle - I thank you for your kind words and your input. Frankly the idea of a year long beard both disgusts me while simultaneously makes me completely green with envy. I seriously wish I had the cajones to do it but alas the most rebellious I get is when I don’t separate plastic from cardboard. Take that, Earth.
@ chriss - I’ve never backed down from a dare that that pretty much seemed like a dare….we shall see
October 18th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
As a purely aesthetic observation, Korean men just look better without facial hair. I had a male Korean friend last year who was about 20 years old. He had very boyish features, yet for a while, he decided he would try to grow some facial hair. I didn’t think my Korean was tactful enough to explain to him how silly and wispy it looked, so I kept quiet, and just complimented him when he finally decided to shave it.
He was kind of the rebellious type, so I have a feeling he was doing it out of “Take that, social norms” motives rather than for aesthetic reasons. But yeah, it was unflattering, to say the least.
I suppose some Korean men can pull off facial hair better than others, but for both aesthetic and business/job reasons, most just choose to shave it off.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
well i gotta say im totally against
removing your facial hair (for guys, duuh)
of course not including trims and what not
dont make it look dirty if u follow that then
your beard is fine! and im against removing it!
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:18 am
Are you guys kidding me? I’m a Korean and I’ve got an old fashioned fu-manchu (but it’s a full beard except the sides…it doesn’t grow there). Everyone says it’s hardcore.
Actually I grew mine because of Leviticus 19 as a Torah observant Bible student of Korean descent.
No one bothers me about it. I’m a professional engineer and I go into meetings with this beard hanging down to my chest. No one forgets me either…so it’s a good networking tool - I suppose.
I’m also a husband and father of four! My wife gave me grief for two years, but since I gave it a little trim =( she has stopped nagging.
So be brave and grow it like they used to in the Shilla kingdom! Boys, let’s bring it back!
Chang-Ho
December 13th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Ok you guys have me convinced, I’m keeping the beard. I was a bit worried because when I wondered this same thing in Amsterdam I was told I look like a bum. Now I feel that I can count on the general feeling of agreeableness in Korea towards my beard. But I can’t help to think that eventually I will feel like that one guy who finally realizes he is the only one wearing a speedo on an American beach.
Now that I think about it I should actually be more worried about the Marines whose children I will be teaching. Most of my interaction with them has involved suggestions to remove “that crap” from my face. I normally consider this a challenge though. I like to think of it as an unstoppable force meeting a beautifully bearded immoveable object.
This should be interesting though. I will see which compels me to shave more; the passiveness of Korean culture slowly pushing me to beard awkwardness or the Marines frontal assault on my facial follicles.