Wednesday, June 14, 2006

CULTURE: Sex & Soccer

People ask me how Korea is different from the U.S. Here are two examples that I've come across recently:

SOCCER
United States. I couldn't watch the 1st U.S. World Cup soccer game because it was only on ESPN2. Not even regular ESPN. The U.S. lost 3-0 to the Czech Republic. From George Bush to ESPN, Americans just aren't into the world scene. We do our own thing. I'm glad we at least go to the Olympics.

(We think we watch the "World Series" every year as the MLB season comes to a close, but when there was a true World Series (World Baseball Classic), the U.S. team of pros didn't even make it into the semi-finals.)

South Korea. Korea came to a stop to watch their first match against Togo, which Korea won 2-1. Charissa watched the game at a friend's house, and witnessed a middle-aged father dance around the living room and shake his booty each time the Korean team scored. Angela watched the game (kind of) in downtown Seoul with a huge crowd. Across Korea stadiums were filled with fans watching the late night game on the large screens. Millions of them. Mad house. Amazing.

SEX
The June 2006 edition of Men's Health presented some highlights from their global sex survey. For what it's worth, here are the only two parts that included Koreans:

Number of times per week the average man has sex:
1. Korea (4.50 times)
17. United States (2.95 times)
World Average: 2.8 times

Percentage of Men who've paid for sex:
1. Korea (42%)
18. United States (17%)
World Average: 21%

CONCLUSION
For better or for worse, Koreans love sex and soccer, and Americans can't turn off their reality shows and Desperate Housewives (4.6 hours of TV per day for the average U.S. adult). Those are just two of the infinite number of ways that life in each country is different. Now you know.

p.s. Another difference: When was the last time you saw a crowd in the U.S. clean up their trash after an event? Check out the pile of trash in Angela's blog. After watching the World Cup match, they worked together to clean up the area around City Hall.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I saw the game from the middle of Wonju stadium!! Again, crazy to see what seemed like the whole city of Wonju (400,000) watching the game on big screen in one spot!!!

now, if they had all been having sex and watching the game at the same time?

that would have been sumthin'

Anonymous said...

also check this guy out. . .

http://www.barthphoto.com/index.htm

Angela said...

i think this post is very interesting. that's all i wanted to say.

and i don't think koreans would mix their sex with soccer. they'd miss too much of the game. after the game, i'm sure, is a different story.

trying to be comfortable, really trying.

Angela said...

all right. i have posted.