[kevin_thibedeau]

It isn't based on individual age. I know Korean cousins with a 20 year age difference where the younger one gets the honorific because his lineage is older and he's an earlier generation. They never speak Korean with each other.

[tomatowurst]

> It isn't based on individual age.

It is. you are using a special anecdotal case in a family situation (that same person would use honorifics towards their friends who are much older) to negate the rest of Korean society that uses one's age to decide who is above and below you, and the necessary honorifics. DK effect is quite laughable to see from a non-Korean.

I invite you to address your professor or sunbae or the elderly without honorifics and see their reaction. You wouldn't be able to use your race card very long.

[bmitc]

From my vast expertise (sarcasm) from watching Kpop, Korean variety shows, and Korean movies, the whole age thing is pretty rampant and adhered to, at least from those lenses. I mean, they have literal discussions while shooting regarding asking direct ages in order to speak "familiar" or not. It is pretty weird and arbitrary, especially with the way Koreans measure age.

[tomatowurst]

those media you consume are a reflection of society. koreans use honorifics with strangers until they signal they wish to communicate casually and usually its completely subjective. somebody will only differ by mere months and demand you use honorifics (bullying). somebody will differ by few years and do not enforce it. its completely subjective and adds to the stress of interaction between strangers.

[robocat]

As a low-ranking middle aged average white guy from a small 1st world country: if I go to Korea can I get a status boost?

I have seen low-rank white dudes get status upgrades in other Asian countries for a variety of reasons. One architect told me how he was hanging with high status Indonesians, and how he could name-drop NZ politicians (for example, the minister of finance) because our culture means low-rank citizens can personally know people in high-rank positions. Perhaps I can manipulate the Korean status game in my favour because my background is somewhat unmeasurable.

[tomatowurst]

No, they have a label for someone who tries to do what you described, they are called 루저벡홈 or literally "Losers back home", or typically a white person that uses their racial status exactly in the manner you described.

It might have worked in the 60s or in South East Asia but certainly will not work anymore in East Asia, especially in a hyper connected world. In fact many foreigners who achieved celebrity status by lying were quickly cancelled.

By large, a non-asian person in East Asia is largely limited to an exotic animal at the zoo. Somewhat of a novelty for kids and adults to point and laugh "wow! we have foreigners in our country speaking our language".

You would see the same response towards a monkey suddenly speaking Korean or Japanese.

[X6S1x6Okd1st]

You'd exist largely outside of the neo confucianist status structure. You'd be a foreigner in a way that is hard to understand if you've spent all your life in the heterogeneous melting pots.

I'm many cases this would apply even if you are Korean but grew up outside the hierarchy (i.e. grew up in the US)

You'd have some status as a us citizen as a white person, but it's complicated and a double edged sword

[beachy]

A better place to get a status upgrade could be the UK. A New Zillund accent doesnt really slot in anywhere in particular in the Brit class system so you are granted a kind of free pass while they work out your abilities. (Experience from last century - may have changed!).

[numpad0]

If it's same as senpai/kouhai system I'm familiar with, it only works in an organization, and either you'll carry your batch number/generation ID/year joined in that org, or you're out of the system as an age-free subject matter expert.

[spacemanmatt]

Heck of an admission, there.