well, yes. I mean I'm not korean, but in my country, it's kind of similar? like seniority is still a big thing, especially if it's an alumni or seniors with more than 2 year gap. I mean if it's turning into a big thing, ofc others will act, but as long as they're just being "annoying", we can't really say anything straightforward to them. just try to avoid them, or maybe try to smoothly separate them from the person that they were targeting
You got that right, it is heavily a cultural thing. When put in words in black and white on the paper in the 21st century it sounds incredibly ridiculous but that is the sad reality. This nature can be observed in countries with Confucian influence including Korea (and my country), it is a really conservative view that Korea is notorious for in keeping the hierarchy. So in this case it can easily turn into something like 'questioning and rebelling' against the hiearchy that 'everyone ' is in. So then they become rebels that also defy the society. Let's say someone calls the sunbae out and he tells other sunbaes that the dude is defying him (just because of "small things") and that equals to defying all the sunbaes in the country and then it spirals into them being someone that do not respect elders at all. And easily so, that came back and bit them in the butt because everyone would rather keep the peace being in the hierarchy bubble rather than be "rebels" with you.
This is might sound a bit extreme, but for example my mom misunderstood something important in which I tried to help her understand the situation not necessarily calling her wrong but neither accepting her opinion. She took it as though I am questioning her authority. After that she said I am impudent and rude, and if we were in our home country that wouldn't fly and she would slap me (beat me up) for my behaviour. In which of course I replied with that if she really intends to slap me for this then she cannot blame me for slapping her back as I am an adult woman not a child under her care but she is under my care and her being my mother does not give her an authority to beat me up just because she wants to and also threaten me about it.
Had I been in my home country everyone would have called me unfilial and my mom is a victim here and I am the big bad wolf for being the misbehaving spoilt child. Just because in the hierarchy stand of point, she stands higher, especially in the confucian learning. If I was in my home country I would say the same thing even though nobody would support me because I am willing to fight and stand for myself, but that is not always the case for everyone is it? Had I been younger without any income and place to live, I wouldn't either.
very insightful, thank you
i come from an asian country where confucianism is not a thing, which is why this felt insane to read.
ps the way you stood up for yourself was amazing, i also wish to be a cool adult like you
maybe it's a cultural thing, but I really don't understand this sort of pussyfooting. He's being annoying, and everyone feels uncomfortable, yet everyone says nothing and lets him loose just to what, avoid conflict and save face?