Koreans: “Hot Tempered, Yet Warm-Hearted People”

Canadian forces that participated in the Korean War described Koreans as a hot-tempered, yet warm-hearted people who are easily offended and don’t want to lose face.

To commemorate the 57th anniversary of the Korean War, “Korea,” a guidebook published in 1951 by the Canadian Ministry of National Defense for soldiers dispatched to Korea, was made public by Kim Byung-sun, the co-chairman of the Rose of Sharon Association through the Canadian edition of the Korea Times. The 40-some page booklet tells the history and cultural background of Korea and the characteristics of its people with illustrations.

Kim paid a dime in 1975 to purchase the illustrated booklet at a flea market near Toronto.

It says that Koreans have small frames, high cheekbones, flat noses, and thick eyebrows. It also says that Koreans may have wives and concubines, and husbands may tell them to go back to their parents’ house if they dislike them.

In addition, it introduces Canadians to Korea’s smoking culture with an illustration, saying, “Korean boys do not smoke before their fathers.” It also explains that Koreans like fish because meat is in short supply. It also says that Korea’s staple food, rice with kimchi, is too hot to swallow.