The Korean Chinese
I was born and raised in China, so I am undoubtedly Chinese. However, what makes me a bit different is my ethnicity—I am Korean, and we are known as Korean Chinese. My hometown is a unique place in China where two main cultures coexist: Chinese and Korean. Both languages are officially recognized, and all street signs must be written in both Chinese and Korean.
(Images are from online)
The Influence of Korean Culture on Me
Growing up in my hometown, I primarily spoke Korean and was immersed in Korean culture. However, that doesn’t mean I am unfamiliar with traditional Chinese culture. I speak both Korean and Chinese natively and deeply understand both cultures because I am Korean Chinese.
That being said, the situation has changed significantly over the years. Many younger Korean Chinese people, for example, those born after 2010, may no longer speak Korean. But that’s a different story—one that doesn’t necessarily reflect my own experience.
When I refer to “Korean culture,” I mean the Korean culture within my hometown in China. I was raised with strong values of modesty, respect, and hierarchy in communication. Combined with my naturally calm and cautious personality, this sometimes makes me appear serious or less expressive because such a culture encourages maintaining some distance from others when you are not really familiar with them.
However, that doesn’t mean I’m cold, unhappy, or indifferent. I simply grew up greeting people more formally, and my personality reinforces that. I am aware that I can sometimes come across as too serious, even when I don’t intend to be. So if you ever see me with a serious expression for no apparent reason, don’t hesitate to say hello—I’ll greet you with a smile. And actually, my smile is pretty bright! That being said, you don’t need to expect me to be serious when we greet each other because I’m aware of it and see it as something I need to improve.
The Actual Serious Side of Me
In everyday life, I may appear serious, but I’m actually quite kind—you might even see me smiling often. However, when it comes to work, my demeanor shifts; I become noticeably more serious and rarely smile. The contrast between my work and personal self is striking. I’m not sure if this is due to my job being too demanding, the fact that it has no connection to my university major, or simply my natural tendency to take work seriously. Regardless of the role, I approach my job with a strong sense of responsibility, no matter what kind of job it is, and I sometimes wonder if I would be still very serious and rarely smile in a different workplace or job position.
I’ve also realized that I tend to be quite strict when training new employees. While I try to be considerate during breaks, I maintain high standards during work hours until they fully adapt and become competent. Over time, I’ve realized that, despite thinking of myself as lenient with myself, I actually tend to be strict with myself, which I hadn’t fully realized before, and this also extends to how I am strict with new employees.
Although I make an effort to be understanding and lenient with others in my personal life, this strictness inevitably shows in my work. That said, I don’t regret being firm with new hires, as many trial employees either lack the necessary work ethic or fail to meet performance expectations. Setting high standards is essential; otherwise, the bar will only keep lowering and lead to disaster later. At the same time, while I recognize the benefits of being strict with myself, I have also realized the downsides it brings to me.
Living in Canada
After graduating from high school in China, I moved to Canada to attend university. Now, after living here for many years, I also speak English. My name, Guangxun Jin, isn’t particularly unique worldwide—but I’m the one living in Winnipeg.
I speak Chinese, Korean, and English, so feel free to communicate with me in any of these languages.