Bag carrying Korean men

by Betchay on April 10, 2009









My husband would sometimes carry my purse. Not all the time and only when I carry our son. However, he’s a true gentleman who would open doors for me (and other women as well) and would help an elderly with a luggage.

Anyway, Korean men carrying their wives’ or gf’s purse isn’t an extraordinary sight in Seoul (don’t know about other places here). My husband wouldn’t normally carry my bag when I’m not carrying our son; but I find it amusing that some men would take the bags of their partners even when the latter aren’t carrying anything.

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^^ I took the photo last year, 2008.04.20, in Namsan – still spring and the lady’s wearing short shorts!

bag2.jpg
^^ This was last Sunday, 2009.04.05 at the parking space of the National Theatre of Korea in Namsan. Our son was asleep while my husband was jogging.

bag4.jpg
^^ Last Wednesday, 2009.04.08 while I was going down the mountain (Namsan).

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^^ Last Wednesday, 2009.04.08 on my way to Namsan Cherry Blossom Festival.


{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

Emma April 10, 2009 at 9:06 pm

Hi Betch! You know what’s funny..? Chris carries my purse most of the time, even if I’m not carrying anything. I don’t know, he just offers to carry it for me. ^^ Pero lately, he has this rule na he wouldn’t carry my bag if he’s wearing coat and tie, parang di daw kasi bagay. ^^

Emmas last blog post..In Memoriam.

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eden April 10, 2009 at 9:10 pm

I’m impressed, ate! How did you get those clear shots? Ang hirap pag tao ang subject baka kung ano isipin nung ibang tao when you take other people’s pics. Hidden cam ba? kkkkkk

edens last blog post..Korean Men

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wendy April 10, 2009 at 10:24 pm

my gay doctor friend once remarked he’s going to have a girlfriend so he can carry a bag. LOL.

wendys last blog post..Remembering Nick Joaquin

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trisha April 10, 2009 at 11:38 pm

i guess it really is part of korean culture.when i was watching the kdrama witch yoo hee, i was wondering why the main character was always carrying a purse.now i know. thats good that they r gentlemen.

btw, i love ur blog.how nice is it being a pinay in korea?is korean hard to learn?i’m a pinay too.lol.

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yen April 11, 2009 at 1:01 am

so i noticed when i was in korea last year. the guys carry the ladies’ handbag. : )

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anne April 11, 2009 at 1:36 am

Hi te betch.

My husband does it but I don’t like the idea, except if Im carrying a lot of stuff.

But I think, mas grabe sa Pinas especially among students. Men usually carry the purse of their girls. according to my male friends, it’s like saying ” hey, she’s my girl”

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cher April 11, 2009 at 1:42 am

bwahahahha…nice pics….my husband would carry my bag too if i’m sick(which is often…kkkk), when i was pregnant and when i’m carrying the baby. he would always complain about how heavy my bag is(electronic dictionary, big wet tissue, umbrella, pocket book….mostly girl scout stuff….but absolutely no kikay stuff….bwahahahaha).

chers last blog post..Cancerous Baby Powders

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reijene April 11, 2009 at 1:50 am

husband doesn’t carry bags, he carries the babies! and if we were to go out without our kids… i don’t carry bags. i don’t like bags. =)

reijenes last blog post..25 Random Things About Me

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mich April 11, 2009 at 5:58 am

I find that cute. It is really a culture thing, men didn’t mind carrying bags. Maybe I should hint this to hubby, it would be a good time to start carrying my oversized bag.

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youngmom April 11, 2009 at 11:06 am

i think this is more prevalent here in the phil..especially the teenagers ( with hello kitty/cartoon character)..arggghhh!!..for me it’s a big no-no to let my hubby carry my girly bag.. that totally makes him look gay..(kalbong bading) hahahaha…it is fine for men carrying big bags, shopping bags etc.. but not little handbags..

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arvinsign April 11, 2009 at 12:02 pm

@ betch

part time paparazzi? :)

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maricel April 11, 2009 at 5:31 pm

hahahaha…only time i’ve seen that is on asian dramas. you don’t see men carry their wive’s/gf’s purses here. the only time i’ve seen is when my friend makes her husband carry her purse cuz it’s too heavy or she’s carrying something.

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Mike In Daegu April 12, 2009 at 6:11 pm

Actually, it’s more likely that most of them are carrying their own bag, not their partner’s. Korean men have picked up the man-purse thing and run with it … weird …

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bluemoon April 13, 2009 at 2:05 pm

hahaha! now I understand bakit lagi kinukuha ng bf ko bag ko. Pero lagi ko rin binabawi sa kanya because it feels awkward.

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marian April 13, 2009 at 3:18 pm

cute naman nito. chivalry is still prevalent in Korea and that’s good to know. :)

marians last blog post..Jang’s former manager arrested for defamation

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Betchay April 15, 2009 at 1:18 am

hmm… territorial mga lalaki pero they don’t mind carrying their ladies’ bags… parang they don’t mind wearing floral or pink shirts :)

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Garando April 13, 2009 at 4:40 pm

Kudos to the guy in the last photo. He knows how to carry it properly like a true lady. :D
I have a few Korean friends who live a few hours away from Seoul, and unfortunately they are far from what you’d call a “gentleman”. So maybe it still depends on the area they grew up in?

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Betchay April 15, 2009 at 1:16 am

Hi Garando! OO we can’t really generalize people.

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anth April 23, 2009 at 10:25 pm

i live there. near namsan haha

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FC June 26, 2009 at 6:33 pm

japan gays hahaha

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Karen April 3, 2010 at 2:12 am

Hi Ms. Betchay

Yeah with my Korean boyfriend too pero lately he is so sweet… he would carry my bag pag lumalabas kami… Pero na sweetan sya sken nung sobrang sakit ng ulo nya and I offered to carry his bag for him pauwi ng condo nya sa ortigas walking distance lang naman super lapit pero he was insisting na ihatid ako but I was so worried for him so I sent him to his condo instead… Usually discreet kami when it comes to showing our affection pero that night he ask for a goodbye kiss in front of many people…

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watchat April 20, 2010 at 3:02 pm

hahahaha…exclusively fourth dimension i’ve checked that constitutes upon asian dramas. you don’t see humankinds gestate their wive’s/gf’s handbags here. the entirely time i’ve seen is when my friend makes her conserve contain her pocketbook cuz thems besides cloggy or she’s carrying something.

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