Language defines your personality.

Korean, like Japanese, and maybe some other Asian languages, is a language of class. Class meaning, just by speaking, you set yourself at a level in respect to who you are speaking too. Under normal situations where the language is used daily, it’s not much of a problem.

The trouble arises when you are in a predominant English area and having to use both languages. If I speak English to a Korean first, it makes it very awkward when I have to change to polite speech all of a sudden if I were to speak in Korean afterwards. Likewise, if I were to start off with Korean, I would find it immensely difficult to speak to that person in English. Imagine speaking humbly to a person all the while and then speaking like you were chums the next second. It messes with your brain.

Now with Japanese, friends tend to speak more casually and relaxed. With Korean, the language does get more relaxed, but the hierarchy remains. Even close friends may refer to their friend as older brother/sister. I personally don’t mind all too much, but switching from one mindset to another really screws with ya.