The Power of Rock, Scissor, Paper in South Korea

I’m sitting in Starbucks writing an article about the increasing Chinese influence in Cambodia, when I see four grown clenched fists moving rhythmically over a tray of empty Starbucks cups and croissant wrappers, eventually forming their hands into a rock, scissor or paper. These four men do a few rounds, with one retreating his hand after each, sporting a victorious look on his face.

With the final match finished, three of them head for the door as the last one clears the table, puts the trash in the bin and carries the trays to the counter. It’s finished, all said and done. Resolved with no disputes and minimal words. The table clearer knows his role, he lost, he’s cleaning up.

This is the power of Rock, Scissor, Paper in Korea: the ultimate decision maker.

I’ve been teaching English in Korea for two years and I’m often faced with classroom disputes: who goes first, whose answer to say, which one is mine, who gets to keep it, on and on and on. If I just pick, it’s not fair; if the stronger one or more popular one or smarter one gets his or her way, it’s not fair. I am always looking for a way to resolve disputes without further argument and without any students feeling spurned. To put them to rest, once and for all. And I found it in a most familiar place: Rock, Scissor, Paper.

We’re all familiar with this game. For me, it was just a fun thing to do as a kid, but it didn’t really have any real weight or solve any real problems. Maybe we’d have a tournament to just see who was the best rock, scissor, paperer. Because it was all skill, of course. I never thought of it after I turned 10. But my time in Korea has made clear the supremacy of this game as the ultimate decision maker.

Rock Scissor Paper vs. Flipping a Coin

Flipping a coin is the go-to neutral decision making technique once you’re deemed too old for rock, scissor, paper. But this doesn’t address situations when there are multiple people involved. A simple coin toss would not determine which of the four Korean men in that Starbucks was going to clear the table. And a basic coin flip doesn't lend itself to the feeling that you are involved in the decision making process. After the initial designation of what happens if heads is up and what happens if tails is up, that part is settled, no one is going to say, “Nah man, I disagree, heads is Chinese and tails is Thai.” No, everyone just goes along with it. The person calling heads or tails is the only person really making a choice. And if he calls the wrong one, those people who wanted Thai will second guess the caller’s decision. Coin caller is not an enviable position.

With Rock, Scissor, Paper, everyone is involved, each person decides what shape to make with their own hand. Each person has a role. You’re the master of your own fate, not some circular piece of copper and nickel.

It’s not just for kids

In Korea, Rock, Scissor, Paper isn’t just for kids (see Starbucks anecdote above). The hand game is used by adults to determine who buys the next bottle of Soju, who gets the last gimbap, who has to drive. You’ll even find the biggest Kpop group in the world playing Rock, Scissor, Paper! (See video below). The World Rock Paper Scissor Association (yep, it's a thing) even declared BTS Rock, Paper, Scissor Ambassadors (yep, that's also a thing) due to their honed skills and love of the game.

Here is a whole article dissecting a Kpop member’s Rock, Paper, Scissor strategy, even daring to question if he even knows how to play! They fucking love this game, as we all should.

American (aka my way) vs. Korean Rock, Scissor, Paper

The basic concept of this classic game is the same, but there are some differences. For all of you so interested:

• The scissor hand signal: I’m used to the traditional index finger, middle finger hand position, ala Uncle Joey when he did his ever so clever “cut it out” bit. But in Korea, it looks more like a gun - index finger and thumb. Which is odd because they don’t do guns here, like ever. It’s amazing.
• Timing: Do you shoot on three or after three? This is one thing that isn’t pre-set where I’m from. It’s to be discussed and determined beforehand. In Korea, there is no discussion. It’s on three. No question.
• Tempo: I’m used to taking a break between rounds if the players shoot the same signal. We shoot, look at each other, say ohhhhhh, then prepare for another countdown. But not in Korea, at least for the most part (I’ve occasionally seen a regrouping after each round, but not typically). If it’s a tie, you shoot on the next beat until there is a clear winner. No time to pause and come up with a new strategy. No, you just go. It’s pure instinct and muscle memory, sister.

Wait… it’s Rock, Paper, Scissors, not Rock, Scissor, Paper!

You’ll notice that I keep calling it Rock, Scissor, Paper. I don’t know why, but in Korea, that’s what it’s called in English, that’s what all the cool kids say. It took me a minute to make the transition, I’ve always called it Rock, Paper, Scissors, like most red blooded Americans. But for some reason, when expats find their way to Korea, we all start swapping the paper and scissors. It’s not even because that’s the order they say it in. It’s 가위 바위 보 kawi, bawi, bo, in Korean. Scissor, Rock, Paper. It’s all messed up, but it has evolved how it has evolved.

You Ready for the Advanced Version?

In Korea, there’s even an advanced version of 가위 바위 보 called 북찌빠 (book-ji-ba) Where you use the traditional rock scissor paper to determine the attacker or to widdle a group down to just two people, then play this advanced game. Which involves and head flick, if so predetermined. Check it out here.

So I’ve finished my love letter to the childhood game that should be re-purposed in adulthood. Let’s all bring out our finger-scissors to cut that paper-hand more often! It’s a fun, active and fair way to solve most issues.

Ready? Rock, Scissor, Paper…