Difference between Chinese and Korean

• Looks: How do you tell the difference? These are just generalizations (in other words, there are always exceptions to these rules), but one way to tell is that Chinese usually have bigger eyes and bigger noses, and Koreans generally have smaller eyes and smaller noses. Koreans also have rounder faces. But, as a Chinese, I have definitely seen Koreans that look Chinese, and Chinese that look Korean. Still, I think about 75% of the time I can guess correctly.
•  Ethnic diversity: China is WAY bigger than Korea. I mean, we’re talking like the size of the United States compared to just one of the states (interestingly, a lot of Koreans live in New Jersey which has made me speculate if they do so because the shape of the state is similar to the shape of the Korean peninsula… haha). What follows is that Koreans are mainly of one ethnic stock whereas Chinese are of a multiplicity of ethnic groups. This means that Koreans are rather homogeneous in their looks and genes (the fact that most Koreans have the surname of Kim, Park, or Lee, is evidence of this), whereas Chinese are much more ethnically diverse and their looks can vary widely. Chinese in the north are more fair-skinned while Chinese in the south are more dark-skinned.
•  Cultural diversity: this is a corollary to the above. Every region of China speaks a different dialect and has different food. Chinese can speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Shanghainese, etc., and the food can range from extremely spicy (like Szechuan) to mild, from wheat-based (in the north) to rice-based (in the south), from seafood (on the coasts) to beef and pork (inland). Koreans generally have the same language and food throughout the country because it’s a tiny area.
•  Cultural pride: Koreans bond when they meet each other. Chinese generally don’t. I mean, Chinese are 1/5 of the world’s population! So it’s nothing special to meet another Chinese person. When Chinese hang out together, it’s because of cultural similarity. When Koreans hang out together, it’s because of cultural pride. Koreans will grant favors to each other because they are Korean. Chinese will never do that for another Chinese person—they would rather make money off the other person! Or fight amongst themselves over politics and nationality. This is not to suggest that Koreans don’t fight amongst themselves. Koreans fight like siblings. Chinese fight like social Darwinists (survival of the fittest).
•  Insularity: Because of the previous characteristic, Koreans are a lot more insular and ethnocentric than Chinese. Chinese generally don’t have a problem marrying outside their race or attending the church where the majority of the people are a different race/ethnicity. Koreans, on the other hand, do.