Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mack the knife]

It's a fact that the birthrate in Korea is one of the lowest (the lowest?) in the world. Here's why:



These guys represent

[mithridates]

That's terrible.

[The Hierophant]

Some of my middle school students (boys and girls) once asked me what I thought of Korean boy bands. They became enraged when I said "I think they are nancy-boys. They all look like girls, don't you think?"

I've since learned to curb my honesty. Smile and nod, smile and nod. Korea number ONE!!!

[Brady]

More choices for us rugged Westerners. I, for one, welcome this.

[Passions]

Post a pic we can see.

[Sash]

Some of my boy students agree, that they are girly looking. But I mean, boy bands back home aren't any better. Luckily most men back home don't try to emulate them!

[charlieDD]

Toss in a few more factors:

I believe one of REAL REALITY's posts had a figure of something like a full 9 % of marriages registered in Korea last year were "inter-racial" (due to farmers imported their mail-order brides from Phillipines, China, Vietnam, etc.).

And I believe another REAL REALITY post indicated some 70,000 Koreans emigrate (leave the country permanently) a year.

Then consider how much the Korean identity has melded with that of Japanese / Chinese / and Western.

I'd have to think the only true Koreans left are "north of the border."

Now, go ahead and let the dogs out those of you who will take any offense to the contents, perceived intention of it, etc. I've got my kevlar on!

[charlieDD]

About the girly look thing: My Thai friend plays in a band in Thailand; semi-popular, in Chaingmai primarily. He says he and his fellow band members listen to and emulate Korean band, musically .. . as well as Japanese and Hong Kong bands. But about style, in his words "The Korean and Japanses are too female for Thai people. Thai people like guys who look like strong, like they can fight."

But hey, to each his own. If that's what's selling in Korea these days, then that's what's selling. I have thought it might be a pendulum swing opposite of the tough aujulshi culture of the previous generation - - a kind of rebellion against it.

It's their world, their fashion, their likes and dislikes. I guess we could never really see it from their perspective or reality.

[jajdude]

[twg]

You know, when the topic of some popular boy band like Super Junior comes up, I always go, "Oh yeah, I love the way they dance!"

Then I do the Bat-tusi, or the monkey or some other really lame dance. "They dance great!"

...

I guess I'm mean.

[Novernae]

The problem is too much tofu!

[SPINOZA]

I didn't understand your OP, Mack, but to give the matter serious consideration, with the exception of the USA, every developed country has low birthrates if I recall. Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain, Italy, Greece, Canada.....all have low birthrates (1.3 in Germany's case; 2.2 the requirement). Increased opportunities, increased wealth, increased choice, things clearly positive, seem sufficient explanation. What's to be done?

I say crush prohibition first and worry about this stuff later. Maybe we can channel the billions we waste on drugs prohibition by investing the money we'd otherwise spend into financial incentives to get people to have more kids?

[jajdude]

Kids. They can be a joy and a pain, but the bottom line is they're quite expensive too. What's the average spent on hagwons?

[JongnoGuru]

pic not showing up

[mack the knife]

So, the pic shows up on my computer but no one else's? Wuddup?