Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

More Koreans leaving Korea. Why?

Emigration Applicants
"I will emigrate to America, but will I be able to get a credit card when I get there?"

"What should I do if my house in Seoul doesn't sell until I leave for Canada in November?"

These are the questions that Han Jung-yoon, responsible for emigration-related work at Hana Bank, receives from emigrating customers. The number of households that applied for emigration support at Hana bank in the first half of this year increased by 50 to 500 from a year ago. The number of applicants for emigration assistance at Korea Exchange Bank in the first half jumped 50 percent to 150 households from a year ago, sources said Saturday. Those who applied for such service at Chohung Bank in the first half reached 96, exceeding a total of 70 last year.

"These days a lot of people leave the country as soon as they get the permission," said Han. "Emigrations of those in the upper class are increasing probably because of social and economical uncertainty," she added.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2003091489508

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Its a business cycle thing...
Korea is going through a bad time more people want to leave. Seems to make sense to me. No doubt the economy will pick up one day and less people want to leave. Who can defeat this argumet.
Times bad = people unhappy and want to leave.
Times good = people happy and want to stay.
Alright there has 1000% increase in applicants to leave.
My 2 questions to you Real Reality are these... why do you give a care??
...why do you hate Korea???
Every post you post is some linked up negative comment. Informative nonethseless but you aren't really presenting a balanced argument.

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

exactly posco. A few months ago there was an article in the korea herald, a rather patriotic newspaper in my opinion, about korean immigrants to the USA these days. It said similar things to what the Joong-Ang daily said: people are leaving for quality-of-life reasons, NOT economic or political reasons.

The article also mentioned that the median income of Korean immigrants to the USA has jumped up too. There are many well-to-do families moving to the states. Why? as the Joon-Ang article mentioned, for a better education and better housing. Where would you rather live w/your family for the same price: a house with a yard or a 2 bedroom apt. in a high-rise? Hmm, tough call.

Coffeecup · Joined: 30 Jun 2003

Bunch:

Squid · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Anyang

It is sadly true that most potential immigrants anywhere don't really have a clue what awaits them in their chosen country- racism in particular.
Reading some of the posts in these forums would probably do people thinking of a move a lot of good- especially those in my opinion with questionable motives to leave like "Lifestyle reasons"... Korean parents need to relax a bit about education, that might cause a few less to up stumps on such flimsy grounds.

Squid

William Beckerson · Guest

It's cute that you have a political agenda and all that Coffeecup, but so far you only come across as a moron troll.

And thus, I shall treat you as such.

See you around the board ... At least until you self-destruct like all moron trolls do, and get your moron troll ass banned.

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

I could see them worrying about education, not the cost but the quality. Education here is subpar. But the US is a VERY expensive place to live. If they want the best education ( not "name" schools, but real education ) and the best standard of living for thier buck, place lots of space and beautiful environment, they need to check out a certain under populated island paradise at the bottom of the world near Australia.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I wonder if any moderator was thinking of deleting "psychedelic"s post. It looks more like an "englishspectrum" one to me. Man, psychedelic, if you are so full of hate for this country and its people, I bet you are looking forward to your next plane trip. Or maybe you just had a bad day?

Arthur Fonzerelli · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

"Rising apartment prices, the North Korean nuclear problem, the possibility of retiring at 45; all these issues that I probably cannot handle were making me afraid," Mr. Ju explained his decision to leave.
"I know I can live happily where there are none of these problems, and I know I made the right decision when I saw co-workers wishing they were in the same position."

Endless and fierce competition, declining public education, an economic slump, disappointment in national leadership and unemployment that awaits college graduates -- these are just some of the issues that make people turn their backs on their own country and leave for a land of better opportunity.

Now, people still emigrate in search of a better life, but they mostly seek a better quality of life. Canada was the most preferred destination, followed by the United States and Australia.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200309/16/200309160049268009900090409041.html

desultude · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 11:34 pm Post subject:

I have wondered, sometimes in print, why those who hate Korea and Koreans so much stay here. Surely, as people from the heart of the empire, well educated, well-read, talented, and capable of earning sometimes even ten times as much as the rest of us, they would be happier and more successful living in Nirvana, er, I mean the United States.

But now I think that the answer has been right in front of me all along- these people, and we all know who they are, are really happiest when they are miserable and complaining. Things are so great in the Best Country In the World, that they are just too happy. There is nothing to complain about. So they live here where they can make themselves and try to make all of the rest of us miserable.

If you think Korea is a great place to feel miserable, maybe you should take a position in Afghanistan, I hear that it is the worst these days. Or maybe Iraq? Or are you just holding out for the U.S. to come and drive Korea into the same condition?

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

There will always be a portion in every country which feels dissatisfied or disenfranchised, and wants to leave. This is how most people came to live in North America, and we should understand this sentiment.

Why so many in Korea? It is likely a combination of factors. A desire to improve one's income and standard of living is probably the main one. It is expensive to live in America, yes, but it is possible to own a house and cottage in a way it isn't here. Top universities are expensive, but it is a myth that they all are. There are decent state colleges cheaper than Ontario universities.

Many in medical fields feel bitter about the way Korean medicare was foisted on them as a cost-saving measure, and no doubt many professionals feel angry about being blackballed for not going to the two or three unattainable universities in the country. Parents must of course fear the same thing happening to their children.

They won't necessarily be happier elsewhere (ok, maybe in NZ they will), but that's another point. I have no desire to ever live in Manitoba.

Ken:>

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Real reality,
You still haevn't answered the question. why do you hate korea??? You keep providing these negative web-based links but your own personal opinion counts for zero. Give me the reasons why and then why you live here. You seem to be pretty silly to hate a place and make it look so bad, but then live in the same country yourself.