Korean Job Discussion Forums

stevemcgarrett · Joined: 24 Mar 2006

Every time I visit HomePlus late in the evening, regardless whether it's a weekend or weekday night, I find dozens of parents with their little children in tow shopping. Half the kids are asleep and half are hyper. Sad

Now maybe parenting skills are devolving worldwide since I was young but I cannot remember more than two or three occasions where as a 3 year-old or 7 year-old I was allowed to stay up past 9 p.m.

Is this common practice in Korea? And what of the elementary school aged kids who are out shopping until midnight with their parents and then have to go to school bright and early the next day?

Richard Krainium · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

Yea, it's normal, but their 23 year old daughter who just graduated from university has to be home by 10pm... Laughing

(I know, old joke)...

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

I went to a kamja tang restaurant at about midnight a couple of nights ago and there were some older people (maybe grandparents) with two less than 9-year old kids (boy and girl).

Yes, kids go to bed late. Like grade 3's and 4's, etc. going to bed at 10 or 11. My nephews were going to be at at about 7 at this age. Some families differ though. It's really not good for them to go to bed so late. It was great at my visiting my sister because it was total adult time, like a friggin party, when her boys went to bed. Eat popcorn, chips, watch movies, etc. No screaming or fighting kids.

Newbie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I remember back when I was actually a "newbie" being shocked when I was teaching time to my 10 year olds and they were all telling me they went to be at 12:30 or 1:00. For about 25 minutes I was trying to tell them they had "going to bed" confused with "eating lunch"

But, I guess when you're "studying" at an academy until 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, every thing gets pushed back.

Just another reason to pity Korean kids.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

STEVE, WHY ARE YOUR THREAD TITLES IN CAPS?

AylaZ · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

Yeh seems to be the norm. Although my son is 5 and he goes to bed at what I would call normalish for NZ. bout 7.30pm-8pm. I don't know how these kids do it, well I do all the candy they eat... Anyone who has a kid surely knows they are way tired by then unless they have had a nap which a lot do here.
And they wonder why they are all so short!! lol... I put it down to lack of sleep, they grow when they sleep. Anyways my 2 cents worth that's why I tell everyone my son is so tall lol.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

sojourner1 · Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 5:51 am Post subject:

Yea, I noticed that kids stay up late. I have seen toddlers in the early AM hours here.

As for school kids, many are staying up too late too and then sullen and rotten that they have to go to class exhausted in the late afternoon. Particularly middle school kids are cranky, complaining, rude, disobediant, and focus enough to do school work or listen on account of being too tired over staying up too late. It does deteriorate a childs education, upbringing, and well being for them to stay up too late on week nights. Same for adults. So my bedtime is coming soon.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Guri Guy · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island

Lack of sleep for Korean kids is a big problem. They can't effectively learn if they don't get enough sleep. Maybe sending them to more hagwans and making them busier will help. Rolling Eyes

stevemcgarrett · Joined: 24 Mar 2006

I seldom saw this in China, except in situations where the parents had their own small shop and had no choice (even then they put their kids down to rest).

With their disposable income, most Korean parents could hire babysitters or have their parents look after their kids while they shop.

I find it inexcusable, really, and I feel for those kids forced to go to hagwons and such until so late, often taking their supper with them.

It speaks ill of this society, I'm afraid, and the obsession to get ahead of the Kims. I find that practice more intense here than anywhere else I've lived.

Whatever happened to giving balance to a child's life.

I love the expression, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

They could use a few more Tom Sawyers and Huck Finns here.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

The thing is for us hagwon teachers is there really is no middle ground. It's too bad, so sad if they don't want to participate properly in class. Or conduct themselves in a respectful manner. It shouldn't be our burden and I do my best not to make it mine.

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 9:20 am Post subject:

ZZzzzzzzZZZZzzzzzzZZzz.....uh....is it commonplace for adults to stay up ZZZZZzzzzzZZzZZ late? I have a better appetite and feel better when I wake up at 6 a.m. rather than 10 a.m. I'm go'n back ta bed.....

(That's food for thought Steve-o....take care of yourself first then think about those you have to provide for. Wink

) I'm kinda drunka and just tease'n. Umm, no, i'v very durnk...

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Have you ever tried to enforce a bed-time with Korean kids? Unless you plan to be up all night making sure they're not it's well nigh impossible. I took a group of my high schoolers on a one-week trip and I swear that they spent far more time sleeping in the cars than on their beds. They seriously do not sleep until they're too exhusted to stay awake, be that at 3AM or 3PM.