Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rock]

Lying is rampant, reasoning a rift, when it comes to black and white here.

I had a person tell me point-blank that "You've got to understand ____________ culture." This she said all because someone'd lied to me and yet I was still considered to be in the wrong. The person who'd lied is a landlord who'd said I could keep a stray dog I'd adopted if I moved into a bigger apartment that she would provide. Then the problems began.

I waited three months and still no apartment. Had to keep the dog in a box, then a cage, outside and got into scuffles with tenants. Then the landlord, who'd said no one could have dogs in the apartment complex, bought two huge black labs for herself. And she lives in the same apartment complex!

Meanwhile, the street dog, once full of fleas and undernourished and that still as a puppy, bonded with me. It became healthy and well-nourished, behaved well and did its business outside. Now this.

The landlord's accusing me of breaking Taiwanese etiquette, because I now am moving out and want my deposit back. She's telling others I'd dissed her-she's even said this to my boss who translated for me-complains of my personal flaws., ie. staying up too late, doing petty things, and this all because I was trying to help a poor street dog. And what really makes me mad is that she'd agreed I could keep it if I'd rented out another, more expensive apartment she'd give me!

Fact is, she hasn't told anyone this little fact, that she'd said she would rent me out another apartment. It's a typical face-saving technique, but it enrages me. I'm accused of disrespect toward her and the culture here.

It enrages me because this is where I draw the line. If someone promises something to you and then lies, I call it a bold-faced lie and stand firm. I can't understand how some Asians can face their own consiences.

I don't get this kind of reasoning either. I'm not going to consider this as a cultural nuance I should accept. It's twisted, warped, and perhaps what makes some people cringe at the word Asia. There's really no sound reasoning sometimes.

[tzechuk]

Asia, or just Korea?

[Rock]

Well, since this forum's only for Korea I wanted to say "Asia" in general although the specific locale is Taiwan. Yet Korean landlord's can be a real fright too.

[tzechuk]

I see.. because I don't think landlords are all the same in the whole of Asia... or even within the same country.

[djsmnc]

[Homer]

[JongnoGuru]

Enjoy.

[tigerbluekitty]

Yeah, I can't stand white lies either which is one of the reasons why I never visit my dad anymore. Which is why I kicked my hispanic ex-boyfriend to the curb. Can't stand dishonest people. Damn nutcases!

Ignore what the landlord says and go rent out another place.

[pest2]

[pest2]

North East Asians tend to use and rely on relationships and shame/face to determine justice whereas westerners use explicit rules, laws, and contracts. The landlord/tennant relationship is one in which the landlord has more power, plain and simple. Its really confused, now, since the introduction of common and statutory law to the area... the mode for mediation and determining outcomes lies somewhere between the rules-based approach used in the West and the relationship-based approach used in Traditional North East Asia...

My landlord did stuff like just walking in to fix the airconditioner without even knocking or leaving the door wide open after he came without warning until we complained to the school and threatened to do a variety of things... now he is more careful and actually I can say we comprimise on this issue,... but I can see that the comprimise irks him as much as it irks me.

[seoulman1]

[djsmnc]

[Paji eh Wong]

Rock always has the most interesting subjects lines.

Invariably, the post is a let down.

[endofthewor1d]

[sistersarah]

i don't have much experience with landlords in general, nevermind asia, but i haven't had much luck with my current landlord...well, landlady...

at first, it was a matter of moving in...they didn't want us to take the apt after she realized i was a foreigner. apparently, foreigners are too noisy. finally she conceded.
a few times over the last 1 1/2 years, i've been told to "keep the noise down"....anyone who knows me knows that my idea of a good time is to stay in and knit and watch documentaries.... when i asked more specifically where the noise was coming from, she pointed to the building next door. but hey, i understand, i guess they needed someone to pin it on and it was probably me, being foreign and all

most recently, she has asked us to move out because she wants to sell the building. according to korean custom, if a landlord wants tennants to move out early, they pay the tennants' moving fees. she refused. so we refused to move until the contract is up.

lovely experiences here!

i must admit, i'm really nervous to move again after this contract is up for fear of getting an even worse landlord!

sorry, bit of a rant there.