Korean Job Discussion Forums

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

I've been told that there is no problem of alcohol abuse in Korea. My students had never heard of AA and didn't think there was treatment for people who had alcohol or drug problems. Is this true?

htrain · Joined: 24 May 2007

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

It probably doesn't exist because it isn't considered a problem and there really isn't much of a stigma to it. Alcoholism might not be a problem because it's a social phenomenon, but liver failure is big here.

Masta_Don · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

In the West, we call it alcoholism.
Here, it's called being a strong drinker.

Helps you get the ladies too.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

colonel sanders · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:04 pm Post subject:

Thank god! I thought I was becoming an alcoholic, but since it doesn't exist, I am just one of the guys.

Well, one of those guys with a high nose and narrow face.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

What's next, you gonna tell me Koreans are breathaholics.

isthisreally · Joined: 01 Sep 2007

A met a guy who told me his son was initially struggling in the job world. But now he drinks everyday (this is a good thing). He evidently has some job where he has to meet with clients everyday and take them out for dinner.

htrain · Joined: 24 May 2007

It's hard being a non-drinker in Korea. I tell them I have an allergy to alcohol and I will go to the hospital if I drink. This is better than resisting... which will eventually just piss you off. I hate saying "no thanks" for 4 hours straight.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Psychology, rehab, recovery, primal scream therapy, and hugging a guy named B*tch-T*ts haven't yet taken hold here. If you want that namby-pampy stuff, go back to America. Here, there's functioning alcoholics and there's guys who wash up in the Han river.

htrain · Joined: 24 May 2007

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

They can't test for alcohol abuse here. There is no control group.

Benicio · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:56 pm Post subject:

They don't consider alcoholism a problem because the majority of the country's population are alcoholics!

It's like when the guys in Motley Crue insisted that they didn't have substance abuse problems and they didn't need rehab.

"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt!"

PS- remember that case a couple of years ago where a guy, who worked for a major newspaper's ad sales division, had to wine & dine clients pretty much every day and died in his 40's from severe problems due to alcoholism?
His wife sued the paper for "killing" her husband. I bet she didn't win her case!