Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Joe Thanks]

[billbile]

That the Japanese invasion of Korea 100 years ago - odd is in any way analogous to the Shilla invasion of Paekche 1000 years ago.

[indiercj]

[dogbert]

[Butterfly]

[dogbert]

And thanks to indiercj again for the informative articles. That one Dong-a article is one of the few times I've seen "foreign currency crisis" rather than "IMF crisis" used.

[Gladiator]

Indierci,

The way I see it the issue is tied up with culture and language.

Korea adopts English but the two languages and attendant cultures mix like oil and water. I see Arabic as the language of Islam, Korean as the "pure" language of Confucianism and English as the language of individualism.

Now on one hand at Kyobo book stores shoppers snap up management volumes by Tom Peters and Bill Gates and marvel at how one guy builds up a formidable Goliath like Microsoft but fail to see, unbelievably they fail to see, how that kind of story is only possible with the application of meritocratic corporate culture. But can Korean language truly support meritocratic culture? I'm not sure it can when so much energy and stress are focused on maintaining the 체면 (sorry "Chemyon" Hangul is obviously not supported here) of top management and making sure all the credit flows their way.

It's frustrating because with the wealth of human talent Korea has just think how much more she could achieve in world trade if the right people filled the right posts and got the credit they deserved?

[Butterfly]

[helly]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/30/international/asia/30JAPA.html

Hope that link still works. Story is about Japanese companies abandoning the title system in an effort to open communication within the workforce.

Korea has got a long way to go but there are many changes currently happening.

[Gladiator]

I applaud your optimism Butterfly, it's to be admired. But...

I feel the culture/language relation is highly significant actually, given Hangulmal's tendency to equate age and seniority with superior competence. Time also seems to be given undue reverence in the Korean intellectual galaxy ("Time solves all problems"etc. Excuse the elementary translation sans Hangul support on this page) and it is simply assumed that a person/employee will inevitably gain competence as a result of time simply spent in a position or doing a particular task.

We are mere observers in this country however and Koreans make it abundantly clear to us time and time again that our input is not required. Meritocracy may take hold in the public imagination eventually and galvanise the population like a 10,000 volt "zeitgist". When that day comes, Korea will make massive strides forward.