Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kemcdonald]

I understand that south korea is a very male dominated society. Can someone tell me how women are treated/expected to act? Also I have a physical disability. Would Koreans care?

[nateium]

Women are treated like children. The disabled are treated like an embarrassment.

[spliff]

The above is not at all true. Women are treated very well indeed as equals and the handicapped are well looked after and have access to the public.

[kimcheechochy]

Well, not many women have positions of power here for one thing. Women don't smoke in public. Mothers stay at home and are in charge of all household finances.

It seems to be ok for girls to wear miniskirts, but any kind of clevage seems to be a no-no.

Also, kissing and hugging in public is generally not tolerated.

As for your disability, it shouldn't be a problem. Koreans are generally quite helpful for people with disabilties (holding doors, ect) There is even a "phone taxi" service that will come right to your house and pick you up. There are many elevators, and they even have floor markings everywhere for blind people. Up until a while ago, only blind people were allowed to be licensed to practice massage therapy. What kind of disability is it if you don't mind my asking? Then I can give you more useful information maybe.

I think it would be prudent of you to inform your potential employer that you have a disability. You don't need to do this in the west, but I think it would be a good idea here. It will prevent any unwanted "surprised reaction" by your employer.

[kimcheechochy]

[Milwaukiedave]

The treatment of women is getting a lot better. That's not to say that there are still areas that can be improve because there are.

I've heard mixed stories about the disabled. In public, I've seen very few diasabled people. Often it will be someone in a wheelchair or a blind person with a cane. In both of those situation, the person seems to be getting around fine without help. I have also heard there are group homes for severly disabled people and knew someone who volunteered at one.

[ella]

Being on crutches might not be looked at as a disability since that can happen to anyone. I don't know for certain but I don't think Koreans consider someone with a broken ankle in the same category as a paraplegic, for example.

As for the treatment of women, do you mean Korean women or foreign women? And foreign women with what skin color? There's a difference.

[RACETRAITOR]

Women are not permitted to smoke in public. You can do it but you'll get a lot of angry glares. An ex-coworker was told by her boss that if she wanted to smoke she'd have to go to either a cafe or a washroom.

Also, women aren't quite as well protected by law. Violence against women isn't taken very seriously by the legal system, and there aren't many men who'd risk much to protect a woman.

[Vicissitude]

[jvalmer]

I'd say in most countries, women are treated not as bad as you think and not as well as you'd like...

[mistermasan]

i have not seen a single person in a wheelchair in taiwan. maybe i am not looking hard enough. but wow.

the buses are not equipped for wheel chair bound folks.

how do wheelchair folks take the subway?

[whatever]

[Scotticus]

Honestly, I'd say the physical handicap (depending on how severe it is) would be your biggest issue in Korea. Although there is SOME accommodation for people in wheelchairs and the like, it's not exactly a friendly city for people whose modes of transport are hindered. My gf had a hell of a time getting anywhere when she had her foot in a cast.

And in response to the person who said how nice people were to him when he was in a cast, I'd say we had about the opposite experience. She had one cabbie who was a really nice guy and helped her out but, hell, even when she initially fell (when she hurt herself) people didn't do shit to help her, they just gave her a look (seriously, no joke here) like she was being an asshole and getting in their way. It takes a special kind of asshole to give someone who just broke their ankle a dirty look like she was doing something wrong.

[twg]

[nateium]