Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ABC KID]

As some of you will be aware, when a colleague's parent or other immediate family member dies in Korea it is the custom for everyone to gather together and go to the colleagues house (on the day the person dies) to offer their support and condolences. This gathering can last for hours, well into the morning. There doesn't seem to be any private grief in the immediate period after the death.

The above paragraph seems to be the Korean way of doing things. Back in the UK most people just want to be left alone to grieve privately (Presumably the same in US, Canada, NZ etc). Personally I wouldn't want my Korean colleagues swarming around me if the worst happened whilst I was in Korea.

So what do people thing about the Korean way of doing things?

[pkang0202]

It just shows the difference in culture. Collectivist versus Individualist.

For me, I'm a social person. I like being around my friends, family and loved ones. If someone close to me died, I think I would get a lot of comfort being around people.

[spliff]

In Thailand it's a three day 24hr affair. Killing cows and pigs and Cooking for the masses morning and night, Monks visit twice a day, chanting, gambling all night. Many don't get very much sleep if any during this period. The last night should cumulate in a good Maw Lam concert. Oh, and plenty of whiskey and beer always!

[endo]

[VanIslander]

to prevent the depths of despair and grief-stricken rash rush to suicide?

nothing like a good 'ol Irish wake

though having a ceremony in a funeral home at a set time is like telling people NOT to come around beforehand, provides personal space for the family

[Yaya]

They say that in Korea, it's much worse to miss a funeral than a wedding.

[dogbert]

[Newbie]

I wouldn't really want to see any of my colleagues, but I'd expect my friends and family to be there boozing it up with me.

And the Korean tradition of giving money at a funeral... well, i don't want to knock their traditions so I ain't gonna attack it, but I just cannot wrap my head around that one. Definitely one cultural difference I find strange and don't see becoming part of my repetoir.

[RACETRAITOR]

I've been to two funerals in the past couple months, both in-laws that my wife cared for. On both occasions the wake was held in a room in the hospital. Also, there was free liquor. At the first one, for my 96-year-old grandmother-in-law, I was enlisted to count all the money brought by guests. It was enough to put down key money on a nice apartment. We had to keep accurate track of who gave what so we'd know how much to give back when they died.

To be honest, aside from the whole mourning thing, I appreciated Korean funeral traditions. They're much more traditional than Korean weddings, and not quite as shallow. Plus, I can't mention enough they had an open bar at both.

[MarionG]

I live right next to the funeral hall associated with a large hospital, the chong rey chic jhong...(can't type in Hangul here) It is not in the basement, but is a separate, but mostly attached building...mostly attached to the hospital that is.

It's my understanding that when someone is close to death, the family is called so that they may take the person home to die. Then the funeral is held in the person's home, which is much preferred. However, it's considered bad luck to bring a body into a house, so the funeral halls are for those people who die suddenly in the hospital.

I'm not offended at all by giving money at the funeral, and I hardly think that money over an above the cost of the funeral is "profit!" The death of someone is hardly a business venture. Many may be need of funds after the death of their spouse, so some extra cash is not out of place.

[bluelake]

[RACETRAITOR]

[IncognitoHFX]