|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Troll_Bait
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: [T]eaching experience doesn't matter much. -Lee Young-chan (pictured)
|
 Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:01 am Post subject: Korean Businessmen Victimized in China |
 |
|
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200801/200801240015.html
| Quote: |
Korean Businessmen �Live in Fear� in Qingdao
After a several South Korean business owners fled China under cover of darkness, a growing number of Koreans suffer harassment there, including being watched, being held against their will, kidnapping and assault. An official with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Qingdao said Korean nationals are frequently assaulted or kidnapped in the region due to outstanding payment or debt. Four or five such cases occur every week.
In China, it is not uncommon for people to resort to rough justice rather than wait for the ponderous progress of the law. In 2007, the president of an affiliate of Samsung Electronics in Weihai, Shandong was attacked by two men in the restroom of a Japanese restaurant. He had his hand cut off when he resisted. After the incident, Samsung Electronics strongly protested to the local government, which led to a police investigation. It turned out that the mastermind of the attack was a former company cafeteria contractor, whose service had been rejected by the company due to low quality of the food. The contractor had hired thugs in northeastern China to retaliate.
Organized gangs extort money from small Korean businesses such as restaurants, saunas and beauty parlors, as well as bigger enterprises. A South Korean businessman, who runs a restaurant in Qingyang District, Qingdao said, "Members of Haksewui or organized gangs extort a certain amount of money from us every month. They often come and eat without paying. It's much more difficult to do business here than in Korea."
Blackmail is common. Late last year, a 42-year-old South Korean owner of a food factory in Pingdao killed himself because he had been unable to withstand threats and harrassment by local residents, who demanded a toll for the road leading to the main gate of the factory.
The year of the Beijing Olympics is likely to be worse for businesses operating in China. As of 2008, a new labor law which strengthens workers' rights and a new corporate income tax law which levies 25 percent taxes on both domestic and foreign-owned companies will come into effect (15-24 percent income taxes are currently imposed on foreign-owned companies). New land use taxes will be imposed on all foreign-owned companies.
There are about 5,000 South Korean businesses in Qingdao. Many of them are profitable. But many other labor-intensive companies, including textile, sewing, accessories, and electronic components, have reached a crisis.
Sung Jung-han, the secretary general of the Korean Society and Enterprise Association in Qingdao, said, "Businessmen here are pessimistic. They say about 10 percent, or 500 Korean companies, will likely close down before the lunar New Year, and about 20 percent, or 1,000 companies, will leave during the first half of this year due to their failure to adapt to the changing business environment in China. Many South Koreans are concerned about human rights violations." Hwang Chae-won, the deputy chief of the Korea Trade Center, Qingdao, said, "The home government should work out ways of dealing with the night flights of Korean business owners and abduction and assault of Korean nationals which happen here." |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| This goes to show, anything Korea does, China does 100x more. Including harrassment. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pugwall
Joined: 22 Oct 2006
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Koreans in Qingdao have a pretty bad reputation for lying and not paying debts and being disrespectful towards Chinese. Koreans in Qingdao live in Korean apartment complex's, shop in korean supermarkets, play golf on Korean golf courses, send kids to Korean schools and often enjoy ordering Chinese people about. It is not really a one way street. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
| pugwall wrote: |
| Koreans in Qingdao have a pretty bad reputation for lying and not paying debts and being disrespectful towards Chinese. Koreans in Qingdao live in Korean apartment complex's, shop in korean supermarkets, play golf on Korean golf courses, send kids to Korean schools and often enjoy ordering Chinese people about. It is not really a one way street. |
Doesn't apply only to China. Several South American countries, Phillipines, and Thailand among others have the same problems with Korean businessmen/residents. They look down on those that they deem lower-class and poor. It's no wonder they run into problems with the locals with attitudes like that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Temporary
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hmm.. I guess Chinese don't like being screwed to much.. To be honest with you I don't feel pity for these criminals (Both sides). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well...situatiomn would not have arisen if Korean sajangnims had not consistently scr*wed peole over .
Cmon teachers, I think theres enough stories out there to verify that korean bosses view paying employees as nothing more than optional. Good to see the chinese striking back.
Non-payment of wages is similar to jumping the queue. It only takes a korean to venture outside of Korea, to realise its not really acceptable. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Temporary
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Julius wrote: |
Well...situatiomn would not have arisen if Korean sajangnims had not consistently scr*wed peole over .
Cmon teachers, I think theres enough stories out there to verify that korean bosses view paying employees as nothing more than optional. Good to see the chinese striking back.
Non-payment of wages is similar to jumping the queue. It only takes a korean to venture outside of Korea, to realise its not really acceptable. |
AMEN..
Its a sad realization with all Asian races to be honest with you.. In Canada especially Vancouver furniture stores usually refuse to deal with Asian customers and if they do they have certain policies made just for them. My parents are in the furniture business and the grypes I hear from them are usually do to some Asian customer trying to screw them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheBulimicFatGuy
Joined: 03 Jan 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Temporary wrote: |
Its a sad realization with all Asian races to be honest with you.. In Canada especially Vancouver furniture stores usually refuse to deal with Asian customers and if they do they have certain policies made just for them. My parents are in the furniture business and the grypes I hear from them are usually do to some Asian customer trying to screw them. |
Could you give some examples of common gripes? How are the policies different? Do you include East Indians as Asians? Are you talking about furniture stores in Richmond or just anywhere in Greater Vancouver? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
Is that article suggesting that the Chinese government is extorting Korean businesses by increasing taxes?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Temporary
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| TheBulimicFatGuy wrote: |
| Temporary wrote: |
Its a sad realization with all Asian races to be honest with you.. In Canada especially Vancouver furniture stores usually refuse to deal with Asian customers and if they do they have certain policies made just for them. My parents are in the furniture business and the grypes I hear from them are usually do to some Asian customer trying to screw them. |
Could you give some examples of common gripes? How are the policies different? Do you include East Indians as Asians? Are you talking about furniture stores in Richmond or just anywhere in Greater Vancouver? |
Asian means.. mostly most of asia except for Japanese.. Koreans, E Indians, Chinese, etc.. Most places will take a 25% deposit and upon delivery the rest is required.. But for asians the un-written rule is 100% + Delivery charge. Also lots of furniture places will sell AS - IS no refunds for asians and only sometimes they get in store credit. Asians also tend to expect free interior designer calls and freebies that no one else gets. My parents are veterans in the furniture business and they take VERY few risks with Asian customers unless they have a proven track record with their store. My parents tend to deal in HIGH end stuff so they are spaired in dealing with Asian customers. But my fathers Sister owns a very large store and she has nothing but headaches usually.
I don't really want to get into the gripes, I hate being overly negative. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| aint nothing on whats going on in the congo!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ryouga013
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Did I just hear a bunch of SE Asians cheer for gang brutality or was that my imagination? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Join Me
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
| No sympathy here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tjames426
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject: ... |
|
|
I guess the Chinese take offense that South Korean nationalists still consider good parts of Liaoning and Jilin Provinces part of Korea.
Seriously, Koreans need to get over themselves. A nationality should not act so arrogant when they let their country be overrun, manipulated, physically divided, and dominated by foriegn powers for over 300 years.
China > Qing Dynasty
Japanese Empire
China's proxy > Great leader Kim & family
***
China is not dumb. They are going to continue to treat Korea like this until the Korean people stand up. But all I see are articles telling us how evil Japan is today. Korean have no idea how the Chinese are laughing at the success of their propaganda machine.
Continue to blame Japan for everything, while we [China] continue to rape and pillage half your country of national resources while keeping the northern population at starvation levels.
LoL |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
atomjuice2
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject: NO PITY HERE... |
|
|
I've been reading posts on Dave's since I came to Korea in 1999. This is only my second time placing a post here. To anyone remaining here, or thinking of coming here...even if you think you are a fairly intelligent chap ( as I thought myself to be ), have done your research, and have patience and multi-cultural tolerance...Korea is just not a place you should consider. Between my brother and myself, we have 19 years experience teaching here.
He recently returned to Canada a total wreck after being defrauded out of 5 years pension money, severance, and airfare ( from a university he worked for 5 years in a row) . I have been cheated, laughed at ( for asking that simple contract terms be honored ), yelled at, and subject to treatment I never imagined when I boarded that 1999 flight to Korea. Now, you all may ask ( and rightly so ), why did you stay as long as you did? Well, thats complicated, but I usually had a relationship going, or just kept believing that the 'next school/university' would be better...' hope is the thing with feathers' as some American writer once said. I have learned much more than I ever wanted to know about how truely racist and twisted people can be when ' law' permits. Korea has taught me that, but the knowledge is of a kind I now wish I could somehow time-earasure from memory. So, from two 'burned' and burned-out brothers, the money you 'may' earn in Korea will likely cost you more in heartache than you can possibly imagine. This ( treatment ) is not just restricted to the school owners, but seems rampant in the majority of the population as well. There are some notable exceptions among the Koreans, but I've met 2 single souls with a genuine conscience here ( but, I'm not a socialite, so...). Ok, enough said, maybe too much. All in all, go to China ( although a disturbing trend of Korean international schools relocating there to maximize profits and exploit the local Chinese teachers is cropping up everywhere there now ), Thailand, Laos, or another Asian country...you will make much less ( assuming you get paid in korea at all...frequently you will not ), but you will enjoy your life...and then can return to Canada, the USA, England, Australia...etc...with some truely great images and memories which Korean won can never buy. Koreans complaining about China?! I have absolutely no pity for the Koreans. I been personal witness to koreans having all but destroyed people I love and care about. Including family members who have taught here. However, I have no doubts that the Koreans will wage fierce rhetoric and even more blatant arrogance towards the Chinese and other ' darker,poorer ( thus, less intelligent than Koreans are in their own minds ), non-kimchi munchers.
Wish you all the best   |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
