Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

This is an editorial from today's Chosun Ilbo, commonly considered the most conservative newspaper in the country.

Meaza Eshetu, a professor from Ethiopia, is a regular cast member of the popular KBS 2 program "Beauty�s Talk," which features a panel of foreign women living in Korea.
On Monday�s program, Meaza shed tears as she recalled a painful experience when she applied for a job at a company in Korea. She said she was told that the company does not hire black people. Meaza, who has lived in Korea for four-and-a-half years, teaches at a business college. She said people have openly asked her how she, a black woman, can teach at the college, and called Koreans too racist. When she met the employer of a fellow Ethiopian who cannot speak Korean, the owner of the factory told her that black people are given lower wages than Asians. Australian Kirsty Reynolds also cited racism in Korea, saying Koreans don�t sign up for English conversation classes taught by black teachers.
When Korea was a poor country, Koreans suffered discrimination while working in foreign countries. Now that our living standards have risen, we should be ashamed of ourselves for having racist or superior attitudes ourselves. When a cold storage warehouse in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province burned down, 14 out of the 40 workers who died were foreigners. They are among the pillars of Korea�s economy, toiling away every day for low wages. What do foreigners think about Koreans -- and the way we treat out overseas guests?
Each year, we sell W370 billion (US$1=W1,049) worth of products overseas, while over two percent of our population -- or a million people -- are foreigners. Yet Switzerland�s International Institute for Management Development (IMD) ranked Korea bottom out of 55 countries when it comes to �openness to foreign cultures.�

***
It's the steady appearance of articles like this that make me optimistic about Korea. Last year there were several in a similar vein.

I'm interested to see how the chronic Korea-bashers respond to this.

[monkinwonderland]

Good article, but it's a shame it will fall on too many deaf ears. When a country progresses as quickly as Korea has, it's all too easy to adopt a superior and chauvinistic attitude toward others. Add that will the way Koreans identify themselves and their 'pure' culture.
I think it will take a long time (and lot more than well-written editorials) before there's any real change in attitude.

[CentralCali]

I'll be optimistic when such editorials actually have any effect. Until then, it's just words blowin' in the wind.

[A2Steve]

Korea often reminds me of the old skit on SNL, the "PI PI" or politically incorrect Private Investigator.

He nearly lost his mind while investigating a murder at a college, fist finding a Black victim who was a professor, and then that he was married to a white woman, who was an MD.

I can see people having a stroke here in Korea if that episode ever made it on "Star King," or whatever that "Korea's Got (Marginal) Talent" show is.....

[Unposter]

I taught some "Gu" officials. And, they were talking to me/asking my advice about the foreign wives of Korean nationals who lived in their district. They seemed sincerely concerned for their welfare and really wanted to do their best to help them aclimate to Korea. These were not young people either if you know what I mean.

The only advice I had for them was to make them feel as included as possible and they agreed that that was very important.

I get the feeling, at least in the Seoul area, that the Korean mentality toward "multi-culturalism" is changing quick. I'd say it still has a long way to go -- of course I would say the same of my home country.

No doubt Korea has problems. But no doubt Korea tries to get better.

I'll tell you what really impresses me about Korea and Koreans. They generally really want to do the right thing. They really want to be good, respected, the best. Of course, like all of us, they fall somewhat short of perfection. But, they really do try. And, I think that more than anything fuels Korea's progress. I really believe Korea is an up and coming place. It will get better.

[nautilus]

[stevieg4ever]

And this will continue until they can improve their grasp of the international language.

I also think that Koreans' behaviour, attitude and conduct when overseas is testament to your point.

[Guri Guy]

Good to see some self reflection going on. Hopefully these are not just hollow words.

[Hyeon Een]

[cheeseface]

[i4NI]

It took quite awhile for America to embrace multiculturalism, and if Hispanic and Asian girls weren't so hot i don't think we would've gotten this far. If only the posters on dave's esl cafe weren't lying about how handsome they are we could've gotten korea to like us much more, instead it's a bunch of canadians on the subway who dare to not wear deoderant and stink up the whole cable car.

thats right, if that was you today, don't think you can get away with not wearing deodorant, you stunk up the whole train and you got off at noryangjin station. if you know who you are then just go buy some deodorant, no need to post in here.

[Gwangjuboy]

Korea shouldn't have to embrace multiculturalism per se, it just needs to treat its current foreign population better - and there are already visible signs that Korea is vastly improving its record in this area. In Hanam, which has a sizable South-Asian migrant community, local governmental agencies have established a community centre, and an advisory panel to assist their foreign residents. I have also seen exposes which highlight the gross treatment that some foreign factory workers suffer at the hands of unscrupulous bosses, and the sense of outrage on the part of the Korean production team was pulpable.

It's also nausiating to hear liberal Johnny-come lately westerners pontificating to Koreans on the merits of multi-culturalism when the jury back home is still out on whether or not it has been a success; it might have brought certain economic benefits - especially to our captains of industry, but in terms of social cohesion its impact has been largely negative. Korea is becoming increasingly dependant on cheap labour and in so far as it is an economic imperative it should be encouraged, but outside that, no radical social experiment is required.