Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Marchioness]

I find it pretty difficult to make comparisons of any kind between Korea and Canada and come up with an answer that makes logical or emotional sense.

Example: I have never been approached by so-called panhandlers in Ulsan the way I would be in Vancouver or Toronto. However, the first time I saw a dreadfully crippled and malformed little women, dragging what one has to call 'her body' for lack of any other word to describe it, across the pavement in the warren of back-alleys in Sinjeong-dong, I was so shocked that I burst into tears. I simply did not have the emotional wherewithal to deal with the sight of her pitiful condition. Although I groped around my pocket for all the money I had and dropped it into the little wooden box she dragged with her, I felt positively sick and felt that the government or society in general should make some kind of provision for her; a wheelchair or even a wooden platform so that she would not have to be subjected to the pain and filth of the naked pavement.

I have seen other crippled and dreadfully malformed people in the open markets where they beg, but I believe their conditions could be improved somewhat by a more caring and compassionate society. Nevertheless, my Korean friends always pull me away and refuse to discuss the issue.

Speaking of refusing to discuss certain painful issues: does someone have the answer as to why Koreans will absolutely refuse to discuss the adoption of Korean babies? Every time I broach the subject, their faces turn cold and they will talk about something else. I'm on a one-woman campaign to discover what all this means and I'm determined to find out. I'd like your viewpoints on both the above subjects and maybe some of you could shed some light ...

[Alias]

[Psy]

Most panhandlers I've come across, as The Marchioness stated, were either serverely disabled, deformed, or blind. These people I can understand and I try to help out. It is the able-bodied ones that should be ashamed of themselves.

[Ya-ta Boy]

the Marchioness wrote:

Speaking of refusing to discuss certain painful issues: does someone have the answer as to why Koreans will absolutely refuse to discuss the adoption of Korean babies?

I've had no trouble talking to people about this topic. Maybe it is in your approach. How do you bring up the subject?

There is a sensitivity about it. Many are embarrassed that babies are exported. It seems like a movement is developing to prohibit overseas adoption, but so far there is little willingness by Korean families to adopt.

The result of that would be even more kids stuck in orphanages where they suffer discrimination at school. I asked about that and was told by several people that orphans don't have parents to raise them 'right', so they will grow up to be bad people. They will also have trouble getting higher education, a good job and getting married due to lacking a 'good' family.

[Tiger Beer]

[Tiger Beer]

[seoulmon]

I never give money to homeless.

Then one day I went to China and I was approached by a woman who had her hands sawed off and her face melted so all that was left was a pig snout.

F*** a duck! I don't know how much I gave her. I jsut grabed the biggest bills I could!

Now that's a BEGGAR!

[prairieboy]

To clamp down on Panhandling in Vancouver (the actual city, not one of the suburbs that are collectively referred to as Vancouver), the city council installed meters, like parking meters, except they are painted yellow. They thought this would reduce the panhandling as the money was supposed to go to various homeless programs and that people walking along could have an excuse to tell off a panhandler.

The result, not much has been happening with increased funding to homeless programs as far as I'm aware. Why? I think people are less interested in putting money in a meter than they are in giving it to someone who is asking for it directly and most of the time the panhandlers and beggars set up shop around the meters so even less money goes into those meters.

Also, panhandling and begging was prohibited by the city council too. Imagine, locking up someone without the means to get themselves out of jail for asking for money for whatever purpose is intended by the panhandler whether it is to buy some food or to buy some drugs or alcohol.

In Korea it's been my experience that everyone ignores it and hopes it goes away. Neither approach works.

I give money occassionally to beggars and panhandlers but I can't give to them all, otherwise I'll end up in the same position.

[Ilsanman]

I think Busan has a lot more than Seoul. In one day I was hit up almost 10 times, the average is 4 for a day in Seoul.

[TheUrbanMyth]

The Philippines has it worse. In 3-4 years in Korea, I was never approached as many times as I was during 3 weeks in the Philippines. It was never able-bodied men though. Usually a woman with 2-3 children or a child (almost always a little girl). Foreigners are literally seen as walking money banks down there.

[prairieboy]

If you think the Phillipines are bad you should travel to Vietnam. It's generally always kids, sometimes they are around 4 or 5 years old. They don't take no for an answer and will follow you down the street regardless how many other people walk by.

The thing is they don't just ask for money but they try to make it seem as though they are selling something. They will carry doublemint gum or some flower that they picked at the side of the road. They will hold it out to you like a gift and if you touch it then you bought it. They will refuse to take it back and will follow you until you give up the money or you have proved to be just too tough a nut to crack.

In some cases they won't even hold it out for your inspection, they will simply lay it on your arm (did I mention to keep your hands in your pockets or they'll stick what they are selling in your hand and expect you to buy it). If it touches you in any way they expect you to give them money for it.

They are usually satisfied by 2000 or 3000 dong, which is roughly 200 won.

[Alias]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Every country is different. I was hit up by beggars quite often in Mexico, but they were polite (at least for me). In Bali I didn't see beggars, but there was some damned aggravating pest trying to sell me junk every three seconds, which was worse.

In Edmonton, Alberta we tried the spare-change meters on the side of Whyte Avenue, but people just vandalized the meters and they quickly disappeared.

To me the number of beggars does not always reflect the poverty of the country, but also the amount of charity. There are not many panhandlers in Alberta because people aren't as willing to give people money if there are lots of jobs, and beggars are treated with absolute contempt. On Spring Garden Road in Halifax, however, people must be giving these recreational beggars money-- why else would spoiled, trendy uni students be pretending to be poor on the street corner?

Maybe there are few beggars in Korea overall because people refuse to give them money--it's that simple. This is not a tipping or a charitable society towards strangers. If no one gives you anything all day, you either starve or find a way out of it, but you don't keep begging for nothing.

Ken:>

[dogbert]

TB, you're right on about S.F. Or at least, I had the same experiences day in, day out that you did.

Take a look at this commentary from a Chron columnist:

To the New Mayor

[Tiger Beer]