Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

Chuseok woes
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/


The three-day Chuseok holiday period starts today. Koreans traditionally celebrate Chuseok, or full-moon harvest day, with relatives who gather at their hometowns for family reunions.

While mass exodus from Seoul is expected to start this morning as millions head homeward, the number of people traveling to their hometowns to celebrate Chuseok is expected to be smaller than in previous years.

One of the reasons is that this year`s Chuseok holiday period falls on the weekend, giving city workers just three days to travel to their hometowns and return to work. Many who have chosen to stay at home this Chuseok say that the short holiday period makes it too tiring to travel -- the highways are expected to be congested throughout the holiday and traveling to Busan from Seoul by car may take more than 10 hours.

Financial constraints are another major reason for staying home. Many workers find it too expensive to make it to the annual family reunion. High prices have thinned the pockets of workers who find buying gifts for family members burdensome this year.

Many people in their 20s and 30s are foregoing Chuseok celebrations with families. They cite family members` questions about job prospects as one of the reasons they are staying away from reunions this year.

With the unemployment rate among 15-29 year-old age group standing at 7.1 percent in August, the youths of this country are saddled with anxieties about their future at too early an age. It is unfortunate that at a time in their lives when they should look forward with optimism and enthusiasm, these young people already know what it is like to not have jobs.

Questions about marriage are stressful for those of marriageable age, so much so that they would rather skip time with their families than be grilled by folks back home. At a time when more women are holding jobs and couples are marrying late -- many for financial reasons -- intrusive questions by well-meaning relatives can often dishearten young men and women.

For many elderly parents in the countryside whose children have chosen not to come home for family reunions, this Chuseok will be a desolate one. Chuseok is not about giving gifts and preparing lavish feasts. It is a time for families to celebrate the blessings of the year -- which should not be limited to material blessings.

It is unfortunate that many will forego the joy of spending time with their loved ones this year for financial reasons. It is hoped that during next Chuseok, many more can make the trip back to their hometowns and join their families in celebrating the bounties of the year.







2008.09.13

[wylies99]

[bassexpander]

Fly by plane, as we are today, and you'll pay an additional 70,000 won RT to busan for gas tax.

It now costs us 200,000 each!

Now that gas prices have come down, they still keep the tax.

[Faunaki]

We get to stay in Seoul - no exodus to the countryside. Woo hoo! And this year my MIL didn't make ammonia fish. happy happy joy joy

[sojourner1]

I tried to take a bus out of my town yesterday and none were available. They sent them all to the cities to pick people up. They told me I could ride local buses, the ones with a money box, all the way to the Gangneung or Wonju in order to get a bus to Seoul or Sokcho. That would take 5 hours to Sokcho (if I don't get lost or confused) and it's unknown how long it would take to Seoul. Looks like I'm staying and the weather is just picture perfect to go hiking and sightseeing. There's just so little transportation and shopping in my local area. Trying to get in and out of a small town in a timely manner just doesn't happen if you don't have a car as services are severely limited. There are no good straight toll highways for 80km. If going to Gangwondo to teach, go to Gangneung, Taebaek, Wonju, or Chuncheon so you have adequate transportation and some folks to be your friends. I was originally supposed to be in Taebaek, but they changed that upon arrival. Location placement is the real downer of the EPIK program where they'll put you someplace that doesn't have anything more than a school, a small ma and pop mart, a noodle restaurant, and one gimbap place.

Oddly, my town has the nicest western bar and restaurant I've ever seen in Korea(and the world), but no one goes due to a lack of population to appreciate such things. It's like a castle with real knights armor, high art, and has a courtyard like an English country mansion. The place has a western bar and great food, but there's no population locally other than me and one other teacher who do go on occasion. It's were the really rich small upper crust go to seal a deal over dinner. The local area is developing to become a comfortable retirement center. Some rich retired man who traveled the world, put this place together and he's having the whole neighborhood redone. If you come to my town, you'll be amazed to find this fancy museum style bar in Korea, but you'll be hard pressed to find an Emart and some buses to get out and about on. I'd love for all of you to come see this and start going there, but this town is totally off the path 99.99% of you go on and almost cut off from the rest of Korea unless you just get in your car and drive with a good map. They really should give us a car or set up a once a month shopping trip as well as hiking/recreation trips due to the severe limitations being far away from a main toll highway can put you in.

[taobenli]

Sojourner1-

What is the name of your town (or general area if you'd rather not say), and what's the population? And what province? I love discovering places in Korea off the beaten path...my curiosity is piqued.

[Gamecock]

[Gamecock]

[Horangi Munshin]

Maybe the gift thing is the reason. Or maybe it's the shame of being out of work and everyone in your family asking when you're going to get a job?

[sojusucks]

I saw bumper to bumper traffic during the first couple days of the Chuseok holiday where I live.

I am glad that that craziness is over.

I also saw a few people and children sleeping on the streets. They didn't look homeless. I wasn't sure what that was about but the children were crying.

[mindmetoo]

I did notice over the years Seoul was increasingly less deserted. My first year (2003) Seoul was quite the ghosttown on Sollal. But by 2007 the subways and shops were just as busy as any other day.

[Crockpot2001]

Last weekend was the best we've had since we've been here. There were no dumptruck and mixers, no honking scooters, and nobody smoking outside our door in the hall. We caught up on sleep and then hit the trails on the hills which were largely uncrowded but for the gravesites. Sweet, lonely dirt-squirting!

[wylies99]

There were very few screaming children at the War Museum. It was nice.

[tzechuk]

We had a very quiet Chuseok, which was nice - and it was at my request. My husband wanted to go to his mother's and I told him to go ahead, take our kid and go.. he thought about it and decided to stay...

The first time ever we had Chuseok by ourselves and I think my husband is digging it.. hopefully next year we can plan ahead a bit more and actually go abroad for it.