Korean Job Discussion Forums

[indiglo123]

Just heard the news last night. One of my fellow friends and teachers here in Korea has hung himself. Word is that he was going through a tough divorce with his Korean wife and could not take it any longer. Seems he was on an emotional roller-coaster lately. I am not sure exactly why he did it, but I ask myself did life in Korea make it happen?

I recall that he was voted Teacher of the Year about a year ago and was then let go after 5 years teaching at the same hogwan. Reason being, the hogwan owner is part of some sort of recruiting company and can make money for every new teacher he hires. Crappy but true. The hogwan is close to mine and had a complete turnover of teachers. Even if the teacher wants to renew their contract the owner doesn't allow it. In any case I feel that this is part of the reason why this unfortunate incident happened.

Secondly, the struggles of being a foreigner married to a Korean woman may have taken its toll on him. I know from experience that life can be hard for cross cultural relationships. I know that he was married to a beautiful, tall, Korean woman who last I heard was cheating on him. Do you think that the communication barrier between foreigners and Koreans puts foreigners in a bad situation? I really do. Especially in these tough economic times, I think most Korean woman have there mind set on finding the richest man possible to marry. Not necessarly Mr. Right, but Mr. Rich.

I am only speculating on obvious things that have I seen and experienced. I guess I am just finding it hard to understand why someone would take such drastic measure to escape the harsh reality of life. Is life really that hard?

I am finding it hard to wrap my head around this. What do you people really think about life it Korea? Have you every though of suicide as an escape? Sound too drastic to me!


Anyways, I wish everyone the best over the holidays and if you are feeling down, call someone and talk about it. Life could be a lot worse.

[TECO]

Man, that sucks.

Wasn't there a thread started here last month or so by a teacher who was thinking of killing himself?

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

[katydid]

Do you have a link or anything to this story?

[indiglo123]

It's not in the news,

He was one of my friends from Daejeon. Just found out last night.

[rapier]

thats really sad, and tough.
Of course we can only speculate on reasons why, etc. People commit suicide the world over, so i wouldn't lay the blame at cultural barriers or the misery of Korea.
Your wife/ lover cheating on you? that is incredibly difficult to handle- particularly if she is what you've built everything on..
Yes, there was a guy talking about suicide on here a couple of weeks back. I also heard some sort of rumour about Mody ba....hectic.

[dutchman]

Sad. Hope this couple didnt have any kids.

[rapier]

All condolences to the friends and family of the victim.
I've known a couple of people commit suicide. I believe on of the prime causes is isolation from others, the enunding feeling that you are not truly loved, appreciated, understood, or accepted.
All the more reason to love, accept, and understand yourself first off. And secondly, to do the same for others.
We live in a world where pride is everything, and even simple friendship, and the withholding of it is a weapon.. it may sound strange, but i've always felt able to connect, identify with, and encourage people from all walks of life..this is very important.

[Cedar]

I contemplated suicide when I was being stalked seriously here in Korea. In the end, I just left Korea. Fate, or self-preservation. I miss Korea, my friends and the food, and being able to understand what was going on around me. I teach in China now. Perhaps someday I'll go back to Korea, it's certainly cleaner, better money and it has tuna fish in every store.

Ultimately I think that everyone has contemplated suicide at some point, that is, unless they are unimaginative, or have an amazingly trauma free life. It takes a real feeling of isolation and lack of (percieved) options though to go through with it. Perhaps that's why when we meet people who seem a little wiggy around the edges and starved for contact with other Westerners we should give them a bit of our time, even if we have a happy self-contained life already. Try to reduce the feeling of isolation that can grow on someone here-- even if that just means smiling on the street.

[Mr. Pink]

They do say (statistics) that the holiday season is the time of the year with the most suicides.

Sucks he didn't have anyone to help him through his tough time.

Hope anyone considering suicide reads this thread and considers getting help.

[tokki]

It sucks that the wife was cheating, if she was infact cheating. But I dont think you can point to her being Korean and him western. Its not ethnicity or race that makes people cheat. Anyway, condolences are in order.

[cisco kid]

Condolences to family and friends of this man.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

Let me be the first asshole to say that this post is 100% troll-stuff. And here's why:

- Your "friend" worked for five years at the same hagwon, but was fired by the director, who is notorious for this fact:

[jajdude]

I don't know....

[jajdude]

I don't know if the story is true or not. But read ( or think?) carefully: "Just heard the news last night" does not mean "heard it on the news". Later the original poster pointed out it was not on (or in) the news.

Example..... I just heard the news: Jack got fired!

(Not on TV or in the newspaper, I suspect)

However, the part about a hagwon owner making money to hire a new teacher (for his own school?) sounds strange.

[Deconstructor]