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legalquestions
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:29 am Post subject: Korean peoples lack of integrity - root cause?? |
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Generally speaking, Korean people seem to lack integrity. There exists widespread corruption at all levels. Examples include, but are not limited to, bribery, nepotism, cronyism, cheating, cutting corners, plaigiarism, unfair nationalistic trade policies, regionalism, etc.
This lack of integrity, of course, leads to a general lack of credibility, both here and abroad. While other countries may also suffer from this problem, Koreans seem to take it to a new level. Why is this so? It intrigues me; what is it about the Korean psyche/history/make up/etc. that causes this? Is it Confucianism? overpopulation? fatalistic outlook? inbreeding? |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:32 am Post subject: |
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| I'm not a huge fan of the Korean way of doing business or their feeble "it's our culture" excuses, but to say that "Koreans lack integrity" is a little harsh. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:38 am Post subject: Re: Korean peoples lack of integrity - root cause?? |
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| legalquestions wrote: |
Generally speaking, Korean people seem to lack integrity. There exists widespread corruption at all levels. Examples include, but are not limited to, bribery, nepotism, cronyism, cheating, cutting corners, plaigiarism, unfair nationalistic trade policies, regionalism, etc.
This lack of integrity, of course, leads to a general lack of credibility, both here and abroad. While other countries may also suffer from this problem, Koreans seem to take it to a new level. Why is this so? It intrigues me; what is it about the Korean psyche/history/make up/etc. that causes this? Is it Confucianism? overpopulation? fatalistic outlook? inbreeding? |
This is VERY common in any third world country and obviously doesn't disappear when one becomes a first world country.
This picture best explains it.....
[img]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:World_Map_Index_of_perception_of_corruption.png[/img]
South Korea seems to be the same catogory as france and spain.... |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:48 am Post subject: Re: Korean peoples lack of integrity - root cause?? |
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| legalquestions wrote: |
| Generally speaking, Korean people seem to lack integrity. There exists widespread corruption at all levels. Examples include, but are not limited to, bribery, nepotism, cronyism, cheating, cutting corners, plaigiarism, unfair nationalistic trade policies, regionalism, etc. |
'Integrity' obscures the issue, puts on culture-specific blinkers.
More illuminating are the threads about the role of 'truth' in Korean culture, and lots of past threads on the nature of responsibility and obligation here, starting at home and radiating outward based on closeness of relationship and personal ties, organizations and affiliations, from family to firms to regions then to nation (in that order), etc.
The nature of trust here is not to one's word, to some contract made with a stranger based on a handshake, a signature or a verbal assent. The nature of friendship is different too. If by integrity is meant resolve, a determination to get something done, then Koreans have integrity in spades. But be aware of where responsibilities and relationships are ordered differently here.
Anyone who comes onto a Korean discussion board with the username "legalquestions" is already behind the eight ball in the cultural understanding department. |
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Jeff's Cigarettes
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| It's called "Korea Fighting". |
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Starla
Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:24 am Post subject: |
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I think corruption exists everywhere on the face of this globe. Name one place in the world that is free of it. In the U.S., we can look toward our government and large corporations for that.
Speaking from personal experience, I've met far more Americans with no integrity than Koreans. When a Korean person makes plans with me for a "meeting," they don't cancel or show up late or forget. In the U.S., it's a common thing. What is it about the American psyche that makes so many Americans such flakes? |
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bobbyhanlon
Joined: 09 Nov 2003
Location: 서울
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:35 am Post subject: |
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get to know people.
if you're expecting rules and norms to be as rigid as in the west, you can forget it. things work on relationships in korea. so if you meet people and give off the 'i hate your country' vibe (which you seem to do) then clearly they will have no inclination to treat you with any decency.
i know very well that if i came to do business in korea with people i didn't really know, i'd probably get screwed. but because i made some very good friends in korea i know i could work with them any time, with absolute confidence. |
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legalquestions
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:47 am Post subject: |
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All I know is what I read in the newspapers (Will Rogers quote, by the way); and I mentioned that it (corruption) happens everywhere - read my original post more closely before you launch personal attacks against me.
But back to my original post: why is it SO MUCH MORE common and widespreadhere? You neophytes stay away, please. This is a serious inquiry................. |
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ChopChaeJoe
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:16 am Post subject: |
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In America, anything not nailed down will be stolen in minutes. Whole trailer parks bred from the same brother and sister. Police who think "respect" is justification for giving you a serious beating. People who will kill you for $10...
If Koreans lack a certain integrity, they also lack a venal savageness found in America. |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:20 am Post subject: |
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| ChopChaeJoe wrote: |
In America, anything not nailed down will be stolen in minutes. Whole trailer parks bred from the same brother and sister. Police who think "respect" is justification for giving you a serious beating. People who will kill you for $10...
If Koreans lack a certain integrity, they also lack a venal savageness found in America. |
You have no idea what you're talking about. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| legalquestions wrote: |
But back to my original post: why is it SO MUCH MORE common and widespreadhere? ...... |
As compared to....? |
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retrogress
Joined: 07 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:27 am Post subject: |
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| jkelly80 wrote: |
| ChopChaeJoe wrote: |
In America, anything not nailed down will be stolen in minutes. Whole trailer parks bred from the same brother and sister. Police who think "respect" is justification for giving you a serious beating. People who will kill you for $10...
If Koreans lack a certain integrity, they also lack a venal savageness found in America. |
You have no idea what you're talking about. |
Unfortunately, chopchaejoe does know what he's talking about. His description of the good'ole US of A is right on.
The things that he mentioned and so many more unfortunate experiences in the US make the good things about the US hard to focus on. |
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legalquestions
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:42 am Post subject: |
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Jesus Christ, morons! Who is talking about the USA? My original post was about the lack of integrity here in Korea. Why do you insist on steering the thread away from Korea? If you must, start another thread about the lack of integrity in the USA! Discourse is a good thing, but this particular thread is about KOREA! Vent your anti-US spleen elsewhere!
Just pick up the local English language newspapers; everyday it is the same thing - the presidents' brothers being indicted/convicted for corruption, ad infinitum.
Again, why is it so rampant here in Korea? Focus, please! |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:50 am Post subject: |
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| retrogress wrote: |
| jkelly80 wrote: |
| ChopChaeJoe wrote: |
In America, anything not nailed down will be stolen in minutes. Whole trailer parks bred from the same brother and sister. Police who think "respect" is justification for giving you a serious beating. People who will kill you for $10...
If Koreans lack a certain integrity, they also lack a venal savageness found in America. |
You have no idea what you're talking about. |
Unfortunately, chopchaejoe does know what he's talking about. His description of the good'ole US of A is right on.
The things that he mentioned and so many more unfortunate experiences in the US make the good things about the US hard to focus on. |
What makes you so qualified? |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:59 am Post subject: |
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| legalquestions wrote: |
| Just pick up the local English language newspapers; everyday it is the same thing - the presidents' brothers being indicted/convicted for corruption, ad infinitum. |
Korean media covers corruption so much in large part because Koreans are sensitive to injustice! They have a deep sense of han. And they are mistrustful of their national-level reps most of all.
Read Korea Unmasked by professor Rhie Won-bok. It may be in cartoon form but it's a serious look at Korean culture and history by a Korean prof of history. |
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