Korean Job Discussion Forums

fence sitter · Joined: 17 Aug 2006

While shopping at Homeplus today I was approached by a 10 year old who began asking all the usual questions (in Korean, naturally). I was initially annoyed, but then I noticed the kid's clothes. They were ratty. Also, he was missing far more teeth than your average 10 year old should be missing (I think?)

I asked the kid where his mother was and he said "I don't know." I thought, huh, weird. She's probably the janitor here or something and the kid's just loitering around waiting for her shift to end. He followed me around all over the place while I shopped, grabbing stuff I didn't want and putting it in my basket. Finally I just started rattling off my shopping list and he helped me pick up some items. I could've backhanded him when he handed me the Korean brand spaghetti sauce, though. Mortal sin.

Finally it was check out time and I asked him "Where are you going?", because he was still following me, and he said "With you!" I asked "Where's your home?" and he said "I don't have a home." The kid looked so ratty I simply had to believe him, so I bought him a candy bar at the checkout counter. He followed me into the elevator and another man asked if he were my kid. Nope. Finally, I asked him where he was going and he said "With you" and I said "Impossible" and we parted ways with a handshake in the parking garage.

This is the first time I've ever witnessed such a thing in Korea. In Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines it was like every five minutes, but here? The economy must really be going to hell in a hand basket for kids to be latching on to foreigners in the supermarket.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Just a candy bar? You could have ya know...called the police and had his parents found.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

We all know what the police is like here. I bet there probably is an unfiled amber alert or missing child report out for this kid right now

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

How could you just buy him a candy bar and leave? I would've reported this kid to a Homeplus employee!

ruffie · Joined: 11 Oct 2006

Worse yet, this could have been some MBC hidden camera expose to see if foreigners are kind or some other such nonsense.

This story is disturbing, like one of those bad old country songs about kids freezing in the snow then being taken up to heaven by the angels. The homeless kid wandering through a temple to capitalism like Costco.

I would never have just left the kid there. Obviously no one else in the store cared either. I've been in that situation, and simply brought the kid to some kind looking ajumma. This is not right.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

*shudder I hadn't thought of it being a ploy by MBC for one of their wretched shows.

fence sitter · Joined: 17 Aug 2006

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Whiich Homeplus was it?

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

No, I've lived here for 3 years. It doesn't matter what the end result is you just have to do your part and take the moral highroad. I'm not attacking you but I don't know how you could leave with a clean conscience. At least leave feeling that you tried...
Maybe that's just me.

By the way, I was at the pet area of E-mart the other day and I saw a dead fish floating around...I told the employee and he promptly took the fish out. So don't think that all Koreans don't care.

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

i don't care where you are, you are under NO obligation to 'take the moral high road' in this situation. besides, wouldn't it be worse for the kid to get booted out onto the street? why is it whitey's job to save the world?

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

English Matt · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

fence sitter · Joined: 17 Aug 2006

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

God give this guy a break. He did the right think. Honestly I have never seen orphans running around South Korea. He was in a f-up situtaton. He actually handled it quite well. He had more patience then me. I would have stopped shopping and left the store.

As to handing the kid off to a Homeplus employee - Hah. You ever try finding a lost wallet. It goes either two ways - Dumb Idiotic looks as the employee just stands their and shrugs their soldiers till you go away OR Lots of hand waving, phone calls, translating tries, and eventually some sort of understanding - AN hour later. The kid would probably have run off before then of both cases.

Honestly I think this kid was either playing you or mentally retarded. If the kid was really desperate he could have gone up to a KOREAN or a POLICE officer.

And fence sitter if you are still feeling guilty. Go donate some time at a local orphanage. Help some poor kids learn English.

Now if he had left the kid crying and helpless in the middle of the wilderness. Then I would be crying foul.

Give me a Break.

fence sitter · Joined: 17 Aug 2006

I don't feel guilty about anything. Anyone who has been to a developing or third world country knows that this kind of thing happens all the time, everywhere. There's nothing you can do about it. No, really. There's nothing you can do about it. Even Mother Theresa ultimately failed. You are not Mother Theresa.

Here's some advice for anyone who's one of those people who needs to make themselves feel better about living well in this cold, cruel world. When Christmas comes up, don't buy your family and friends gifts. Donate to respectable charities on their behalf. That will put your conscience right, if it needs a righting.