Korean Job Discussion Forums

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

In my next podcast on the Midnight Runner, I'll be interviewing my friend Mina. Mina was formerly a stewardess for a world-class airline. She will talk about her studies at "stewardess school", Sookmyung University, and the Univ. of Pennsylvania.

Learn about stewardess school, the competition and how hard she had to work to become a stewardess, and what life was like high up in the sky.

Any questions you have for her would be greatly appreciated... yes, she's gorgeous.... keep them nice, please!

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

What's she doing at U Penn? Stewardess school, or English school? I ask because that's an Ivy League school, unless it's less selective for international students.

Why did she get into that job?

Do people look down their nose at her? In the US, because flight attendants suck and everyone knows it, it's a laughable career choice. But in Asia it seems the opposite. Do people wonder why she didn't apply herself and her English in another profession?

How long a shelf life does she think she'll have in Korea? Actually, are there mandated age limits in this industry?

Would she continue with an overseas airline after, um . . . after she becomes too old to work here?

Does she think the preference for young women in the Korean industry is a good thing? Should be changed? What does she say when people think it should be opened up to more men and to older applicants?

She's presumably flown with airlines in other countries while travelling. How does the service compare country by country? What are the best and worst parts of Korea's airline service industry?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've been waiting for more information about this industry.

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

I've heard that the age cutoff is 28 years old. And yes, it is funny how back in the US it is a shit job but here it is so prestigious.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I'd like to throw my hat into the ring with some questions as well:

1. What is airline policy on people joining the "mile high club"? How often does it really happen?
2. Do flight attendants get guys trying to flirt with them alot?
3. How is it determined which flight attendants will work first, business, and economy class? Do any of the ones in first class hope to meet a rich guy while working?
4. What's her biggest horror story at work? As in, any ridiculously rude passengers?

eIn07912 · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Location: seoul

will she marry me?

...and if not, can she at least get me that discount for breaking my heart?

and in all seriousness... do FA's do any kind of training for possible terrorists? i heard some learn hand to hand combat, that'd be sweet.

blurgalurgalurga · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

Does she have any advice for the ten or twenty thousand students currently enrolled as flight attendant majors here in Korea? I teach some, and I don't like their chances. Is it a viable major?

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

I've heard rumors of something similar to the 'casting couch' existing in Korea within the flight attendant industry. Any truth to that?

What skills are the most necessary for becoming a flight attendant?

Is English ability more important that other skills? (beside friendliness and looks)

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

Is it still considered a good job primarily b/c of its access to good husbands?

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

A former students mother was a stewardess. She had married the former daewoo chief's secretary. Male secretary. They were rich. Since then I figured that why so many girls want to be stewardesses in this country.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

She studied with a UPENN English program for a year, I believe... not for a full degree.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I guess they all need to have good English skills? I had a one on one class before with a gorgeous Korean girl who wanted to be a flight attendant in the near future, but her English was not very good; was teaching her some basic stuff really, so I'd assume her chances of becoming a flight attendant were slim.

semi-fly · Joined: 07 Apr 2008

1. With regards to her being a stewardess were there annual evaluations, if so what kind?

2. Other than what has been discussed previous regarding requirements (i.e. pretty and friendly) were there other aspects the airline looked at when considering potential stewardesses? (i.e. specific background)

3. Did the airline keep track of a stewardesses appearance (weight, skin, etc.) and reprimand them if they failed to keep up a certain appearance?

4. How did you or a fellow stewardess deal with an unruly passenger?

Troll_Bait · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:43 am Post subject:

Is she single?

But seriously ... why is being a flight attendant such a popular job? Do they have to "retire" when they get "old" (as in *gasp* thirty years old)? What kinds of careers can post-flight attendant women have? (I mean, besides marrying a chaebol owner's son.) (chaebol = multinational conglomerate, like LG, Samsung, Hyundai, etc.)

There are so many flight attendant schools (community colleges and hogwons) and yet so few can become flight attendants. Don't most of these young women know that their chances are slim? Aren't a lot of these flight attendant schools a big scam? Do a lot of these young women naively believe that their school is the "good" one that will get them the job over the hundreds of other applicants?

Is she single?