Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiknkorea]

I've been wondering what happened to Matt.

I wish him luck on his recovery. The expat community really came through for him.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/07/117_48077.html

[Ruthdes]

If you joined the facebook group they've been sending out regular updates so we know what has been happening to him. If I am remembering correctly, the last message was from his mum who was passing on a message and saying that he was recovering well from his first surgery since returning to the US.

[chemicalblur]

I just read about the background on this guy. Supposedly a kid who came out here to party and binge drink (funded by "teaching esl") knowing he had serious medical condition. Not a very bright guy I'd say.

To be honest, I'm not the least surprised. Just feeds into the stereotype...

[seonsengnimble]

[Captain Corea]

As far as the newspapers read (and you can take that for whatever it's worth), he was here for 8+ months after leaving his last job.

Very few tourists I know stay in Korea for 8 months.


Good to hear the positive news for the guy though, I hope he recovers.

[andrew]

.....

[Bronski]

Schadenfreude

noun. satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.

[chemicalblur]

[Kikomom]

I'm happy too. And I'm very proud that his friends rallied for him and found a way to get those bills paid in the midst of a most unfortunate situation. I'm very happy for Matt that he didn't lose his leg and feel that he's doing the best thing now being back home having the rest of the surgeries.

People who can do what they can to help are also the lucky ones in this scenario. Whether you believe in a higher power or not, it's the power of compassion--taking care of someone in need--that they can be proud of too.

http://www.geocities.com/kikos_stuff2/buddhistprayer/

[espoir]

[Yesterday]

[seonsengnimble]

[Zulethe]

This is something for everyone to think about: your health. Most of you are young but that means very little in the event you should become seriously ill.

I have health care for life back home, but if I didn't, I would serisouly be thinking about investing in some type of supplemental health care plan.

Even though most of us have insurance through our employers, a debilitating illness can still put you through the financial ringer.

As for what kind of person this guy is, I don't think that's the point. He's a fellow human being who needed help and the community responded.

I wasn't one of them but good on you who did.

Any of us could find ourselves in the exact same situation. It's nice to know that the expats do come together in a serious time of need.

[Goku]

There's an old post about him, They were titled something like Foreigner needs medical assitance and the like.

I felt bad for him, seriously.

But the semi-general consensus (paradoxial) was that he had poor judgement for not getting the medical insurance when knowing about his condition.

Many (including myself) thinks he should have considered his condition better options instead of going around Korea on a tourist visa. If he doesn't have a few million won, why is he in Korea as a tourist? And if he's teaching illegally, why doesn't he a few million won to pay his medical bill?).

I don't like the fact that he depended on the community for support when he obviously he should taken the right steps to have prevented it. He came off as very immature. If I had medical problems myself I would get the money from family and close friends. I think burdening strangers sympathy strings when you consider the bigger causes out there, is really immature. He raised several million won if I remember correctly. But if you think about WHY and HOW he got into the situation, it wasn't really deserving of the money compared to starving children in ___________.

Although, god bless him I hope he's ok.

[Zantetsuken]

The Chemical Blur Award 50 WAP
Awarded for continuously feeling pleasure at the misfortune of another waygook.