Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mithrae · Joined: 22 Jul 2009

Seems that Obama was less than eager to rub shoulders with the Korean masses. Had he been informed about Korea's 'no blacks need apply' hiring policies? One wonders. Anyway, Koreans seem a bit put out.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/11/116_55820.html

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

mc_jc · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Location: C4B- Cp Red Cloud, Area-I

It was exhaustion- he has been travelling almost non-stop for about a week before landing here and he was very tired during his trip.
All the major heads of the agencies on Yongsan met up with him for a luncheon and he was visibly exhausted. When he spoke, he did say he was sorry for the fatigue because he was ushered from one place to another with little time to settle down.

Joe666 · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Location: Jesus it's hot down here!

hellofaniceguy wrote:

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

I think he was just tired from 2MB's impromptu Taekwondo lesson:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/11/115_55832.html

Bailsibub · Joined: 22 Dec 2006

Non-stop travel, exhaustion, ushered from one place to another, an impromptu Taekwando lesson... sounds like he had the same experience every E2 has on their first day here. He11, he even pulled a runner!

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

In preparation for his trip to Korea Obama spent the last 2 months reading posts on Dave's. After reading all the horrific stories of malicious abuse that has been heaped on the poor American ESL teachers and their Canadian cousins at the hands of their Korean overlords he did, indeed, decide to snub Korea.

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

Koreans are a little hypersensitive and are super-easy to offend...but the truth of the matter is..

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

This is the Korea Times, remember. We're lucky the article didn't suggest that he was only here to buy drugs and corrupt the local women, and that he left early because he refused an AIDS test. Or perhaps the KT was hoping for a sound bite that they could print, such as "kimchi is spicy."

The Gipkik · Joined: 30 Mar 2009

Economics. Korea just isn't as economically important to the US as Japan and China. Totally fair to put Korea last--at least he dropped by.

steveinincheon · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: in The Shadows of Gyeyangsan

If it weren't for little Kimmie pulling a hissy fit for losing the hairstyles of Elvis competition for the 3rd year running, Obama wouldn't have stopped by at all. The FTA is on no one's agenda back in the States and Korea's commitment to Afghanistan will be a drop in the bucket in the scheme of things. People here should thank their neighbors to the North that he even dropped by at all. Still, remember how tired you are your first day after a TransPacific flight. Then imagine that you fly to Japan have hours of speeches and meetings with dignitaries, fly to Singapore repeat, fly to China repeat x2, and then fly to Korea and repeat again. The guy is obviously sleep deprived, probably frazzled from meetings that have resulted in nothing, and then probably told over and over again that the kimchi will be too spicy for him. And then the K-s are grumbling because he didn't go out in public to experience the pushy ajummas and spitting ajeossis first hand.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

The usual little man of asia complex.

mc_jc · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Location: C4B- Cp Red Cloud, Area-I

That's the part that is irking many officials onbase right now, including me- Korea is crying about the US ratifying the KORUS FTA while having to commit to the war in Afghanistan.
Right now, all are contributing- NATO, France, etc.
What makes Korea any different.
In order for an incentive to be given, a sacrifice has to be made~ In this case, in order for Korea to enjoy the benefits of an FTA (that balances out to be in Korea's favor), they have to make a contribution to the war effort like everyone else.

Welcome to the world of politics

moped · Joined: 14 Nov 2009

Samurai Blur · Joined: 20 Aug 2009

To be honest, I really did get the feeling that the article is attacking him in the beginning. The author seems to try and balance it out in the end, but when it comes down to it I have to ask, why is this even an article? Really what does it matter? So far as I can tell, he didn't miss a meeting with anyone important. He didn't insult anyone or publicly state that Korea is boring or anything like that. He was probably just tired. Do these 'journalists' have nothing better to write about?