Korean Job Discussion Forums

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject: Mandatory Donations!

I came back from lunch and one of my teachers had an envelope with money and she told me that every teacher must donate 50,000 to give to poor people and it must be given today. I said I don't have 50,000 right now and she said that's okay she'd just put the money in for me and I will pay her back next week.

Has anyone else been expected to 'donate' money? I'm all for donating but 50,000 is a lot of money, especially since I just sent most of my money back home. If you're wanting to do donations shouldn't it be optional and you can give whatever you want? This is crap!

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Never heard of anything like this before.

grandpa · Joined: 19 Oct 2009

highdials5 · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

dunc180 · Joined: 07 Nov 2009

Yep. But 50,000 seems pretty hefty. I think our donation was 10,000 - 20,000 won. I remember asking for a little more information but all I got was "poor people." I just went along with it.

aishiii · Joined: 24 Apr 2009

Sucker. Do you even have proof that it's for a charity?

It is crap. Don't do it. Why do people do whatever Koreans tell them to do? They have no idea what bills/debts/expenses you currently have so they have no right to demand that kind of money. Koreans are selfish, self-centered, inwardly focused people. So they assume if they want to give 50,000, everyone should feel the same way.

Stop bending over for Koreans. Unfortunately, foreigners have already set a precedent that we'll go along with such foolish things.

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

ReeseDog · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Location: Classified

Ask them if they'll at least buy you dinner first.

andrewchon · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject:

'Tis the time for giving.

Besides that, Korean work places have that kind of donation where everyone pitches in certain amount, unless you wanna lose face and everyone call you '짠도리 짠순이" behind your back. They also keep record of who gave how much if the envelopes have names on it. If you were less than generous, they may use that against you.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

storysinger81 · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Location: Daegu

I think Korean charities often have very questionable overhead. So many of my friends do that "sponsor a poor kid in Africa" thing and everything I've read about those kinds of charities in the U.S. say they have like 30-40% operating costs (a good charity should be way under 20%) because of all the bleeding-heart advertising and that they only have like 5-6 kids they rotate through all the "sponsors." Most of the rest of charitable groups seem missionary in nature.

Ask them for the charity's name/website and check it out. If it's a worthy place, cool. If not, I would find a charity that IS worthwhile (I have several I could note if anyone is interested) and send your money there. Explain to the woman this is what you're doing. Hell, do this every year even if no one asks you to!

Although, I have to say you let her put the money in for you, so now you're out 50,000 to a possibly sketchy charity. Unless you want to destroy that relationship.

ReeseDog · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Location: Classified

andrewchon · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:02 pm Post subject:

TUM: I can see you going into the 짠도리 list. Not that it'll effect you much anyway. Cool

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:29 pm Post subject:

I'm definitely going to ask about what charity it is, hopefully it's not shady. Supposedly all of the students have to donate the same amount, so it sounds like the poor people won't be so poor anymore after this Laughing

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired