Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brento1138]

Yikes! There was a thread here on how the Korean gov. was making a Ministry of Happiness. I can now see why...

We all know the suicide rate in this country was bad, but take a read here and see just how bad it is!

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/06/117_66953.html

[oldfatfarang]

The incredibly high suicide rate here isn't news to anyone who interacts with Koreans on a daily basis. I've never met a people like this before. In fact, I've never heard adults anywhere in the world say: "I must endure."

Koreans just don't seem to understand, or seek, the joy of living. Their lives are all about: duty, obligations, money, family, work, study (start at birth and repeat until death). That's not really a recipie for happiness, and the will to live.

[AsiaESLbound]

Dam shame people kill themselves over economic hardships. It's just money. Not only in Korea is suicide increasing, it's become a worldwide phenomenon. Sorry folks, I can't offer a citation to support this fact, I just know it to be true. Old Fat Farang seems to be talking sense. A lack of culture supporting the seeking of personal happiness is absent, but a focus on working to increase economic livelihood is king. I often feel that 10 year olds are taught all about this in brainwarshing prep style, but I could be imagining things such as 10 year olds in agony wanting to be kids who go play after school instead of being robot students.

[Yaya]

The Japanese have the term "gaman" that means to endure. And the suicide rate is usually higher in richer countries than poorer ones.

[DeMayonnaise]

Sad, sad, sad. I've always commented that Koreans just don't seem to have any fun. When they do have free time, they don't even seem to be enjoying things. The entire country just needs to chill out and enjoy themselves for once.

[fugitive chicken]

I found a notebook once that describes the working culture pretty well here:

"Punctuality is a virtue for success. Bitterness becomes your greatest energy"

[ThingsComeAround]

THIS is what the nation of Korea needs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HcXcYlF3_0

[kiwigirl :O)]

I once saw on a kids pencil

"depression is not an option"

[daemyann]

[djsmnc]

I somewhat prefer a society in which the lower people on the totem pole weed themselves out. Back home they take down other people in the process, or bring society down by carrying on. Live like the best or die like the rest!

[Kissmykimchi]

[HijackedTw1light]

It's contagious. After a celebrity suicide, the suicide rate spikes across the country. They've measured it.

If you didn't know, the suicides are a big reason for the plastic barriers on subway station platforms.

[Hardy Boy]

The three Korean friends I've had who have spent the most time overseas (between 4-10 years each) have all said at one time or another that they contemplate suicide, and usually it's revolving around issues of duty, family, expectations, failures, each with children but the future of their family doesn't seem to be in the equation. I've been shocked by the open admissions (though often when drunk) and by the self-absorbed refusal to see any alternative ways of thinking, like a horse with blinkers heading for a cliff at full gallop without consideration of the options of turning left or right. There really is something *beep* up about it, but I don't know the culture well enough to pinpoint what exactly it's all about. Puzzling, indeed. Even hiking here isn't seen as some sort of joyful connection with nature. Instead, my coworker tells me she went hiking on Wednesday and it was sunny, "a good day to suicide" she smiled. I just and said, 'oh really?' and left it at that.

[Jeonmunka]

[nautilus]