Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tacticalbuddhist]

I will be landing in Korea in less than a month. Coming from the US, I am looking forward to getting away from all of the marketing and political ads that constantly bombard us. It seems like the American dream has devolved into no one being good enough and politics so negative that I am surprised anyone even votes anymore. How has your move changed your views on this? Does the lack of Korean language skills really remove you from this daily grind? I know Korea is very capitalistic, but does it seem different for you?

[mcviking]

You'll be to busy trying to date Korean girls, getting shafted by your boss, getting stared at, and going through the emotional roller coaster of I love/fing hate Korea, to care about American politics.

[redaxe]

You won't really notice when Korea has elections, they don't really have attack ads on TV and you won't understand the political talk shows, but if you're in Seoul you will notice the protests and candlelight vigils in the street that bring out thousands of riot police and shut down traffic and public transportation once every few months.

Korean advertising is relentless and pervasive, but it is usually so ridiculous you can't help but laugh at it. Several of last year's most popular radio hits were written as advertising jingles for cellular phones.

[tacticalbuddhist]

That's a relief. And I am serious.

[tacticalbuddhist]

What is most of the advertising like? This conversation reminds me of a scene from The Big Bang Theory:

Raj: The only thing I've learned in the last two hours is that American men love drinking beer, pee too often, and have trouble getting erections.
Leonard: Focus on the football game, not the commercials, Raj.
Raj: I'm just saying, maybe if you people cut back on the beer, you could get out of the bathroom and satisfy your women without pharmaceutical help.

[tatertot]

[tatertot]

[fugitive chicken]

[oldfatfarang]

You can always tell it's election time here. There's lines of older K ladies lined up at intersections. They are all dressed the same (white gloves, matching colored uniforms and caps) and are making choreographed hand motions. It's simply hilarious. They look kinda like North Korean cheering squads.

Of course, there's always a big banner and a placard of their candidate wearing a suit. (Interesting to see some of the politicial candidates are actually smiling.)

[machoman]

you probably won't be watching television, so you're not forced to see any ads.