Korean Job Discussion Forums

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

Something I've been noticing over the years that became apparent when I taught adults.

No one ever admits to being lazy here. For example, I work very hard so when I get a day off, I might do nothing at all. I might just stay at home, relax, watch some TV shows, play some video games and so forth. I don't hide it either. It's just one day a week!

I found that when I told this to many adult students, they were shocked. When I asked them what they did, it's everything from swimming laps in an Olympic sized pool, taking violin lessons, listening to Classical music, going on a hike and so forth. No one admits to spending time at home. I can't even get anyone to admit to getting a good night's rest.

I know this is a saving face/cultural thing where you're supposed to always put up the impression that you're being productive. My question is: are Korean adults really this gungho about doing things in their free time? Is it mostly out of guilt? Or is it just a white lie they tell to people who ask what they did on their weekend?

I heard a story about a woman who pretended to go on a vacation to a different country just so she could hide out in her apartment for a week. That's what prompted this.

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

Hmmm... "what did you do last weekend?" is one of my most practiced questions in class, and I get all sorts of answers.

But to your point, I get more than enough Koreans telling me that they did nothing but eat, sleep, and veg all weekend.

Louis VI · Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom

Korean kids and teenagers admit they "stay at home" on sundays. The most popular weekend hobby appears to be "sleeping".

There are some Koreans who are always busy. I suspect it is from that wound up too tight type that comes those who burn out and check out.

The study and work ethic is taken to the extreme as a cultural ideal. Hence, students have to sneak in downtime from their own parents, as "study, study, study" is the mantra. 'Plenty of time for hobbies after high school' is what the ten year olds are fed, or so some have told me. It's a treadmill that once they get on they can't seem to get off.

There needs to be a more healthy relationship between work, rest and play.

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

computermichael · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Location: Anyang

People are probably worried that they'll be expected to work more if they don't seem busy. I reckon Koreans like to space out and watch tv as much as any other population.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

DejaVu · Joined: 27 Jan 2011 Location: Your dreams

I think that it is dependent on the person as well as the generation. Even back in the USA I have some friends that have this terrible syndrome of always needing to be doing something. Mostly, it's because they take it from their parents since it was definitely true for most older Americans when growing up.

What bothers me just as much are those people that feel the need to be constantly social and if you decide to stay inside on a Friday or Saturday, they'll call you antisocial as if it was a blood-curdling insult.

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

DorkothyParker · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: Jeju

Well, the resting is sort of implied, right?

I may have just spent a couple hours hiking or seeing a movie, but when someone asks me what I did, it's what I would mention because I doubt they would be all that interested in my looking at pictures of cats and cakes in the intervening period.

My kindergarten and young elementary kids usually tell me what they ate, who they saw (if a relative or a friend visited) and what video games they played. They were really impressed when I told them I spend the weekend playing Nintendo and seeing Thor last week.

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

walter235 · Joined: 07 Apr 2011 Location: korea

From what I've seen, Koreans are generally miserable no matter what. Small, crowded, rat race country. Work like a dog to get thru school to go into the Army and unemployment, or be an old maid at 26. Wives stuck at home and husbands putting in a 12 hour day, etc... It shows in the way they act in their daily lives. I think most Koreans put on a front about everything.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

You're all having the opposite experience from what I'm having. When I was teaching adults and asked them about their hobbies they'd say something like "watching movies." Then I'd ask them what was the last movie they saw and they'd tell me that they only saw movies a couple times a year because they were too busy so they'd tell me the name of a movie that came out two or three years ago. This is something I'd discover time and time again.

When I asked my co-workers at my old job what they were up to on the weekends it was always mountain climbing, taking a trip to see relatives, studying (even if they weren't students), learning how to play an instrument, going somewhere or doing something with the family or just working overtime.

When I mentionned what I did in my free time (which isn't always lazy but is often leisurely), they'd talk about how they envied me and how they wish they had time to do X, Y, Z that I was doing.

This is so common, I can't believe other people haven't experienced this. It's actually part of the reason I don't get on well with Korean girls. They never have anything to talk about because they don't do anything except work or study or both.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009