Korean Job Discussion Forums

[liveinkorea316]

I also think that creativity is something we all have but it is like a muscle that needs to be developed, nurtured and practiced.

In Korea they get precious little time for or recognition of cretivity or individualism because as one of my adult students told me recently - most people are hell bent on being successful in exactly the same way through a good education and working for government or as a doctor, lawyer etc.

Parent fill up their kids lives with the same study of the same subjects from dawn to dusk all trying to compete for that top 1% spot that only a few will get. Meanwhile all that time of the other 99% is wasted in competition when it could be better spent nuturing their creativity and individualism.

He gave the example of Kim Yuna's parents who were visionary in that they allowed their daughter to pursue an unusual path to success. He said he wished more parents would allow their children to find their passions and follow rather than prescribing it for them.

My eyes were opened. My student is 34 and works in a government job.

[Globutron2]

[Triban]

[Globutron2]

Well you have 4 sections, we have one.

But your population outnumbers us 5 to 1. Therefore the concentration of inventiveness is superior in England.

Not to mention musical creativity is far ahead in the UK compared to your fusion jazz land.

[jdog2050]

[sadguy]

a good example of how middle school students aren't creative is watching them play a game of shirades or pictionary.

another example of creativity not being encouraged is looking at the art curriculum at universities. my korean gf is a sculpture major and she has ZERO conceptual classes. they're all classes like welding, stone work, ceramics, etc. she's not required to take any design classes or theory classes.

when i was in art school, we had concept classes and theory classes to help push and develop our ideas.

even when you walk around the university studios, there's tons of well made technically amazing work, but there are no ideas behind it. just representational stuff.

another reason why i think the creativity is low with artists is because they lack a drug culture here in korea.

[Globutron2]

My Kids made all kinds of ridiculous things I'd never have thought of.

I was often floored with laughter by one kid in particular with his ideas. Quick witted creativity too, from a 12 year old.

Maybe I'm just easily amused. (No maybe about it, but w/e)

[legrande]

[Steelrails]

[Pojogae]

I sometimes mumble under my breath that they lack creativity, but then I think of what great films they've pumped out, many of which display fabulous creativity. Haven't seen many recently, but during the 2000s I think this place was making some of the most intersting films in the world (excluding the syrupy stuff, of course). So obviously it can express itself in some avenues...

[rickpidero]

Well, when I used to teach high school, I tried all sorts of creative and easy activities. Like "design your own video game," the entire lesson was built around giving them examples so they would start brainstorming. The end of the class had them "making" their own game. Which was basically just inserting a noun and an adjective, thinking of a title, and decide what category (which was provided from a list of 7). It was like pulling teeth to get students to write anything at all; and when they did, it was mostly just writing the exact same examples I just showed them. It was frustrating, but everyone in a while I would get some truly creative games, so not all was lost. It is out there, it is just not fostered or cultivated like it is in the West. My co-teacher said this was very hard for the students, but they needed it, because they never get it in any other class.

[UknowsI]

[atwood]

[atwood]

Benchmarking is a great example of a lack of creativity on the peninsula. Every company, every institution relies on benchmarking; it's what R&D is in Korea.

I kind of admire the way LG does it. They let Samsung benchmark international products, do the market research about where to manufacture the product, etc. and then they basically set up shop next door making the same exact product but having saved all the money it took Samsung to benchmark. And they seem to usually make a product that is a little better.

[Steelrails]