Korean Job Discussion Forums

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

You can give gifts after you've been there for awhile, but it's a job, not a home stay, and there's little reason to give a gift when you first get there.

Daithi · Joined: 19 Jul 2010

Thanks for all the replies, i thought i read somewhere that it was the done thing to give a gift to the employers but thinking back i could have imagined it.

World Traveler · Joined: 29 May 2009

No, I'm sure you read it, but you read it on a recruiting site. Does that tell you anything? Never believe or trust anything a recruiter says. They are trying to rip you off and trick you. When you spend money on an expensive gift for the boss, that makes them (the recruiter who placed you) look good, and it makes you appear subservient to the boss. Do you want to give the impression the boss is doing you a big favor by hiring you? Do you want to look like a pushover: weak, needy, and desperate?

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

Giving a gift doesn't make you look needy. It's in how you present it.

Bring an autographed Shin-Soo-Choo baseball (find it on ebay/mlb.com) and bring it over. That's as good as any liquor and wouldn't be totally sucking up.

I mean the people here who get all uppity about gifts are the same cheapskates who smuggle beer into bars and stretch out getting a haircut. That or they're the "Don't Tread on Me" types who somehow believe that they did their employer a favor by working for their company and that they should be the boss.

If you present it in the right way, a gift bottle is by no means subservient. Show you're an adult who doesn't regard spending 50 dollars on a bottle of booze as a major expenditure.

Seriously folks, 50 dollars for a bottle is not some big expense. If you think it is, then yeah, you don't understand bottles. It's like picking up a pack of smokes from back home and bringing em over. It's not like he's bringing over Louis XIII.

Who's Your Daddy? · Joined: 30 May 2010 Location: Victoria, Canada.

Giving a present is a waste of money. Give a present after your first paid vacation if they're treating you well.

rainism · Joined: 13 Apr 2011

I have a much better idea.

if you're going to bring them a Jameson, then it has to be a Jenna.

about a 10 year old vintage will be fine. I guarantee you will have employment with these fellows forever.

http://www.hollywoodtuna.com/images/bigimages/jenna_jameson_temptation_big.jpg

UknowsI · Joined: 16 Apr 2009

I am not sure if the import rules are just guidelines or if they are enforced, but you are supposed to only be allowed to bring in one bottle of alcohol to Korea duty free (maximum size 1 litre).

As for whisky, I would bring a somewhat unusual brand, but nothing expensive. I just find it a bit boring to bring a bottle which you could have bought at any major grocery store in Korea, so a more local brand would be nice. The taste of the bottle is of less importance, but you should probably buy a standard whisky and not something like Laphroaig.

But make sure that it is common to read the label. For special events my colleagues will mix 18 year old whisky with Cass instead of 12 year old whisky with Cass. I got equally shocked when they mixed their Cognac with beer, but it actually tasted better than whisky with beer.

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

i can confidently say if you bring a korean "whiskey drinker" a bottle of a fiery islay scotch like a nice talisker that you will blow their minds.

all of the scotch found here is both blended and severely lacking in the peat department. they will be awe-struck because the taste of burning firewood cannot be replicated in anything besides a good single malt. well unless you eat a piece of charged driftwood.
even most of the so-called scotch drinkers i know have never had the pleasure of drinking scotch from this area of scotland.
hand the whiskey drinker your gift, spout off some information about this type of scotch that you gleaned off of wikipedia and you will be elevated quite a few rungs in the "i like this guy, he's so smart" ladder.

take this knowledge and run with it, as you will become your boss' newest favorite pet.

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

saram_ · Joined: 13 May 2008

Does anybody know if Jameson whiskey is available at Emart etc..

If not, where would the best place(s) to buy good whiskey?

Haven't bought whiskey here but would like to get some as a gift for the upcoming holiday..

Thank you

detonate · Joined: 16 Dec 2011

get the better whiskey... some of you are apparently hanging around with special people. what is with trashing Koreans and their drinking style? most i know spend more for higher quality and don't mess with it.

there are liquor stores all over seoul, or just head to costco for cheaper stuff.

overdrive2023x · Joined: 08 Aug 2011 Location: San Diego, CA

saram_ · Joined: 13 May 2008

Thanks a lot- I will check it out!!

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

You shouldn't pay more than 30-40,000 for the standard (8 year old) Jameson's.

It used to be in Walmart (we miss u Walmart) for 25,000!! The same price as back in Ireland.

Most of the small wine and whiskey stores will sell Glenfiddich and Macallan if you want to take it up a notch to about 60-80,000.

But, as said before, 99% of Koreans know nothing about whiskey so the good stuff is basically a waste......