Korean Job Discussion Forums

[radcon]

In another thread about the RFID chips for students in San Antonio, a poster commented that he had more freedom in Korea than he did in the US. And I would agree. However, it is hard to pinpoint why exactly. Of course there is always the default answer of "I can drink on the street in Seoul." What are some other examples of the freedoms we enjoy in Korea that we don't in our home countries?

[Steelrails]

Smoking
Driving
I think just setting up a tent and peddling stuff is easy, not sure though.

But our economic freedom is substantially less. That's the freedom that counts.

[fermentation]

I believe there are different freedoms and countries are free in different ways. In many ways the US is more free than Korea but in some ways Korea is freer.

As a Korean citizen, I felt freer in the US than in Korea. The big thing is conscription of course but there was also a lot less social pressure to do things I didn't want to in the states. I like the fact that you could own firearms and I could drive when I was 16. I also absolutely hate that I have to register my ID whenever I do anything online in Korea.

Of course in Korea, the drinking laws are much more lenient ,which doesn't really matter for me since I don't drink. The cops are also a lot more lazier and don't enforce rules, which can be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. Cops in the US take themselves too seriously and a lot of them are just asses. Korean cops are just lazy and leave people alone most of the time.

I think for foreigners it's different since most foreigners aren't expected to conform to the rest of Korean society and you don't get conscripted. Ultimately I think it comes down to which freedoms you value more.

[DIsbell]

There's also the issue of free speech. Libel/slander laws are apparently somewhat strict in Korea, and there are certain kinds of speech that are restricted (particularly related to NK, but maybe some other types). Foreigners on most visas are prohibited from any sort of political activity, but I think that's not quite the case in the US (I don't think exchange students or those on work visas can get deported or fined for protesting or collecting signatures or whatever). Gun ownership, as others have mentioned, but I've never owned one so don't care too much. More free choice in choosing a university (for each Korean SAT one takes, I think you only get to apply to ~3 schools. In the US, you can apply your ass off and then work out which acceptance letter + financial aid offer is gonna be the best fit for you). Freedom from conscription is a biggie, too.

But yeah, dig the open container laws in Korea. It's a little thing but it really adds to that feeling of freedom. I'd also say the nearly universal health insurance and affordable healthcare adds to it as well- more free from worry about that sort of stuff.

[JustinC]

Lack of holes in shopping bags, if you want to suffocate yourself then so be it. FFS swimming pools kill more kids. And stuff leaking out of a shopping/trash bag probably causes more slipping up. I imagine there are many other examples where you have a freer choice over your own actions. The Health & Safety brigade don't seem to have caught on here yet.

Lack of a police presence and those damn CCTV cameras that are ubiquitous in some areas overseas. Around here even the bus drivers steam through useless red stop lights, rather than wait for no reason.

Also Koreans like to drink and smoke, so if you do too you don't get them castigating you or giving you condescending glances like they're your nanny. You're provided ashtrays in cafes and bars, and a smoking area for your smelly habit. A sensible policy.

Patting a child on the shoulder for a job well done or high fiving them will not be followed by a call from the Police and you mentioned on a sex offender list. Hopefully this is balanced by real offenders having their sacks removed with a rusty spoon.

[ajuma]

There's this thing in Korea called "personal responsibility". If you fall on your ass because you didn't see the bump in the sidewalk, it's YOUR responsibility! You don't sue the sidewalk owner. If you spill hot coffee in your lap, you don't sue Micky D's...you deal with your stupidity.

Car insurance and health care are affordable for just about everyone. If I'm in an accident, there is usually responsibility on both sides and the insurance pays accordingly. You cannot sue your doctor or the drug company for a med that didn't work for you.

[Captain Corea]

I just got back from Ocean World and they made everyone wear swim caps and life vests when in the water.


Never had that in frozen Canada... do they do that in the US?

[northway]

[ajuma]

Most public pools in the US require swim caps but the life vests are a little much.

[northway]

[12ax7]

[12ax7]

[Stan Rogers]

[madoka]

[Kuros]