Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Parents Pamper College-age Children
"Mom is my manager." At the beginning of a school term, it is a common scene for parents, instead of the students themselves, to register for class.

"How can my kid survive an age of keen competition by herself?" asked Kim (45, female), whose daughter is a college student. "Despite worrying about her independence, I still think that parents should assist their kids."

"The Korean atmosphere, where parents actively intervene in their children's lives, is succeeding in college," said Han Sung-hee, an education professor at Seoul University. "We need deep self-reflection about education to preventing us from producing immature adults."
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004050622478

[Real Reality]

A professor identified as "A," who retired from his honorary position some years ago. He is paying back loans using his pension as he had taken them out to send US$2,500 a month to his son in the US. Professor "B" gave up tenure to cash in his retirement pay in a lump sum to fund his son in the US. He now works as a lecturer on a time basis.

Professor Lee Soon-yong of Seoul National University said that this was created by two things; firstly parents in their 40s and 50s thinking that supporting their children is the most valuable thing in their lives; and secondly children who think they can get anything they want.

A man identified as "J" and living in Taegu married when he was a student, but this broke up in less than a year. He receives W1 million per month from his parents and whenever he needs more he asks. "J" is a typical mother's boy who can do nothing without his parents. They even paid his divorce payment settlement of W10 million.
http://www.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200105/200105140181.html

[katydid]

[Real Reality]

Did your parents help you register for courses when you went to university?

Have you met or seen parents at your university?

[Real Reality]

Wealthy Parents Preferred to Supportive Ones
Young people prefer wealth, rather than emotional comfort, from their parents, a survey of university students showed Friday.

According to an Internet survey of 606 students nationwide, 44 percent of the respondents chose "wealth" as the most desirable quality they wished of their parents, while generosity and understanding was opted for by 18 percent. The rest of the respondents didn't reply or said they expect "nothing" from their parents, which could also mean that they are satisfied with what their parents currently provide for them.
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20040507/300100000020040507154207E6.html

[peemil]

Sometimes wonder if Korean parents wipe their kids bums for them too.

[Dan]

[Wishmaster]

Damn, they gotta learn to cut the cord earlier. Men living with their parents until they are in their mid-30's?!!! That's fucked up!

[Real Reality]

Have you ever seen mothers feeding their university-age or high school age sons? (Actually, she put the food in the son's mouth and told him to eat.)

I wondered how the son felt. However, he did not seem to mind.

[coolsage]

This goes a long way in explaining why university freshmen at the age of twenty have the social skills of a western twelve-year-old; the punching, the hair-pulling that you thought you'd seen the last of in middle-school.

[the_beaver]

[Real Reality]

Who buys all the cellular phones? Who pays the bills?