Korean Job Discussion Forums

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

Yeah, because Korean moms are spending all of their time with their kids. You know after they get home from their 3 hagwons...

faeriehazel · Joined: 04 Mar 2008

Stupid article, written by a clueless Korean man clinging to the corpse of Confucius. Korea would be a whole lot better off if Korean moms learned to be a bit selfish. It's not healthy for your life to revolve wholly around your child. Not healthy for the mom or the child.

A lot of Korean moms get swept up by social expectations of Korean education. I'm sure some of them do send their kids to hakwon just to get them out of their hair, but IME most moms sincerely think they're doing the best for their kids. The problem is that they don't have any definite philosophy when it comes to their children's education, and therefore just end up thinking "omg, my kid is going to fall behind the others so he/she has to do everything that everyone else is doing."

It's people like this stupid SNU professor that keep perpetuating the harmful idea that the only way to be a good mother is to the be kind of mother that gives up her entire sense of self to devote everything to her children. And as another poster pointed out, where is the father in this picture? Being ignored by the mother? Treated like a laborer whose only role is to go out any make money for the kids? Yeah, that will make for a happy and healthy family.

Scorpion · Joined: 15 Apr 2012

Would these be the same moms who teach their kids unsafe road crossing habits? The same moms who, went the government brought in safety seat laws for infants, campaigned to have them repealed.

Those moms?

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Malislamusrex · Joined: 01 Feb 2010

Yeah, it's great that Korean mothers give up their lives for their children.

Korea needs more men in their thirties and forties sucking on their mothers teet. One of the biggest social problems in Korea is the fact younger people never stand up for themselves, listen and apologies to every old man who insults them for no reason. If Korean parents allowed their children to become adults, the country would be much more creative.

radcon · Joined: 23 May 2011

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

cabeza · Joined: 29 Sep 2012

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

No, I recall it being in the newspapers as well. A number of parents (not just moms) complained about the law, and a supposed upcoming crackdown in enforcement. They said it wasn't fair because... well, one reason I remember being stated was about small cars. One mother said "I have 4 kids. I can't fit them all into the car if each one has a car seat. What should I do, leave one at home??"

This was a few years back, so my memory is foggy on the rest. I'm sure someone could sleuth out the articles though.

edit: And the sleuth award goes to cabeza!

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

I keep thinking of the episode 'Chain of Command' in Star Trek TNG when I read this article.....

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

My mom involved herself in my education by being my tutor, rather than outsourcing, with the exception of Hebrew school and piano lessons. She checked my homework (making me redo anything that she deemed insufficient), quizzed me, and, during the summers, went out and bought extra text and workbooks, making me do several pages per day. Year round, I had to read the first section of the newspaper every day, then she'd quiz me on it. I also had a weekly piano lesson, and she or my dad would sit and listen to me practice every day. My dad even took lessons along with me for the first few years, so that he could help me. Later on, I didn't need the help anymore, but it was a great help at the beginning.

So sure, with language, when the parents may not be fluent, hagwons make sense, but with the other subjects? Let the parents review and teach it on their own. My mom had a job, and she made the time. And yes, I was sent to bed at 9 with lights out at 9:30 when I was 10. Kids need sleep, and we were up at 6 to review homework, have spelling and vocabulary drills, eat breakfast, and maybe get a few minutes in playing with our train set or Nintendo, if we finished everything early.

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

One of the examples of bad parenting I see here is when they bring the kids into bars. That's just wrong. They should leave them in the car with some crisps and a bottle of coke like my parents used to do when they got loaded.

Threequalseven · Joined: 08 May 2012

I'm genuinely curious what values are instilled in Korean households. I'm not trying to be snide, I really am curious. I was taught to be aware of my surroundings, show respect to everyone, don't be an awkward little bastard in social situations, and so on. What principles are taught here?

I personally think these mothers who send their kids to academies, where they're beaten by their teachers, and spend their own time relaxing at coffee shops and bragging to other moms about how good of a parent they are because their kids are getting a good education should be jailed for child abuse.

Also, the obvious flaw in the author's argument is when he claims Western mothers are selfish for sending their kids to bed early. First off, most Western moms work. Many Korean moms do too, but many spend their days drinking lattes, taking leisure classes, and pestering their children's teachers. Second, when you send your kid to hagwons, is that not buying you time away from your kids?