Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sector7G]

I knew about "Netizens", but I had never heard about this particular group. What they are doing now kind of reminds me of Westboro Baptist Church. Their comments are beyond the pale at a time like this.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/04/113_155752.html
Ilbe members insult Sewol victims, families

A group of online community users shared their opinions insulting the Sewol sinking tragedy victims in Jindo.

On the day of the sinking, Ilbe, an infamous website full of self-proclaimed ultra right wingers, had a number of posts of photos and short messages that are deemed beyond heinous.
Ilbe member arrested for harassing victims
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/04/113_155824.html
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On a somewhat related topic, KT ran a story quoting comments from some expats living in Korea. I wonder how this is going to be received.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/04/116_155922.html

`Koreans should adhere more to rules to avoid second Sewol'
By Kim Se-jeong

Expatriates offered some tough advice for Koreans following the sinking of the ferry Sewol.

"I’m saddened by the loss of life from the ferry accident. I believe it stemmed largely from the weakness of safety rules, standards, safety training and the like,” said Joel Levin, an American living in Seoul.

“I see mothers riding in the front seats of cars with a baby on their lap — and no baby seat in sight. How can such obviously risky behavior be so common in such an advanced society?” he asked.

[CentralCali]

[Underwaterbob]

This is ridiculous. The "heinous" comments are just bad attempts at snarky jokes. This "Ilbe" group doesn't appear to even stand for anything. Not that it's got much credibility, but the Korea Times is publishing Internet trolls as news at this point.

[Sector7G]

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Here's the opinion of a Korean living in Japan:

"Let’s give up the title of “developed country” for now. No matter how big the Korean economy has become, we cannot confidently say Korea is a developed country when the lives of its citizens are not guaranteed."

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2988192

[faeriehazel]

This is a terrible tragedy, but I feel like Korea is collectively losing its s--t. Jus one example: The director of the rescue efforts said on the second day that they wouldn't use the cranes unless the families of the victims gave them permission. What a stupid thing to say. The families of the victims are beside themselves with grief. They are in no position to be making decisions of any kind. The wanker just doesn't want to have to take responsibility for making any unpopular but necessary calls.

And on Facebook, conspiracy theories abound and people are all too willing to believe crap with no evidence. Like there are survivors still texting their families from inside the ferry but the government is colluding with the telecom companies to block their texts.

As for the internet trolls, they are the scum of the earth but in what kind of civilized society do we punish people simply for spouting filth from behind a computer screen? If they were directly emailing the families and harassing them that would be another story.

I totally agree that it's the Korean mentality that thinks it's ok to ride a car with an infant in your lap that is behind disasters like this. Every day I see an ajusshi on a scooter with his helmet-less kid standing in front of the seat. But Koreans will be happy enough to lynch the captain without reflecting on the system that made it possible for such a completely avoidable disaster to happen.

[Fox]

[Adventurer]

There are things that are also third world about America, too, I wouldn't disagree with that, but when it comes to dealing with following safety regulations, ensuring that people are properly trained when it comes to an emergency, I think the US does a fairly good job as do most Western countries. It was ridiculous that people on the ferry were calling on their phones for help supposedly before the ship issued a distress call. It's clear that time was lost when the crew panicked. I'm not sure why the ship listed. They're now saying there wasn't a sharp turn. We know they were going fast. Was there something wrong with the payload, the weight?

[ATM SPIDERTAO]

okay a little off topic but i believe in FREEDOM

and that freedom includes not wearing seatbelts and helmets and using baby seats.

I'm from Canada and stuff like that is mandatory by law. and so i love living in asia where seat belts are somewhat optional and driving my motorcycle, I can not wear a helmet (even though I have gotten ticketed before)

most people i talk to say that motorcycles are dangerous and that i should at least wear a helmet.

same thing people say about other protective equipment (condoms)


but don't get me wrong. i strongly support safety equipment and would advise my friends to always wear protection. but i believe in freedom and that freedom includes the freedom to put yourself (but preferably not others) into great risk.


but these foreigner people saying that Korans have no concept of safety and that's the reason the boat sank and so many people die. i don't buy that. they made some SERIOUSLY bad judgement calls.


also, jump into a lake at about 10 degrees celsius and you have about 60 seconds before you drown if you're not trained to handle that extreme shock. once that icy water hits you and you start to hyperventilate, you're done

[Weigookin74]

I love this quote from the Korean Times.

"James Thomas Webb, 26, an English teacher at Uncle Sam’s School and a former journalist from the United States, said that raising situational awareness would help.

“I was moving in an underground market in Incheon with my broken leg and was bumped into by people fixated on various activities without looking ahead of them. Nobody seemed to care or watch out for me,” he said."

The captain and many others have this selfish attitude of me, me, me. You see it permeate everywhere here. A lack of etiquitte and a lack of consideration of others. If someone is not a part of your group or you don't know them, than eff em, they don't exist; it's me first. The captain took this to an extreme of course and is the ultimate d-bag. But Koreans should collectively ask themselves about these bad behaviours.

They often accuse westerners of being selfish because of our rugged individualism and lack of desire to be nagged to conform to the group. Whatever our flaws, we do have basic ettiquite and manners towards other people. You see it when you go the gym and one guy takes one weight (dumbell) and hogs it for half an hour regardless of whether others are waiting to use it or not. (I literally have to give some Korean dude at the gym dirty looks, get up in his face and take the weight from him while he's resting in between sets. He still doesn't want to give it up and I've had to bluntly say "hurry up". Many gyms only buy one set of dumbells for whatever stupid reason.)

Another example is someone parking in two spaces. At my school, the parking lot is inadequate. If I arrive first I have to park along the fence in a certain area. But, I always park in a way that allows another car to come after me and park there too. But, there's a nother teacher who arrives there before me on some days and she selfishly parks in a way that takes two spaces making it difficult for me to park. (You see this in the way people park their cars on the sidewalks, along the side of a busy road, at emart, whereever.) I act with courtesy when I arrive first and this same car is parked there after me. If the other car arrives first, they park in a way that takes two spaces. After a couple of months hoping they'd get the hint, I finally insisted as politely as I could through my co teacher that this person park their car differently and not take up two spaces. So, far so good.

Anyways, my point is if you're part of the group, you must suck up to it at all costs and stamp out any trace of self. But, otherwise, the rest of the time, it's all about eff you and me, me, me. The captain and crew are an extreme example of this and they are the ultimate form of scum. But, maybe everyone traditionally rushing for the exit instead of standing in line isn't the best ideal when it comes to functionality. The selfishness aspect and the need to always obey your ajossi should be re-examined in these contexts.

[Steelrails]

[jdog2050]

To give some perspective, Ilbe is Korea's 4chan, but instead of 14-28yo neckbeards, it's full of 14-38yo Korean Wangta. They are probably the most reviled netizen board in Korea and are basically well-known trolls at this point.

[Fox]

[RangerMcGreggor]

[amo_jh]

To give some more perspective, the general consensus of Ilbe is that Korean women are gold digging b****es, Southeast Asian foreign workers are AIDS carrying child rapists, NETs are third rate college art graduates losers who failed to do anything back home and came to Korea to chase K women, and that liberal left-wing Koreans are conspiracy spouting zombies who take direct orders from Kim Jung Un. Yeah.. pretty sad that I know these..