Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Newbie]

Talking to a friend the other day and she said, "I might want to marry a western guy, but I don't want to leave Korea"

I basically told her that I thought no Western dude would ever want to raise a family in Korea. Aside from some of the strange cultural habits, I was saying that kids in Korea aren't really kids.

They have way too much school and way too little fun. Kids should be finishing school aroung 3:30 and then playing sports (chess for the cool kids ), or whatever else they think is fun.

Plus, being from Canada, it's just such a chillin' and safe place to grow up ... aside from Toronto these days.

I told her we (western people) would happily marry a Korean, spend a few years here to make some easy money, but once the kids start popping out, it's back home we would want to go.

Am I accurate here?

[Swiss James]

I'd be happy to do it up till the age of about 6, people love kids here, it's just a shame they have to work so hard when they hit school

[peppermint]

I don't think it's that the actual school system is so rough on the kids, it's that it's so easy on them in relation to the uni entrance exam. That's why the kids have to go to a million hagwons each day. That and a culture that discourages free time. .

[VanIslander]

I'd do it if, and only if, I could spend months every year or two overseas with the child, to help 'em get a broader perspective on the world.

The extra schooling in Korea I see as an advantage though, because you can choose a martial arts academy, baduk academy, whatever academy, if they like those things, with plenty of time to hang out at home as kids do back home. I admit the teenage years could be more difficult. But in a bigger Korean city it'd be possible to meet other kids to do things with after school, other foreign kids or kids whose parents cannot afford many hagwons.

[Scott in HK]

We are moving back to Korea to order to raise our kids here for a while.

We plan to send our two girls (now 3 and 1...and so much cuter than sparkle's girl that i haven't posted their pictures as i wouldn't want to be repsonsible for crushing a man's heart )...anyway...we plan to stay here until the oldest one finishes primary school...

We don't need to worry about the school pressure as I don't plan to put any pressure on them. I don't really care how they perform in the Korean school system as I plan to keep up their studies at home. I expect to have some disagreements with Korean teachers about homework and such. We won't be sending them to hakwons...I can teach them English and Math...and my wife will do art with them. They may want to go to a music school but that will be up to them.

I think many people want their kids to have the same upbringing that they did. For me that was small town Ontario. I would love to bring my kids up that way, but I personally don't want to live in a small town now. My wife grew up in Incheon, where we are going to live. She enjoyed her childhood as well. I think as long as the child's homelife is good, then their childhood will be good. It doesn't really matter where they grow up.

So, no...I don't think you are accurate.

[Kristsoy]

[justagirl]

No way would I raise children here...but then, as a Westerner, I'd raise them much differently.

The problem I have is that when they're young, they're free to do anything (and this means anything...). You have kids screaming at restaurants, standing on tables, demanding treats, ordering their mothers around, etc. Then, as they get older, they are buckled down with homework and rules.

In the west, we teach them young to obey, and give them many rules, then as they get older, we let them have more responsibility and fewer rules. We let them begin to choose what they want to do. Not here! The kids here are burdened by school and have no free time in high school. A system that makes children study and do homework until 1 or 2 am, then get up at 6 to go to school is not a good one.

My husband and I have talked a lot about our future kids because of the poor parenting style we've seen here.

[dutchman]

My oldest child is 4. We'll be leaving Korea around the time he turns 5. Not because there have been any problems raising him in Korea. We wouldn't mind sending him to a Korean elementary school for a couple of years. He hasn't had any problems in the daycare system.

We are leaving because my wife and I are sick of teaching and I'm sick of living in Korea.

[weatherman]

[kangnamdragon]

Ah, where is the option for, "YES"?