Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chaucer]

I remember long ago Lee Kwan Yew was reported to have criticized Indonesia in general and then-ruler Suharto in particular for dirt and disorganization in that archipelago. Suharto supposedly replied that Lee should be happy--he only had to govern a city half the size of Jakarta.

[yodanole]

If you want to get caned, I'm positive that somebody in Korea would be happy to accommodate you for certain considerations ....

[Who's Your Daddy?]

I think it doesn't relate to wealth. For any given level of wealth where Korea equalled Singapore I think Korea would be dirty and Singapore clean. (I bet when Japan was at Korea's current level of GDP per capita it was clean, people had manners, etc.)

I think it is because Koreans don't care about public property/public spaces. I doubt that will change.

[motiontodismiss]

Because, unlike Singapore, Korean politicians and bureaucrats are corrupt AND incompetent.

The whole country's rotten to the core and the next economic shock is going to cause them to implode.

[Stan Rogers]

[Steelrails]

[liveinkorea316]

Go to the richer neighborhoods in Korea and see all the rubbish.

Oh that's right. It does have something to so with income levels.

Detroit.

[cj1976]

Korea and Singapore are quite different, and quite honestly they could both do with being a little bit more like each other.
I go to Singapore quite regularly to visit my family over there, so I always have a good time and I get to enjoy the 'real' Singaporean culture, that tourists and expats perhaps don't get to see. Some of the best food I have ever eaten has been in little alleyways, or small hawker markets.
It is a very well organized and highly efficient economic hub that strives to provide every citizen with a reasonable education, good healthcare and decent housing. However, if you are not a citizen, life can be hard. The maids, nannies, cleaners and manual labourers imported from SE Asia are often treated quite badly, overworked and underpaid. Any protests are often met with swift deportation.
One of the main differences between Korea and Singapore is the men. The guys in Singapore are much easier to get along with and don't feel the need to act superior. Plus, they treat women with more respect.
Singaporeans also have a much better understanding of common courtesy too. Spitting, pushing, smoking, shout-talking are all frowned upon over there - as is public drunkenness.
The downside of Singapore is that it is so conservative and frankly, a bit boring after a while. Singaporeans are lovely people but it feels like they don't know how to let their hair down properly. At least Koreans know how to rip it up!
I love going there to stay with my family and they always try to convince me to move there, but it is too expensive and too conservative for me. There are far too many rules that have to be followed, and the government has absolute control over everything.

[Yaya]

They don't call it Singa-BORE for nothing.

[MEDALLOKUYA]

both countries suck ass.

[atwood]

[Newbie]

Singapore = British influence.

Korea = American influence.



Really though, it's tough to compare the two. Why can't Greece be more like Sweden?

And, what's with the "Koreans have no civic or national pride." If there's one country that DOES not lack in national pride, it'd be Korea.

[edwardcatflap]

[Fox]

[cj1976]

Back on topic, a lot of the slackers here (myself included) would have to pull their fingers out if this was more like Singapore. Most wouldn't even be here, because they think being white and foreign are not all you need to find work. Singapore is a country that doesn't believe in cutting any corners. There is no falling asleep at work there.
On the other hand, you aren't constantly sidestepping puddles of piss, spit or vomit etc. Better food there too...