Korean Job Discussion Forums

[igotthisguitar]

>. Had this problem my first year here. Thank god it hasn't reoccured ( yet ). He was really pushy in fact, always wanting to hang out & spend my "free" ( i.e. after hours ) time together with me

Quite annoying really. Anyone else had this problem ???

Who thinks its best to be buddies with the boss ???

[sadsac]

It's a tough call. The big problem in forming any sort of friendship with your boss is they don't differentiate between work and play. So if you say no to something or want something they think you are betraying that friendship. Better to just be a worker.

[prosodic]

[Butterfly]

Buddies with my boss. I like the guy.

[agraham]

Not here. My boss lives in her office; we teachers live in ours. Her name is "Won Jang Sun Sang Nim" or "Boss Teacher" as far as I'm concerned.
She a nice lady and all, but there's no doubt about what form of speech to use when addressing her.

[rapier]

Forming an open, friendly working relationship with your boss is essential in Korea. It means that issues don't degenerate into full on conflict because you can talk about it all first. And they're far less likely to try and shaft you in the end.
However, I always draw the line and keep a professional distance. I baulk at any hint of going drinking, or on picnics with them. Sharing a lot of drivel after 10 shots of soju late at night is cringeworthy.

[Squid]

Trap for young players.

Being buds with the wongjang is all well and good until the SOB doesn't pay you what's owed.

"Oh you're my brother, my best friend"... heard that? I did and got shafted. Now I work for another critter says the exact same thing so I keep a close eye on my payslips.

In case there's any ambiguity in the above:

Friends with the boss here in Korea? ...Not on your nelly.

[coolsage]

Refer to my post above, 'Faculty Dinner'. Westerners as a rule don't socialize with their colleagues beyond a beer on Friday night. Koreans who are co-workers are fond of strapping on look-alike hats and shirts and walking up hills together. With respect to my K-colleagues, my job is NOT my life. It's the old individual vs collective scenario again, and I know which side I'm on.

[beast]

I keep my boss locked in my closet.

[Hagwon Muppet]

[rawiri]

[quote="Hagwon Muppet"][quote="coolsage"].

If someone needs to come on an INternet forum and ask who they should be friends with then they really shouldn't be allowed out on their own.[/quote]