Korean Job Discussion Forums

[indiercj]

Here's what I think! So...the foreign manager of GM/Daewoo can't hold a seat on the board...what makes one think that university teachers, hakwon teachers, etc...will be treated fairly in korea also!!
As I have posted before and again; koreans are so predatory and nationalistic. They have a closed economy and a zero-sum attitude to trade. Protectionism in the early stages of an economy is not unreasonable. Dealing with koreans is like dealing with bright adolescents. They're full of energy and want to do everything yesterday. But they throw tantrums and are prone to dangerous and erratic behavior if their whims are not indulged. In most countries, intellectuals become universal. You learn that great ideas and values have no national boundaries. What is profoundly disturbing is that korean intellectuals become more xenophobic and nationalistic, and perpetuate the idea that all of korea's problems are the result of willfulness by foreigners. This is the mark of a scoundrel. Korean society makes a sharp distinction between an individual's inner circle of family, friends and business colleagues, and outsiders. Members of the inner circle must always be treated with absolute respect and courtesy, while strangers are treated with indifference. Korean society is not egalitarian: a person's status is strictly defined in relation to others. How do foreigners fit into this scheme? The simple answer is they don't.

[Universalis]

[JongnoGuru]

Hellofaniceguy, Universalis, Ilsanman and Indiercj make several interesting points, but the way I personally see it is this.

Koreans are predatory and nationalistic. They have a closed economy and a zero-sum attitude to trade. Protectionism in the early stages of an economy is not unreasonable. Dealing with koreans is like dealing with bright adolescents. They're full of energy and want to do everything yesterday. But they throw tantrums and are prone to dangerous and erratic behavior if their whims are not indulged. In most countries, intellectuals become universal. You learn that great ideas and values have no national boundaries. What is profoundly disturbing is that korean intellectuals become more xenophobic and nationalistic, and perpetuate the idea that all of korea's problems are the result of willfulness by foreigners. This is the mark of a scoundrel. Korean society makes a sharp distinction between an individual's inner circle of family, friends and business colleagues, and outsiders. Members of the inner circle must always be treated with absolute respect and courtesy, while strangers are treated with indifference. Korean society is not egalitarian: a person's status is strictly defined in relation to others. How do foreigners fit into this scheme? The simple answer is they don't.

[vlcupper]

[mindmetoo]

[Real Reality]

Michael Breen (1998). The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies. New York: St. Martins Press (pages 19-20).

Michael Breen, a British journalist, quotes a foreign banker who worked closely with a chaebol as saying:
"I make a point never to buy any Korean products on principle. Why? I will not support such a rabidly nationalistic, xenophobic and mercantilist economy. Koreans are so predatory and nationalistic. They have a closed economy and a zero-sum attitude to trade. Protectionism in the early stages of an economy is not unreasonable. But in the case of Korea it is almost a religious doctrine to keep foreign things out. If you buy a foreign car, you're seen as a traitor. They pick narrow industrial sectors and all jump in like copycats. If I see a Korean sports team, I root for the other side. Why? Because they're so full of themselves that they leave no room for other parties to participate and enjoy themselves. The 1988 Olympics was worse than the Hitler Games of 1936. Dealing with Koreans is like dealing with bright adolescents. They're full of energy and want to do everything yesterday. But they throw tantrums and are prone to dangerous and erratic behaviour if their whims are not indulged. In most countries, intellectuals become universal. You learn that great ideas and values have no national boundaries. What is profoundly disturbing is that Korean intellectuals become more xenophobic and nationalistic, and perpetuate the idea that all of Korea's problems are the result of wilfulness by foreigners. This is the mark of a scoundrel."
"But," he said after a pause, "I love many aspects of Korea."

Amazon.com: Editorial Reviews:
The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies
by Michael Breen
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312326092/103-3546866-6500649?vi=reviews

[Zenpickle]

[thorin]

Sometimes it's annoying when you preach to the choir and everyone agrees. But when all the replies are completely identical, that's just the Korean way. Now if we all just get naver IDs and become netizens, start a cafe and post thousands of identical messages, maybe we can affect public opinion.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[Guri Guy]

I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Well done gentlemen and ladies

[babtangee]

[thorin]