Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

No School on Saturday for the First Time
A Heavier Burden for the Parents

Many parents are feeling the economical and psychological burden of suddenly having to deal with Saturday holidays. To begin with, working spouses who have no place to entrust their children on Saturdays have increased their concerns over this matter. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, around 100,000 elementary school students, or 13 percent of a total of 730,000 students in Seoul elementary schools, are "home alone students" on Saturdays.

Working mother Lee Gyung-mi (44) plans to enroll her two daughters, who are second and sixth graders, in school programs. Lee said, "They need hands-on activities in order to be competitive in their studies from now on, but I am sorry for my daughters that I cannot let them engage in any activities on Saturdays like other parents do for their children."

There is a considerable financial burden in providing hands-on experiences or enjoying leisure activities with the children on Saturdays. Housewife Oh (41) expressed her concern, saying, "If I want to go on a trip with my children, I am faced with traffic fees, various entry fees and dining costs that are not a small amount.

Discontent is arising as well over the fact that there is no social infrastructure to cope with Saturday holidays. In Japan, for instance, elementary school students are given free admission into national art centers and museums on Saturdays, and they are also given a "weekend children's pass" on the Japan Rail, which entitles them to enjoy a discount for rides.
Donga.com (March 25, 2005)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2005032620748

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005

Maybe the children's parents need more holiday time.

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Wait, public school kids get saturdays off now? When did this happen?
*feels stupid*

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

marlow,

Arbor, Constitution Days Face Exclusion From National Holidays
"In a policy adjustment meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, participants decided to exclude the April 5 Arbor Day and the July 17 Constitution Day from state holidays," officials said.
Korea Times (March 2, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200503/kt2005030219413711990.htm

Today's Bonus
Divorcing parents want to shed kids with spouse
As the divorce rate rises, more couples are trying to avoid custody of their children. Not only economic reasons but also future concerns such as the possibility of remarriage may make the children seem excess baggage.
by Jeon Jin-bae, JoongAng Ilbo (October 21, 2002)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200210/21/200210210030445169900090409041.html

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

it's one saturday at the end of every month...to help phase in the plan for no school saturdays. Really they should just teach their children to take care of themselves a bit more...I'm pretty sure a sixth grader should have no problem. Anyways, lots of professions will also have no saturdays and it shouldn't be much of a problem. There's always a way to deal with the problem. If some parents have to work Saturday and they're not comfortable leaving the kid alone then they can arrange for the kid to go to a friend's home where the parent is at home etc.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

I_Am_Wrong wrote,
"Really they should just teach their children to take care of themselves a bit more...I'm pretty sure a sixth grader should have no problem."

Parents Pamper College-age Children
"Mom is my manager."
At the beginning of a school term, it is a common scene for parents, instead of the students themselves, to register for class. "Some parents even attended freshmen orientation to take a class," said Park, a professor at "Y" university. "After asking questions, they registered for their children and left."

Specialists have analyzed that Korean parents' love for their children and the current competitive trend, a success-oriented culture and the deepening unemployment problem is causing parents to pamper their children in college. Hwang Sang-min, a psychology professor at Yonsei University, said "even in college, Korean parents cannot separate their child from themselves."
by Yi-Young Cho and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (May 05, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004050622478

Divorcing parents want to shed kids with spouse
As the divorce rate rises, more couples are trying to avoid custody of their children. Not only economic reasons but also future concerns such as the possibility of remarriage may make the children seem excess baggage.
by Jeon Jin-bae, JoongAng Ilbo (October 21, 2002)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200210/21/200210210030445169900090409041.html

peemil · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Location: Koowoompa

Down at the GF's school, if there is a day off they panic. "What will we do without school?" Where I live there are lots of hills and tracks to have fun in, which is what a lot of us would've done when we were kids. But these kids. No way. They've got to have that order in their days. They've got to be studying something.

It's sad really. They just don't get a chance to do what they want or develop themselves as people. It's just school, hagwon, classes and even on the days off organised fun.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

"If I want to go on a trip with my children, I am faced with traffic fees, various entry fees and dining costs that are not a small amount. "

Well not shit.

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

Don't know what Chiaa was babbling about but I took exception to the same line

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

Yeah, 'family is so strong in Corea' crap just get funnier. I couldn't have dreamt a society so depended on 'schools' to raise their children. Rolling Eyes

Bozo Yoroshiku · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject:

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

What do all the families in the west do? Their kids never went to school on Saturdays and it has always worked out fine.

Don't they have Saturday morning cartoons here?

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I'm sure some hogkwan directors will offer to teach that Saturday or some like minded person will come out with some Saturday program for the kids for a small fee. The mothers won't complain then, it would just be a few extra bucks a month and they will think their child is developing all that much more.

Hmmm... we will have to wait and see.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Oh my GOSH!?!

Do you mean I actually have to ASSOCIATE with my children!?!?

Oh, the horror!