Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Corea]

Well, I know it is hotly debated in another thread about the virtues of communism. I also know a very select few on this board have actually been "up north". But i'm curious, who is willing/wanting to go?

Obviously, there are a "few" opportunities there. I've even seen a job posting or two. Would you work there?

As well there is http://www.koryogroup.com/index.html
Alot of people have went there on their packages and had an "interesting" time. I must say though I was abit shocked by the prices (1,590.00 EUR
Euro = 2,044,748.04 KRW South Korea Won for the "Tour 6 July 26th - August 2nd East Coast tour").

So, would you go? Why or Why not?


*note: Are Americans "allowed" to go?

[crazylemongirl]

I was interested in going and emailed the tour company about it. basically they said that I would have to 'obsecure' the fact that I live and work in south korea.

I have two passports so it is fesable that I could enter china and north korea on my second passport but I figure out of all the countries to lie to about entering this wouldn't be one of them so I passed it up.

[Captain Corea]

This is one point that'd be hard to swallow.

http://www.koryogroup.com/tips/index.html

[Swiss James]

It would be fascinating, but other people on here have argued that it's spending a lot of money to prop up the current regime- which I think is a pretty fair point.

I'd still love to be able to take a train all the way from Seoul to London, through the DPRK, China, Mongolia, Russia, etc. though

[JacktheCat]

[Captain Corea]

Agreed, there are so many reasons NOT to go but

[peony]

i know a gyopo (much older) that went in the late 80's. she had siblings still there and somehow found them. she went with her elderly parents and when they got there, found out that the house they were staying at (brother's) was temporarily moved to a much bigger one and they were brought food, she described a really big fish for one meal, to 'impress' the american visitors. now these were much more prosperous times than it is today but when she returned and showed me pictures, it was really depressing. the children of the family were all malnourished and had stunted growth. there were still some aspects of confucianist respect still in play and she said that the eldest was given the 'meat' of their rations. this 'meat' was nothing more than a chunk of boiled pig fat, much like the part of sangyupsal that we all throw away. she said her family had gotten really skilled at finding edible plants in the forests but last i heard even tree bark is hard to find. she actually went with them and brought back dried 'na-mool' and mushrooms that she collected with them whilst there. i believe her interpretation to be one of the more accurate as she wasnt given the scenic tour of n. korea, she lived amongst them for a couple of weeks so she felt how it was to be a resident there.

n. korea likes to paint a pretty picture of itself but i for one would never go there. it would pain me too much to see all the people suffering. many desperately wanting to leave but are unable to do so or are killed trying. for those commie supporters out there trying to paint n. korea as some sort of socialist utopia, i'd like to see them trying to live there for a week, not as a foreign tourist but as a starving citizen and see if they enjoy it so much then.

[Koreabound2004]

I think people just wanna go there to say that they have been there....my friend recently went, and said everything was really expensive...and there wasn't much to buy in the way of souvenirs...photo opps were limited...I have considered it, but there are so many more appealing places to spend my money...

I think it is a high price to pay to visit...and as others have said..you are feeding a very negative regime.

[Daechidong Waygookin]

I woulkdnt do it.

1. I wouldnt give my money to KJI. I know, I pay taxes in SK and they give money to NK, so I am giving them some money. However I would never give it to them directly. Why prop up a regime that should die ASAP?

2. I would never bow before a statue of Kim Il Sung. I would rather spit in its face, but Im sure that would get me killed. I could spit in the face of any statue I wish in a normal democratic country, where I am not forced to bow before any statues or symbols. Thats called freedom of choice. In NK there are no freedoms. You are forced to bow before statues of mass murdering scum.

I would never go to NK as long as that regime is in power.

[mithridates]

I would do it. I'm sure I could avoid the urge to spit by knowing that by writing about the place later on that I could have a much greater effect than by a simple act of protest where nobody's watching.

[Daechidong Waygookin]

[Swiss James]

[brento1138]

First off, some people mentioned that North Korea is communist. Well, I don't think it is quite 'communism' there. It's something different, something worse. It is somewhat like the death-cult-style governments which exist in George Orwell's 1984: one of the nations worships death, the other idolized a possibly dead/ficticious "big brother" figure who is supposedly head of state.

I'd like to visit North Korea since it's the only true example of a country as scary, if not scarier, than Orwell's 1984 world. 1984 may possibly be my favorite book. Now, to me, it seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit a place so similar to Orwell's 1984: if you look at the similarities, you'll find many... too many to list here, but here's a few: the cult-like status of the dead leader, the young children who can report on their parents, the ugly architecture, the poor economy, the always-at-war mindset of the people and the government, the absolute control over the masses, etc, etc. I mean, the school girls there MARCH to school, singing songs like: "We will defeat all invaders, our soldiers will never lose..." There is really no other country in the world like it, so untouched by Americanism, western ways, liberal ideals. And I bet the current North Korea won't be around for much longer (someday it's gonna collapse - either through war or internally), so visit it while you can.

Here's some links about NK you might find interesting.

1. North Korean girls "marching" to school: http://www.robpongi.com/pages/comboNKHIGH.html

2. Hilarious Propaganda video of Kim Jong
http://robpongi.com/pages/comboKIMJONGIL.html

3. A website by some guy who actually went to North Korea, with pictures & videos: http://1stopkorea.com/nk-trip1.htm

4. North Korea's imminent demise - a suicidal attack?
http://www.kimsoft.com/korea/nk-army.htm

5. Picture slideshow of a guy's trip to NK
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2130177675&mode=invite

6. A post by Rapier why NK won't win in a war with the ROK, good food for thought... a very well written post I have to say.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=36052&highlight=north+korea+attacked

[Hanson]

Excellent post!

That Aussie guy's pictures were truly fascinating. The videos speak volumes.

Thoroughly informative and interesting post, thanks!

[just because]

I was looking into a trip this month....

However I was told because I'm Australian I would likely not get a visa as Australia has busted 2 lots of drugs on Korean ships in the last year and the North Korean government isn't too happy.