Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Many Koreans unhappy with five-day week
The reason for introducing the five-day workweek to a country accustomed to working Saturdays was to improve the quality of workers' lives. But many Koreans -- a majority, according to a government survey -- aren't happy with the new lifestyle.
A 40-year-old employee at a brokerage firm in Yeouido, Seoul, who asked to be identified only as Mr. Lim, said he rejoiced when he heard about the new system. But "after driving out to the country every weekend, there was nowhere else to go," Mr. Lim said.
"Sometimes the coming weekend worries me," he said.
Mr. Lim is not alone in complaining about a lack of things to do with the new leisure time. Others interviewed said they were worried about the extra money they've been spending on leisure activities. And some complain that they're working harder than they used to during the shorter workweek. Many people complained about the financial burden placed on them by the extra leisure spending.

Kim Kang-joon, a 39 year-old office worker, was skating along the Han River with his family last weekend. "I spent 400,000 won ($395) on the inline skates, and we've been to several water parks in the metropolitan area," Mr. Kim said. "But it's been costing me an additional 300,000 won per weekend, once you include gas and paying for parking," he said. "We'd be stretching our budget if we went to the parks every weekend." Mr. Lim, the brokerage firm employee, said his leisure spending has increased every month. "My salary is just the same as before, but our family spending has doubled," Mr. Lim added.

The survey by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism found that 83.1percent of those surveyed said their spending on leisure had gone up; 16.3 percent said it was the same as it was before the five-day workweek system was adopted. Only 0.6 percent said they spent less on leisure than they used to.

Many people said that the need to get everything done before the weekend had added to their stress at work. The Culture Ministry's survey found that 38.1 percent said their workload during the week had gone up.
"Since the five-day workweek, I have no strength left to think of anything else but making up for lost sleep, because I have to go to the office earlier than before and I am overloaded with work," said an employee at Daewoo Securities who asked for anonymity.

Some also complained of a lack of leisure "infrastructure," that is, adequate roads to some tourist spots and an insufficient number of hotel rooms.
by Special Reporting Team, JoongAng Daily (June 27, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200506/27/200506272228161539900090509051.html

[Squid]

"Nowhere else to go"



What a loser.


"Leisure infrastructure"... at least someone's brain is switched on.

[SuperHero]

[I_Am_Wrong]

pshaw!

some people need to learn how to be creative with their time and some people need to learn how to not waste money.

[Mr. Literal]

Totally pathetic.

So Mr. Lim can't bear the thought of occasionally renting some DVDs, ordering takeout, and just staying in?

[mithridates]

I think I'm going to have to teach that guy the meaning of the word 'chill'. That's all I could think of while reading the op. Just chill! How hard is that?

[Grotto]

It will take time but they will get used to sitting on the couch watching Tv and scratching themselves.

The roller blades...okay initial expenditure 400$ now they can go roller blading for free...expenditure zip.

[peppermint]

I suspect that some people will find anything to complain about ( as if this board wasn't enough proof) but maybe also that Mr. Lim doesn't want to spend that much time with his family.

I know Koreans are always talking about how important family is to the culture and things, but I've also heard a lot of individual Koreans complain about having to spend time with their husband or wife, and the kids.

[bignate]

[deessell]

This is a clear indication of Koreans lack of imagination.

[mithridates]

Don't forget though that it's a lot harder to just hang out in Korea. Nobody really goes to their friends' house to chill unless it's for a big dinner, and you can't just go for a drive in the country because the highways cost money too. I still think he suffers from a lack of imagination but the environment contributes to it too.

[periwinkle]

[pollyplummer]

[eamo]

[Butterfly]