Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CoolTeach]

byr

[anyway]

Jealousy is a way of life here...

[JZer]

[cubanlord]

[Zulu]

That's very ironic, not to mention quite laughable.

Those Koreans accusing you of being a "lazy American" are conveniently equating the fact that they may put in long office hours playing games or chatting online, doing their hair, etc. with actual work productivity, in which Americans, French and Australians rank #1.

As you noted, most foreigners have had work experience prior to and while undertaking their studies, have worked hard to graduate from real universities, and put a lot of effort into their jobs, to boot.

The Korean media and education texts often initiate such falsehoods despite the fact they supposedly have freedom of the press. In fact much of it is edited for content which gives Korea a bad name or does not promote Korea's 'dynamic, innovative, world-leading' image sufficiently (hence why it's so difficult to get foreign newspapers here).

Print this link (others are out there if you have time to look) and pin it up where your co-workers can see it. That should shut them up.

http://www.socrates.com/freeContent/Marketing/Newsletters/0904Rankings.aspx

[Real Reality]

Korea's average labour productivity per hour is only 40% of the US level.
Economic Survey of Korea 2005: Sustaining high growth through innovation: reforming the R&D and education systems. Economic Growth and Productivity, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (October 5, 2005)
http://www.oecd.org/document/49/0,2340,en_2649_34325_35444977_1_1_1_1,00.html

The Workplace: The long and the short of how the world works
It's the sort of distinction that leaves you wondering whether to offer praise or pity: South Koreans worked longer hours last year than anyone else on the planet, 30 percent more than Americans and 65 percent longer than the French.... Workers in South Korea put in an average of 2,380 hours in 2004 - about 48 hours a week with a two-week vacation. This is according to a huge study on working life by the International Labor Organization in Geneva issued this month.... As for South Koreans, they could easily cut back on their long hours if they raised their productivity, which on an hourly basis stands at just over one-third the level of the French.
Thomas Fuller, International Herald Tribune (December 27, 2005)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/27/business/workcol28.php

Korea's productivity gone south
http://kushibo.blogspot.com/2005/12/koreas-productivity-gone-south.html

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

A lasting 'Net legacy - Korean anti-Americanism
By Jeffrey Robertson, Asia Times (June 1, 2006)
http://atimes.com/atimes/Korea/HF01Dg01.html

Seoul restaurants bar US diners
BBC NEWS, Asia-Pacific (November 28, 2002)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2523237.stm

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.... A staff member in the department of law at "K" university said, "A parent told me, 'since my son is studying for the judicial examination, I�m registering for him. For him, time is like gold.'"
by Yi-Young Cho Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (May 05, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004050622478

Korean Children Have Won Signs in their Eyes: Poll
by Park Won-su, Chosun Ilbo (February 2, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200502/200502010025.html

Kangaroo generation grows as graduates stay jobless
Of course, there are some cases where younger people - mainly university graduates - turn down a job because it is not what they want. The Labor Ministry said about 40 percent of young people offered employment by companies said "no" because they felt working conditions and salary were not satisfactory.

"These days, the young Korean generation lacks the will to accomplish something on their own," business administration professor Kim Dong-won at Korea University said. "Young people must develop their independence early on, through a part-time job or some other kind of education."
By O Youn-hee, The Korea Herald (September 3, 2004)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/09/03/200409030007.asp

Parasite Singles
... Koreans in their 20s and 30s are relying on their parents for school fees and living costs.

Professor Lee Soon-yong of Seoul National University said that this was created by two things; firstly parents in their 40s and 50s thinking that supporting their children is the most valuable thing in their lives; and secondly children who think they can get anything they want.

Professor Lee Jang-young of Kookmin University said that young Koreans living with the help of their parents have the illusion that their parents' assets and status are theirs....
By Kim Ki-hong, Chosun Ilbo (May 14, 2001)
http://www.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200105/200105140181.html

[Hanson]

Just a quick comment about 'leaving mommy and daddy at 18'. I also left my parents' home at 18, but to compare a westerner's opportunities and a Korean's opportunities would be a mistake.

First off, Koreans often can't find part-time work paying more than a few thousand won an hour. Second, correct me if I'm wrong, but leaving home at that age (late-teens, early 20's) is culturally next-to-impossible. Furthermore, most young Koreans just aren't prepared for life on their own (cooking, cleaning, taking care of one's self, etc).

As for the 'lazy American' comment, there's no need for that, and I smell jealousy as well.

[CoolTeach]

byr

[Hanson]

I think cubanlord was talking about the comments from your co-workers, not your comments.

[CoolTeach]

byr

[Hanson]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

[....]

[CoolTeach]

byr

[Hollywoodaction]

[Gideon]

I've been working for a korean cell phone corporation.. and i can honestly tell you that after 6 pm the majority of workers are unproductive.. i really dont see anyone doing anything remotely productive. Apart from cyworld , msn messanger, naver, auction.co.kr, and cjmall being prohibited by the company nonetheless they continue to entertain themselves. I see 80% of the female office workers playing on their cyworld homepages.

One thing that does get under my skin about korean work environments and i am not referring educational institutions, hagwons, unis.. ect.. I am referring to the typical white collar workers who always have to wait for their bosses to have lunch.. so um told this is korean tradition and thats all fine and dandy but if the boss isnt ready to eat lunch at 12:00 pm then they all wait.. whether that be 10 minutes or 40 minutes.. i of course do not follow this rule. I've explained to some of the employees that while yes its korean tradition to respect your elders, bosses.. blah blah blah ect.. but whats the sense of waiting 20 or 30 minutes for your boss when u only get 1 hr for lunch.. i told them korean tradition has gotta change or be modified.. i dunno.. but i can see it on most of their faces that many do not like waiting around for their bosses..

oh well.. in time things change.. it just seems so damn long for korea to get with the rest of the world.. i.e. I just read in the paper the other day about a new law that has now been passed that children under 6 must be harnessed while in a motor vehicle.. what the %$%.. its about damn time...

um done ranting