Korean Job Discussion Forums

Zulu · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Just got back from a Korean corporate 'Cheer Day'. An invite I wish to God I'd never accepted.

For 4 hours, we sit in an auditorium. First, the CEO comes out and gives his 10 minute speech. Normal so far. Then out comes the entertainment - cheerleader chicks dancing and waving corporate flags and Korean flags to some psuedo-hip-hop beat at 120 decibals at least. It was waaaay loud. The dancing girls were pretty lame and left stage right after about 30 minutes. Thank God I thought, maybe a rousing patriotic speech isn't so bad after all.

But noooo - then it's the 'Classical Group' - 4 of the cheerleaders in yellow this time supposedly playing Beethoven to a 'Classical Stars on 45' circa 1978 beat, followed by Classical Arirang belched out by one of the girls who must have crawled out of some noraebang at 4 AM. It was painful, and went on for about an hour. What's worse, the audience - may they be damned for eternity - got them back for two encores.

Just when I thought it can't possible get any worse, the 'motivational speaker/cheermaster/MC/Gestapo Kamp Kommander' dude comes out and exhorts everybody to sit down on the floor and bang each others' backs in robotic unison, clap in unison, and cheer Dae-han Mingug in unison to some K-hip-hop beat at about 130 db or louder. The audience wasn't just old corporate types, the younger people were totally getting into this shite, too. MC Moonie Commander was freaking out and barking his gob off, I mean really really shouting. My ears were hurting as the sound guy had the treble way up. You could hear this out the building and well down the block, still too loud.

I had visions of whoopin' MC Guy in the head with the mic stand but thought better of it and finally excused myself, hid in the John and downed a couple of Asprin.

It was like that scene in The Killing Fields where the Khmer Rouge subject prisoners to mindless ear-whippings for hours on end.

But why would people in a free country subject themselves and their children to this on a beautiful Saturday afternoon?

And people wonder why Korean entertainment doesn't catch on in the west? No business is worth this torture. NEVER AGAIN. Evil or Very Mad

:

anyway · Joined: 22 Oct 2005

Thanks for that glimpse into the Korean culture. I feel your pain. It's bad enough when you attend something that would otherwise be enjoyable only to have your ears split. I really wonder what kind of issue this culture's 'volume fetish' represents...

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:03 pm Post subject:

Supposedly repeated exposure to even a moderately loud sound will cause permanent hearing loss. I imagine all these dancing/leg warmer girls must be deaf after a year or so of standing in front of business openings. Wonder what they do after that? Where's the common sense? Are other asian countries known for lacking sense on things like this, or is it just Korea?

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

Different strokes for different folks...

Zulu · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

Why did you stay?

Surely you could have come up with a headache, a sudden need to puke, or you could have suddenly remembered that you promised to call your parents.....anything at all?!?!

anyway · Joined: 22 Oct 2005

Sure, sure, different strokes for different folks. Just keep repeating that to yourself...over and over... different strokes...different folks... let us know how that works out for you...

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The next time one of those comes up, please sign up for it and then e-mail me. I'd love something like that. Those things are quirky and weird and make great stories.

I'm 86% serious.

Zulu · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Zulu · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

I liked the part where 'MCMoonie Commander was freaking out and barking his gob off'. Haha. Why were they clapping hands and patting each others backs and not each others CHESTS?

Zulu · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Next time, have some fun with it. Chat up the dancers or something. anything to get you through it.

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

I feel for you Zulu, really I do.

Hey, did you catch 슛돌이 yesterday? You know, the 5 year olds who according to you are spreading Korean fascist nationalism all over the globe? They played a team of 6 20- and 30-something Korean female comedians. Hmmmmm. I wonder what that means. What wickedness were they up to?