Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yeolchae · Joined: 24 Aug 2006

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200609/kt2006091317431710220.htm

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Zolt · Joined: 18 May 2006

I'm surprised france is so high. But then we frenchmen do bust our asses in the office, we wouldnt want to miss the 5PM apero.

Japan is so high because they don't factor in all these young ppls and migrants working crappy jobs for peanuts, they only qualify as actual workers when it comes to unemployment stats. We you talk about benefits, pensions or productivity, they don't exist anymore.

Plus the japanese don't actually record (or get paid for) all the overtime they do. So I guess in this study they divided their productivity in 16 hours, by a standard, 8 hours work day. I've seen more dramatically unproductive people in japanese offices than I've seen in some 3rd world countries.

The feeling I get from my short experience in a korean office, is that they really do bust their asses (and they can do that 14+ hours a day), but stupid, corrupt and rapacious bosses makes all this go to waste. Nervous breakdowns and alcoholism later on also take their toll.

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

[....]

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

Just to spike your intrest.

Me thinks Belgium does better Smile

disprove me ..

mateomiguel · Joined: 16 May 2005

I just started working in a korean office, and I've been really surprised by what happens here. Yesterday I walked around the corner to ask one of my colleagues one of my endless new-guy questions, and he was asleep at his desk. ASLEEP! he was leaning his head on one hand, supported by his elbow. I had to wake him up and give him a few seconds to get rational before I asked him the question. This was about 3 in the afternoon.

Maybe its just me coming from a middle-class midwestern background, but sleeping on the job was previously unthinkable to me. Especially in an office environment. How is that possible?

seoulsucker · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

Since coming to Korea, I've never met more hard-working people who manage to get absolutely nothing done. It's very "make it up as you go along" here.

My coworkers don't seem to understand that frontloading a project with careful forethought and planning can seriously increase your productivity. They rag on me for not "jumping" on a a project, yet I still manage to finish my work twice as fast as they do.

bobbyhanlon · Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Location: 서울

yep, abso-frigging-lutely. i'm writing this right now from the office of a major korean company; i have almost nothing to do today, but i will stay here until around 7pm since it would be very rude of me not to. Smile

indiercj · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Today's conclusion: Koreans are either lazy or hard-working but stupid. Sweet.

Thunndarr · Joined: 30 Sep 2003

seoulsucker · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

Don't get me wrong, 99% of the Koreans I personally deal with are honest, hard-working folks who earn a decent wage to provide for their families. I'm simply saying foresight and the ability to plan aren't their strong suits.