Korean Job Discussion Forums

joshuafaw · Joined: 21 Nov 2006

This country makes me unspeakably sad. I leave in 2 days. If you guys have figured it out, good for you, but I just don't get it. I've lived in the south Bronx, Harlem, Miami and L.A. and I've never seen so much unhappiness in peoples' faces, such sadness leaking out of peoples' spirits, and senseless violence out on the streets. Anyway, Saturday night I was in a taxi and there were 3 Korean men standing beside a Korean lady. She was just speaking to them, and suddenly one of the men hauled off and punched her in the face very hard. She fell to the ground, weeping and screaming, and came running to my taxi. The taxi driver glanced at her as she begged for help, or to be let in. He then looked away and kept driving. I asked to get out. The men had taken off. The police came and she told them that I saw what happened. She grabbed onto me and held me as hard as she could and wouldn't let go, and cried over and over "Dont leave me, please, don't go away, please, stay with me, please please please." The police chased the man who had hit her, and I identified him. He admitted to hitting her, so we all went to the police station to file paperwork and make statements. No one spoke English. The girl refused to fill out a statement form and called her friend on a cell phone to come inside. Her girl friend came in and tried to coax her into filling it out. After refusing, the friend started slapping her face. That is when I pointed to the door and said "Um, I need to go."

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

I agree, there is incredible sadness in Korea, something about the culture is not working. The abuse of women is just one expression of it. Though I think you have to note also that in the area of male on male violence there is actually far less agression on the streets and in the bars that back in the west, which is one positive point for thier society.

There is an overall lack of relaxed joyousness on the streets. There is the same in Japan, though with a slightly different flavour that I can't quite pin point apart from a general lack of comfortableness and smiling and public.

In the case of Korea you have to remember that they are only a few generations away from a poverty stricken agrarian economy and have been ravaged for centuries by invasion. No doubt thier own beliefs and culture also play a huge part, and particularly I blame confucianism, which while originating in China took even deeper and pervasive root in Korea. I call it confusionism, helps me laugh about it a bit.

I say this not as a racist attack and put down, but as someone who has a deep deep affection and goodwill towards the country. I'd like to see things get a lot better in Korea in so many areas. My five years there left an indellible mark on me and changed me forever. With the good and bad, one thing you can say about Korea is that it's gritty, intense, flavoursome, and compelling. For better or worse, Korea gets in your bones.

I've been two years in Japan now, and with a much much cushier sweeter smoother set, and making more money. It's an easy ride. And yet I still find myself on this board all the time, and constantly on the verge of packing it in here and coming back for more punishment. Unexplainable really...

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:24 am Post subject:

It's strange the experiences one sees...

I've been in Korea 3 years, and have never seen a man strike a woman, nor have I heard it. I've heard yelling and screaming, but never hitting. Not to say it doesn't happen, it clearly does. Just the posturing that goes on with the men here, it's beyond ridiculous. Of course, you can learn alot by watching TV, just to see the images that are so commonplace, of men back-of-the-hand slapping women all the time. Even rape.

I think the saddest part is the feeling of repression, of subverting your natural feelings to what others want. In school, at home, everywhere, the constant shadow of confucism weighs over Koreans. The only escape is alcohol, cigs, hookers and physical and verbal abuse.

Sad. But, lots and lots of sadness in the West. We just cover it with drugs booze money and reality TV.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Hmm.. I always felt like people in the US were generally sad, too, though I only lived in various parts of Florida and North Carlinny. One thing I'd do while driving is look at the faces of people driving in oncoming traffic. Most times, they would look like they hated life at that moment. Then I would imagine them seeing family or a friend and lighting up, so they are dead except on the occasions that are deemed 'happy times'.

I thought a lot about these designated times of happiness and misery. You are supposed to hate work, and count the clock; praise Friday, moan and gripe on Monday, and call Wednesday 'Hump Day'. Driving and shopping are both chores that must be endured. Only recreation can be seen as happy times.

It was the writing of Thich Nhat Hanh that got me noticing these things.

To me, the general public in Korea seems similar, public-emotionally, to Americans I've encountered. I think everyone is just lost in their own world, waiting for designated happy time to occur.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

It's hard not to respond to a thread that starts like this. Unspeakably sad, many go on through the motions and days that pile irretrievably into gray. Clouds envelop them, the masses it seems, they hug ambivalence as they go heart-weary, which way was it? -- ah, back home.

The gray faces show little so close your eyes as you take the train.

"In a world more full of weeping than he can understand" (Yeats)

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I'll knock a woman senseless if she looks mannish

skdragon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

와사등

차단---한 등불이 하나 비인 하늘에 걸려 있다.
내 호올로 어델 가라는 슬픈 신호냐.

긴- 여름 해 황망히 나래를 접고
늘어선 고층 창백한 묘석같이 황혼에 젖어
찬란한 야경 무성한 잡초인 양 헝클어진 채
사념(思念) 벙어리되어 입을 다물다.

피부의 바깥에 스미는 어둠
낯설은 거리의 아우성 소리
까닭도 없이 눈물겹고나

공허한 군중의 행렬에 섞이어
내 어디서 그리 무거운 비애를 지고 왔기에
길---게 늘인 그림자 이다지 어두워

내 어디로 가라는 슬픈 신호기
차단---한 등불이 하나 비인 하늘에 걸리어 있다.

--김광균

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

Anyone care to translate the above?

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

CabbageTownRoyals · Joined: 14 Sep 2006

CabbageTownRoyals · Joined: 14 Sep 2006

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

Yesterday · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:36 pm Post subject:

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Soaring Suicides
Without a doubt we live in an extremely stressful society. But the many social conditions that drive us to mental strain or anguish can hardly explain the dismaying figure of 14,000 suicides a year, the highest among OECD countries.
Editorial, Korea Herald (October 31, 2006)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/10/31/200610310012.asp

Watch for Warning Signs As Suicides Rise
by Bae Ji-sook, Korea Times (September 8, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200609/kt2006090719095111980.htm

Koreans Flock to Emigration Fair
By Mike Weisbart, Korea Times (March 27, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200503/kt2005032719145611990.htm

Koreans Look Outward to Seek Better Life: Increasing Number of Technicians, Other Professionals Join Emigration Tide
By Chung Ah-young, The Korea Times (October 27, 2004)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/special/200410/kt2004102718575545250.htm

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul