Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pyongshin Sangja]

This weekend I polished off a litre of vodka, a litre of gin, twenty beers, some bourbon, four bottles of baekseju and a whole truckload of kalbi.

How was your weekend?

[Captain Corea]

[buddy bradley]

[JongnoGuru]

I see myself on Captain Corea's list, but I'm not sure what it's in aid of. I gave an unabashedly honest answer to the OP's question, but I don't mean to say that's something to be unabashedly proud of. I mean, giving honest answers is, but not getting trashed & missing work.

Of all the times I've missed work because of drinking, it was never a whole day. I got to work an hour or so late in the morning. I had no meetings scheduled on any of those days, and it wasn't a case of students in classrooms wondering where I am and what's happened to me. Except for one instance, I always managed to call in and let people know I'd be late. Did my Korean bosses like it? Of course not, but as they almost surely had a direct hand in getting me wrecked -- and as I warned them of the likely consequences the night before -- there's not a whole lot they were going to do about it.

Before I go on, I want to point out that "missing work due to drinking" comes in two forms in Korea.

1) What I'm used to. Not being about to get to work on time because my body won't cooperate, demanding a few hours more sleep in order to function semi-properly.

2) What Koreans are used to and are far more practised at. (Seriously, it's a several-times-a-month occurrence for many, many offices in this country.) Managing to drag their half-dead, still-drunken carcasses to the office by 9, laying their heads on their desks, draping their jackets over their heads, and then snoozing the whole morning away. Some of them snore like thunder. A few hours in the afternoon napping at the sauna often follows.

Of all the office drink-ups (none are ever advertised as such) that I was asked/ordered to attend, I probably went to less than 20% of them, causing ill will for refusing to go in some cases. It depended on the office dynamics, the personality of the management, and sometimes the physical location of my office vis-a-vis the rest of the company. And because I simply couldn't refuse every single invitation, I mastered over the years the art of escapology, extricating myself from shackles, restraints and perils that would have done in Harry Houdini himself. But I stress, this skill took time to develop.

I've been pressured to drink with colleagues & bosses in Hong Kong, Japan, and at my first two jobs in the West where I worked for certified alcoholics. Dealing with those pressures was far easier. Kid's stuff compared with Korea.

I think my experiences and observations -- that Koreans are unique in the pressure they put on people to drink beyond their desire & capacity -- are valid and accurate. But if, because I've not always managed to stand up to those pressures, some posters want to call me weak or a moron or tell me I have a lot of growing up to do, well that's fine. I'm sure that's how it looks to them. And there is no clearer proof that they don't know the sort of circumstances and pressures I'm talking about. They think they know, based on their own personal experiences, but they don't.

Though forget about me, forget about what I've seen. Foreign businessmen, foreign journalists, foreign diplomats (particularly them) and others consider South Korea to be one of the hardest duties on the liver. (Second only to Russia, some have said.) Make of that what you will, but understand that these people generally didn't get where they are by being weak, moronic children who are easily manipulated and coerced into do things they don't like. And yet it happens regularly here in Korea.

[spidey112233]

[Badmojo]

[Captain Corea]

[simone]

[Homer]

I am not talking about a once or twice a year thing here.

If a person gets hammered once and misses work the next day (i.e. through a sick day) then thats no big deal. It is not exactly a good reason to miss classes but its no big deal.

What I take exception with is the reccuring or regular occurence of the 'I'm hung over...I"ll call in sick" excuse. It happens all too often and it is a sure fire sign that some one is in fact a grade A moron.

I never said a person who misses one day of work or the rare day of work because he is too hung over is a moron...nor did I call you a moron personally badmojo (wonder why you would then take it personally).

If a person misses work once a year because they got plastered, well no worries. Sadly that is not the norm or what some posters are advocating for in here.

Also, if you Korean co-workers get hammered and show up for work the next day while you take a sick day...how come they made it and you didn't?

All that is required here is a minimum of common sense and of reponsability.

[JongnoGuru]

Nice to get some corroboration from someone right there in the trenches, Simone!

I'm by no means a teetotaler, but I pick my drinking companions and choose the time when it suits me. And drinking with work colleagues on the orders of high-ranking Korean men who's full names I usually couldn't even remember, and on work nights... I'd never do that unless it was compulsory.

'If you puke, all the better, because it shows that you went all out...'

People might laugh to read that, but when you consider that it is not a joke or an exaggeration in Korea, it quickly ceases to be funny. I've lived and worked in countries where drinking is a big part of the business culture, but prior to working for a Korean company, the last time I drank so much I vomited was in my early university years.

[Barking Mad Lord Snapcase]

I agree with most of what you are saying, Homer. However, many on this board harp on about how social relationship and interaction in Korea is more important than the work contract itself. With that in mind, consider the following quote:

[JongnoGuru]

[Barking Mad Lord Snapcase]

[Emu Bitter]

Didn't even bother to look at the stories due to veteran arrogance, but myself, Panthermodern, & others could tell stories about Chon ju in the old days, yesirreebob.

[JongnoGuru]