Korean Job Discussion Forums

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How long have you been here, Atwood? I'm curious because it seems you haven't noticed that the tarot fad is all but over, and that mainly the same generation acting as the driving force for these rituals is the same generation getting their fortunes told. The communes of stalls I saw three years ago downtown Daegu started looking vacant two years ago. Now they're gone. The few i see scattered about are usually empty and I have commented to my wife on how they could still be paying their electricity bills.

I'm surprised that you would present such a list of things as evidence of a lack of change. Actually I am scoffing at even addressing it. Why not add Korean driving to it? If you think it all makes a point, here we go...

For example, matchmakers? Really? So, the use of matchmakers in N.America isn't on the rise? More importantly, do you think that Koreans continuing to use matchmakers actually has something to do with the fact that Koreans are beginning to shun a completely unrelated tradition? It couldn't just be that people see value in one thing but not the other?
I mean, are Korean marriages still being arranged as often as they were one generation ago? Not even close.

And now Kimchi: It's is a matter of national pride, and it's embarrassing that you even went there. Canada makes the best bacon in the world so to heck with Kimchi, hey? Did you think about the fact that far fewer daughters are learning the method of making kimchi? Hmm... that's a pretty significant change isn't it?

On to cramming: Please explain how the desire to get ahead in life is unique to Koreans, and how this correlates to having a desire to continue traditional rituals. Did cramming exist since rituals began? No. People move to Seoul because of work, not tradition.

On bowing: Sorry, but bowing to seniors is falling off. I don't see it at my uni anymore, and my private class of managers have said it's not as prevalent. Also, I think you've missed a few news reports on the recent surge of the young acting out against the old.

Corruption: You might need a reminder of how well corporations are running America before you bring up corruption. Yes, I'm sure that the fact that American banks are licensed criminals has something to do with the fact that Americans no longer favor going out to movies as much as they did before.

You think Korea hasn't changed in the last decade? Here's another list.

- revealing clothes. when i first arrived here, showing ones mid-section (male or female) was considered taboo. Now, i see naval piercings regularly, and shorts have never been shorter.
- piercings. younger kids are getting more and more of them.
- tattoos. i see them every day now. ten years ago, non existent.
- obesity.
- makeup and hair color. again, younger kinds, and more people are doing it (male and female).
- more elderly being abandoned by family in their old age, or put into government retirement homes
- greatly lowered birthrate
- disrespecting the elderly. Not only are kids acting out, it's been a good long while since I've seen one give up their seat on transpo. In fact it's been so long I can't remember a time i saw it happen this year.
- dating. kids are dating at a younger age.
- drugs. becoming a problem in some areas, and with students also.
- the perception of entertainers. they are no longer considered the lowest rungs of society.
- more dual income families
- premarital sex and co-habitation. on a big rise.
- divorce. been on a drastic rise.
- the shift to more recreation time. families are going camping more, taking trips more. more families are ignoring traditions in favor of travel.

Care to think about what all these things add up to?

Now about the traffic jams: Yes, this still goes on and it will go on. We ARE talking about ancestor worship rituals , aren't we? What do traffic jams have to do with the continuation of rituals?
But, I will add that the percentage of the population making these transits is decreasing, according to the report i saw. The only thing keeping things tight is the current elderly population bubble.

Things don't change all at once when the sun goes down, Atwood. Beliefs may stay the same in some respects, but they way those beliefs are expressed die off.