Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Khenan]

I will be moving to SK shortly, and have been reading these forums with a fair hunger in recent months. One theme I have noticed is a complaint over hagwon owners who are out to "fleece" someone or another, who seemingly have simply started a business where they think they can make some money, whether or not they know much or anything about education. I'm not assuming that this is the norm.. simply that people say this sort of thing a lot.

Anyway, I was thinking that I know a lot of Koreans State-side who have started their own businesses, etc. Really, this is part of the stereotype, I think, and in my experience it has played true.

What's the deal with this? Do you think Koreans are more inclined to entrepreneurship? (sp?) Any ideas on a cause for this? Or are my observations just statistical flukes?

[Hollywoodaction]

I've owned a couple of small businesses here, so I might be able to help. To answer your question, yes they are...but there are two other things to consider...1) With a large population density and a fast growing economy in South Korea, it's relatively easy (and financially rewarding) to start a small business here and 2) You must have some money to invest in order to immigrate to the US.

[Khenan]

Those are both good points.

[Ilsanman]

If I had to guess, I'd say that Korean bosses are particularily hard on their employees and offer little in the way of job security. If you have a shitass boss, maybe you'd like to be your own boss.

Maybe they're trying to avoid the long hours, but in my experience, small businesses end up being more work than working for a company.