Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CheeseSandwich]

Just a random question I had on the subway.

I was curious what sort of programs they have, and what they do.

I see the beggers and the homeless on a near daily basis in itaewon, I just wondered what sort of goverment programs are avalible to them.

[sojusucks]

I've seen a coupte welfare offices, I have read articles about their existence, and I have been told that people on the subways are usually on such programs. I have been told by Koreans not to give them money for this reason. There always seem to be exceptions to the rule however.

Are the welfare programs sufficient? That, I can't answer.

[jvalmer]

Just wondering why you ask this question? Are you saying if a country has a welfare program, there should be no beggars and homeless? Ideally I wish that were true, but check out like every country in the world , even the ones with social/welfare programs, there will be beggars and bums.

[Unposter]

IMO Welfare programs in South Korea are grossly insufficient. There is still a strong Confuscian (sp?) spirit that the family takes care of the family and it is not really the government's role.

There do seem to be a lot of church groups that try to help (limitedly).

[Suwon23]

Subway stations.

[Tommy]

I asked a Kyopo friend about welfare in Korea a few years back. He told me it doesn't really do much, and pointed out the grandmas and grandpas that make up the majority of cardboard and recycling collectors (the ones hauling all the junk in their makeshift wheelbarrows).

You know when you're sitting on the subway and a homeless person passes out those notes? Well they usually mention not having any family - dad died, mom left at an early age, grandma also died. Even if they did manage to get a job tomorrow, they'd have no way of paying the insane key money required for a one-room apartment (minimum 10Mil now?). What are the alternatives - goshiwon, jimjibang?

[Scotticus]