Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kiddirts]

When are Koreans punctual? When it helps them out. Having just got back to Korea I'm trying to set myself up again going through schools and recruiters. In my first 2 weeks. I've been totally stood up 5 times and recruiters, teachers, and hagwon owners have been religiously late to the tune of about 14 times as I hang outside a subway exit in the bitter cold. The ONLY two times they were on time to meet me was when they NEEDED me as I was filling in as a temp. The funniest thing of all is they always say on the phone, please, please...don't be late. They always say this. Last night I had to meet a recruiter and I had to walk half a mile almost. They were ten minutes late and I walked off to McDonalds to get a coffee and walk home...then they called 20 minutes later..."Hey sorry, where are you?" "I went to Mcdonald's, sorry, it was too cold." click. Where I come from, if you keep someone waiting, it's a sign of total disrespect. I guess over here it's seen as being one-up on someone if you need to talk business and you keep your subject waiting in the cold for your sorry a$$...and I hear it all the time, "Don't be late" What a bunch of crap. Sorry, guess I'm just a little pissed...where am I now? A PC bong because some shady recruiter named Shin just stood me up. F that.

[Mr. Pink]

While I have never been stood up, I have been waiting. I used to think showing up at 10mins before an appointment was the appropriate thing to do. Now I show up around 5mins after the appt. time. So instead of waiting 25mins, I usually now wait 5-10mins.

[sistersarah]

they're always, always late. the good thing is, if you're ever late, they don't seem to mind. i showed up half an hour late for an interview once and they didn't care -- got the job. now if that was at home.....

[weatherman]

It is a bit of a power thing too. The older or higher ranked, can be late, but those lower, or looking for a favor shouldn't be.

[mishlert]

The subject of this post is an oxymoron.

[rapier]

I agree with weatherman.. my old boss thought he was the pinnacle of creation and was always 30 mins late for anything, you could set your watch by him. The average korean is about 15-20 mins late I find.. I don't think they see it as an offence, more as a social statement.. still d***ed annoying though....

[matko]

I seem to remember reading something somewhere, I think it was that Ugly American, Ugly Korean book, not sure.

If I remember correctly, I think it is considered rude to be on time in Korea. for example, showing up to someones home on time does not give the host enough time to prepare. If the host is running late, it would be embarrassing to your host.

Maybe this spills over into other aspects of Korean life as well.

Anyway, I am notoriously early and HATE CHRONICALLY late people.

[Bulsajo]

Highest on the totem pole arrives lastest.

[FUBAR]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Mr. Pink]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

I waited an hour in the hot sun to meet my wife for our first date.

Got as nasty sunburn on my neck, but overall, I feel it was worth it.

Sparkles*_*

[Ody]

[shawner88]

Yeah! My girl is ALWAYS late. 30 minutes usually. So last time I went 30 minutes late and she had gotten there on time. Always works that way.

[ryleeys]

It's because Koreans are reading our minds and thinking of the best ways to screw with us...