Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ilsanman]

I find boycotting to be the best way for me to punish a business whose business practices I don't like, or who wrong me.

Have you boycotted any particular business/companies?

I have boycotted:

1. Dunkin Donuts (because of their Dokdo shirt)
2. The Lotteria in Bucheon Station (because they serve line-cutters first)
3. A few local businesses here and there (for being rude and talking down to me)
4. All street businesses (because they're mostly illegal, don't pay taxes, and block traffic)

[Ya-ta Boy]

One-man boycotts are highly ineffective. No one notices.

You need to up-grade your protest strategies. At minimum, you need a headband and a picket sign. To really get into the spirit of things, you need a knife to cut off a finger.

[TBirdMG]

While I agree in part with Ya-ta boy that one person boycotts are generally ineffective, I would also argue that they can be the catalyst for greater politico-economic-social movements.
However, you will first need to wear a pocketed vest, preferably deep red, as well as a bandana. Sit down cross legged in front of, and facing, the business you object too, and begin to chant anti-business slogans. Wait for crowds to build, and eventually bystanders will join you in the protest.
Hand out towels printed with your slogans and main points in order to maintain effective communication and physical presence. Towels should be white or yellow. Within minutes, you will have a riot on your hands.
You could warn about the dangers of 'mad donut' disease in front of the Dunkin Donuts....
Just be careful of the tear gas that follows....

[Ilsanman]

My purpose is not to attract others. If you have no problem with that business, then shop till you drop.

It's not like I think 'Well, that wasn't very good. I might not go there again,' I agree to never go there again.

[Straphanger]

[Panda]

I rarely eat street food (I did yesterday however, after my friend and I failed to find a fastfood restaurant cuz we only had 20 min for eating), but I dont think we should boycott it.

1, It is culture
2, It offers job opportunities to those who cant find a job as engineers or doctors or even a deliver man.
3, Korean people love it.

[bogey666]

just what kind of "food" do they sell on the street?

everything I see looks either deep fried or drowning in red sauce, etc so I simply stay as far away as I can.

so basically it looks either disgusting or very unhealthy or both.

in SE Asia you can get good and cheap food on the street. No so in Korea.

I do buy fruit off the street vendors though. Much cheaper.

[michaelambling]

[Vancouver]

[samd]

Ha ha nice thread.

My boycotts:

1) Starbucks - Shit coffee again and again and again.
2) Outback - Starting from last night. One of the worst steaks I've ever had.
3) Anywhere I receive rude or patronising service. Various 김밥천국/김가네 joints are on my no-go list.
4) A few Chinese-delivery places for bad 짜장면.
5) A 삼겹살 place for bad smells and brown lettuce.
6) A bar for continually rude service, and poor treatment of its regulars.

I think boycotting does work here because there are so many similar businesses competing in small areas. If it takes the same time to walk to both restaurants, why go to the place with a rude ajumma? I will never go back, and I assume most other people would do the same. Hopefully the lose enough money to have to close up and move back to Jeonju.

[kiknkorea]

[AltF4]

[Robot_Teacher]

OP, that's one Westerner idea that doesn't apply in a foreign country where foreigners are sparsely spread out with extremely few entrepreneurs targeting them. What Korean proprietor cares about the lone foreigner who isn't satisfied with something in Korea? Foreigners only represent a tiny % of their clientele and no one caters to foreigners with Itaewon exception. I would suspect most businesses rarily get a foreign customer and many will never see one in the lifetime with exceptions in Seoul and special areas in the cities where there are a concentration of waygooks. I too find many people rude in Asian countries, but more so in Thailand than Korea by a long shot. Korea is tame and docile. I also find many people in Western countries to be rude as well, but find Asia has more of a deep work ethic thing surrounding providing service to the customer while Western service/retail workers usually care little about service.

The only businesses I've seen catering to foreigners are in Itaewon, Seoul such as 3 Alley pub and the Red Door store among a hundred other businesses. Elsewhere, line cutting is common, acceptable, and supported by businesses. Cash registers are set up to accommodate the guy buying a pack of smokes while you're getting your items scanned or in the process of counting money to pay. Asia is a big free for all entrepreneurial fest, but not for foreigners due to domestic economic protectionism policies. It is evident in all Asian countries locals are allowed to do anything they can come up with, but they usually don't think outside the box enough to reach anything near their potential of offering variety and service while foreigners are only allowed to teach English or bring in investing money to partner up for a business venture. It tends to go that businesses offering what we think of as great service have a foreign manager involved. No foreigners street peddling goods allowed as locals in almost any country won't allow the real risk being beat out by this white dude who understands all these white tourists and expats.

By boycotting something in Korea, you're only denying yourself of the benefits it offers. Of course, if you don't like something, they you vote with your feet and go elsewhere or you do without since no one else is offering what you're avoiding.

It's your money and time so you have every right to spend or save as you deem fit, but it does suck big wankers when Dunkin Donuts only has one cup of crappy coffee and you ask for a 2nd cup trying to get your fix, but told there is no more. I understand...

Dokdo belongs to Korea. Actually it might be about fishing rights more than simply claiming these 2 cold almost lifeless rocks.