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Korean business lunch breaks

 
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Cstock



Joined: 04 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:41 pm    Post subject: Korean business lunch breaks Reply with quote

Can someone please tell me what the deal is with Korean lunch breaks for businesses? I've been in this country for neigh three years and EVERY time I try to get something done during my lunch break (the only time I have during business hours) EVERY damn thing is closed because they're all, and I mean every employee "ALL", on a lunch break for 1 hour. Why can't they give some people an earlier lunch break and some a later one? They lose and alienate a vast amount of customers by neglecting the only time many people, both Korean and non, to get anything done outside of work.
I often feel like there is a logic void enveloping this peninsula and nothing can pierce it.
I DO understand that eating alone is a big stigma in Korean culture, but they don't seem to mind when a foreigner eats alone. Just part of that ever-present double standard, I guess. But, they wouldn't have to eat alone, just not with everyone ever hired by that company.

Steam vented. Comment as you will.
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Draz



Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can you change your lunch break?
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Korean business lunch breaks Reply with quote

Cstock wrote:
Can someone please tell me what the deal is with Korean lunch breaks for businesses? I've been in this country for neigh three years and EVERY time I try to get something done during my lunch break (the only time I have during business hours) EVERY damn thing is closed because they're all, and I mean every employee "ALL", on a lunch break for 1 hour.
Why can't they give some people an earlier lunch break and some a later one? They lose and alienate a vast amount of customers by neglecting the only time many people, both Korean and non, to get anything done outside of work.

How do they lose customers? The customers still have to get their business done. And going somewhere else...they'd get the same treatment.

I often feel like there is a logic void enveloping this peninsula and nothing can pierce it.
I DO understand that eating alone is a big stigma in Korean culture, but they don't seem to mind when a foreigner eats alone.

Why would businesses care if some strange foreigner eats alone or not?

Just part of that ever-present double standard, I guess. But, they wouldn't have to eat alone, just not with everyone ever hired by that company.

Steam vented. Comment as you will.


What businesses are you talking about? I've never seen post offices or banks completely closed for lunch.
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Robot_Teacher



Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Location: Robotting Around the World

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know the doctors take theirs late such as 1, 2, or 3. On busy days, they might miss out on lunch.
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Xuanzang



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The post office always has at least one person there. Banks as well.
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pidgin



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:02 pm    Post subject: Re: Korean business lunch breaks Reply with quote

Cstock wrote:
EVERY time I try to get something done during my lunch break (the only time I have during business hours)


So then you can sympathize Wink
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michaelambling



Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:13 am    Post subject: Re: Korean business lunch breaks Reply with quote

TheUrbanMyth wrote:
Cstock wrote:
Can someone please tell me what the deal is with Korean lunch breaks for businesses? I've been in this country for neigh three years and EVERY time I try to get something done during my lunch break (the only time I have during business hours) EVERY damn thing is closed because they're all, and I mean every employee "ALL", on a lunch break for 1 hour.
Why can't they give some people an earlier lunch break and some a later one? They lose and alienate a vast amount of customers by neglecting the only time many people, both Korean and non, to get anything done outside of work.

How do they lose customers? The customers still have to get their business done. And going somewhere else...they'd get the same treatment.

I often feel like there is a logic void enveloping this peninsula and nothing can pierce it.
I DO understand that eating alone is a big stigma in Korean culture, but they don't seem to mind when a foreigner eats alone.

Why would businesses care if some strange foreigner eats alone or not?

Just part of that ever-present double standard, I guess. But, they wouldn't have to eat alone, just not with everyone ever hired by that company.

Steam vented. Comment as you will.


What businesses are you talking about? I've never seen post offices or banks completely closed for lunch.


You are AMAZING. TUM, are you a kyopo?
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:06 am    Post subject: Re: Korean business lunch breaks Reply with quote

michaelambling wrote:
TheUrbanMyth wrote:
Cstock wrote:
Can someone please tell me what the deal is with Korean lunch breaks for businesses? I've been in this country for neigh three years and EVERY time I try to get something done during my lunch break (the only time I have during business hours) EVERY damn thing is closed because they're all, and I mean every employee "ALL", on a lunch break for 1 hour.
Why can't they give some people an earlier lunch break and some a later one? They lose and alienate a vast amount of customers by neglecting the only time many people, both Korean and non, to get anything done outside of work.

How do they lose customers? The customers still have to get their business done. And going somewhere else...they'd get the same treatment.

I often feel like there is a logic void enveloping this peninsula and nothing can pierce it.
I DO understand that eating alone is a big stigma in Korean culture, but they don't seem to mind when a foreigner eats alone.

Why would businesses care if some strange foreigner eats alone or not?

Just part of that ever-present double standard, I guess. But, they wouldn't have to eat alone, just not with everyone ever hired by that company.

Steam vented. Comment as you will.


What businesses are you talking about? I've never seen post offices or banks completely closed for lunch.


You are AMAZING. TUM, are you a kyopo?



Ah the "you must be a kyopo" defense. It's getting really old. How about some new material?

I guess I must be a kyopo, because only a kyopo would give advice to new teachers how not to be jerked around and only a kyopo would provide advice on their contracts and what to look out for... Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes
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