Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tacticalbuddhist]

I will be landing in Korea in less than a month. Coming from the US, I am looking forward to getting away from all of the marketing and political ads that constantly bombard us. It seems like the American dream has devolved into no one being good enough and politics so negative that I am surprised anyone even votes anymore. How has your move changed your views on this? Does the lack of Korean language skills really remove you from this daily grind? I know Korea is very capitalistic, but does it seem different for you?

[mcviking]

You'll be to busy trying to date Korean girls, getting shafted by your boss, getting stared at, and going through the emotional roller coaster of I love/fing hate Korea, to care about American politics.

[redaxe]

You won't really notice when Korea has elections, they don't really have attack ads on TV and you won't understand the political talk shows, but if you're in Seoul you will notice the protests and candlelight vigils in the street that bring out thousands of riot police and shut down traffic and public transportation once every few months.

Korean advertising is relentless and pervasive, but it is usually so ridiculous you can't help but laugh at it. Several of last year's most popular radio hits were written as advertising jingles for cellular phones.

[tacticalbuddhist]

That's a relief. And I am serious.

[tacticalbuddhist]

What is most of the advertising like? This conversation reminds me of a scene from The Big Bang Theory:

Raj: The only thing I've learned in the last two hours is that American men love drinking beer, pee too often, and have trouble getting erections.
Leonard: Focus on the football game, not the commercials, Raj.
Raj: I'm just saying, maybe if you people cut back on the beer, you could get out of the bathroom and satisfy your women without pharmaceutical help.

[tatertot]

[tatertot]

[fugitive chicken]

[oldfatfarang]

You can always tell it's election time here. There's lines of older K ladies lined up at intersections. They are all dressed the same (white gloves, matching colored uniforms and caps) and are making choreographed hand motions. It's simply hilarious. They look kinda like North Korean cheering squads.

Of course, there's always a big banner and a placard of their candidate wearing a suit. (Interesting to see some of the politicial candidates are actually smiling.)

[machoman]

you probably won't be watching television, so you're not forced to see any ads.

[dharma bum]

not knowing the language, you'll be insulated from politics and advertising as well as pretty much everything else. pop culture, tv shows, and sports won't be things you're expected to know about, and in many ways, it's like being outside of culture and life (until you get involved with expat culture/values/politics). when i first came here, i felt like those things faded away and i was all that was left. that might be particular to me or the time that i came (6+ years ago), but it was a cool feeling that subsided after i learned the language and started to get a feel for the culture and its values. also, it helps that other people generally see you as outside of their bubble as well, which means they don't apply their values and norms to you in the same way. i guess this might seem like a bit of a tangent, but for me, it all ties in with advertising since the consumer culture advertising is based on is what is behind a lot of the values and expectations i'm talking about being able to get away from here.

[redaxe]

[AHawk843]

Those 'Olleh' commercials are pretty funny.

[Milwaukiedave]

You'll know when it's election season because you will see banners with names and numbers of the parties and trucks going around with loud speakers. The next major one isn't until Dec 2012 which is the presidential election. Then in Spring of 2013 there is elections for the National Assembly. There may be a minor one between now and then. Also the candidates have a limited amount of time to campaign (I think it is 3 or 4 weeks), then everything shuts off the day before the election.

While I won't be eligible to vote in the 2013 as I will have only had my F-5 for a less then 3 years but I will be in the next one after that.

[tacticalbuddhist]

So no advertising for mythical medical conditions that the drug companies make up to sell pills?

Wow, there have been some great responses. Thanks for your input.