Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tumbleweed]

Okay, I know this may be a bit of a sensitive topic, but I wanted to address it in a civilized way. Actual discussion instead of flame baiting, please.

In any case- one of the criticisms I've heard about Korean education (and about Korean culture in general), is 'lack of creativity' and 'lack of critical thinking skills.'

However, in my (admittedly short) time in Korea, I haven't seen any glaring examples of it. A sense of hierarchy and...well, maybe not conformism, but a definite sense of 'this is how we do things,' yes. But nothing that I can really point to as an example.

Which is why I'm asking you guys for examples to either support, or (perhaps even better) dispel the stereotype. Just, y'know, keep it civil?

[Underwaterbob]

They're not less creative, they're just stuck in a system that rewards memorization by rote and praises conformity.

Edit: typo

[winterfall]

[minos]

[Konglishman]

[eamo]

I don't think Koreans lack creativity.......it's just a muscle they rarely exercise........mostly because they don't need to.

[crossmr]

You're trying to prove a negative..that doesn't work.
Even in any country that you might consider the most creative in the world, you could find examples of things that lack creativity.

As for avoiding flamebaiting, well, you seemingly built your post with that in mind. So given where we are, I'd say what lacks creativity is your post.

Given that the vast majority of people here aren't remotely fully invested in Korean society and culture, asking them to judge it, is pretty meaningless.

combined with your leading title, you didn't ask a neutral question you already assumed a position, it's pretty clear how this was directed.

[BoholDiver]

I have had kids who lack creativity, but it might be pure laziness and lack of effort.

Korea hasn't invented anything. That's a good example.

[legrande]

Ugh, well actually Korea is extremely creative... let's see... THERE'S K-POP!!...ugh, no, J-pop was there first, and Hip-hop/Rap/R n' B before that... HOW'S ABOUT THEM K-LEAGUERS!!...no, J-League got there a few years earlier...just give me a few seconds...baseball, scratch that...cherry blossoms in the spri...no,no,...Confucian...from China....

[isisaredead]

[crossmr]

[red_devil]

TV commercials. Practically all TV commercials lack creativity, they mainly consist of a pretty celeb face, a product shot, and a happy jingle at the end. Something like how ads in the 60's were.

Software. As i've heard from several developers and engineers that went through Samsung, software design and development processes are woefully lacking. Many software solutions are copied outright and there are many process failures in error checking. The user experience was never considered a high factor and we can see that in how they design websites, and GUI's.

Hardware design. It wasn't until very recently that product hardware design was even considered. Most of the product designs for laptops, phones, TV's, etc, were copied earlier from Sony and Apple and then products from Philips, Toshiba, and Panasonic were used as references. It wasn't until very very recently (last couple of years) that Samsung and LG were starting to home grow product designers but most of them still took heavy influence on others. Do i even have to mention the iPhone & iPad?

Automobiles. Also prior to a few years ago the model launches from Ssangyong and Hyundai didn't really consider exterior design to be that important. Since then it's been mainly copying designs from Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. I heard a few of the car makers even recently hired the ex-designers from Mercedes and BMW and they've been used as consultants in the past.

Music Industry. If you've been reading entertainment news there have been several high profile cases of plagiarism that have actually gone to court and countless others that no doubt were settled out of court. Even fans have been quick to point out specific lyrics, musical phrases, and chorus' that are identical to songs released in the UK and US. Several music videos have also been seen to recreate almost exactly scenes from other MV's. Lady Gaga's style can be seen in previous MV's from Hyori as well as other artists. Bi (Rain) is considered by most Koreans to be the best dancer in Asia. But he himself has mentioned he copied and studied US artists like Usher very heavily during his earlier years and this is very obvious when you see his choreography.

Entertainment. Most Korean films and dramas center around either history, horror, or modern culture. There are very few sci-fi or fantasy films. I've had Koreans tell me that the special effects in "D-War" were awesome. I almost laughed aloud in the theater when i saw it. Even the Japanese have awesome made for TV animation, and people like Hayao Miyazaki making films successful worldwide. Japanese anime get's produced in Korea but the writers, directors, and the people behind the idea are always Japanese. Even dramas and films these days are remakes of Japanese versions.

There are a lot of reasons why Koreans lack creative chops. Education, parents, gov't, society, lack of English ability hampers their ability to surf websites and read about innovation happening outside of Korea...Koreans lack of creativity, and innovation has been discussed by business executives and organizations like AMCHAM and KBC here in Seoul. I've attended several of these in the past. I work in the creative industry so these aren't offhand observations but issues i've come face to face with while living/working in Korea.

[happiness]

ive noticed lately that tv commercials seem to be basically japanese style, i mean, they were before, but now its more directly lifted...
k-pop lately has had MORE of a flood of foreign writers lately as well, and I can feel the songs that are more j-pop influence/or written by jpop writers/etc.

but its always been like that, just now, the young generation doesnt love samsung and hate J-land as much as their parents generation.


there was a thing a few years ago with the opening of "creativity hagwons" which as a third generation artist with alot of work, has always given me the chuckles. I can just imagine the directors speils to the parents, the textbooks they have, and the rush through the textbooks to show how creatively faster their students are.

its like the thing with carrying Big DSLRS everywhere without a case. Its all about showing. If you can remember the showing and looking part, you can go far here.

[furtakk]

these threads are always stupid.

there are plenty of koreans who are very creative and produce good art, music, architecture, design, film, fashion, literature, etc etc.

there are also many more koreans who do not.

just like in EVERY country.

the problem is limited perspective, care, whatever from foreigners here. most interaction with koreans takes place at your workplace which tends to be with children and who are usually too tired to care in their english class and will just do the bare minimum. did you demonstrate your creative spirit in french/spanish class when you were 11? or with older koreans who have limited fluency in english.

basing your judgments of korea's creative prowess off of samsung, hyundai, kpop, and popular tv is like judging america's contribution to culture off of microsoft, chevrolet, top40, and hollywood.

[legrande]

Hate to break this to you, but there is a world of difference between the things you listed, if you even know a little about the history of Microsoft, Chevy, Hollywood, etc. Sorry, dude.