Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

South Jeolla Province Governor Commits Suicide
Governor Park Tae-young, the 63-year-old governor of South Jeolla Province, stopped his car on the middle of Seoul's Banpo Bridge at 12:48 p.m. Thursday and jumped into the Han River in an apparent suicide.

Late South Jeolla Province Governor Park Tae-young, former president of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nam Sang-guk and Busan Mayor Ahn Sang-yong, all took their lives. Up till now, Hyundai Asan chairman Chung Mong-hun, Busan Mayor Ahn Sang-yong, former president of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nam Sang-guk, chief director of Gwangju University Kim In-Kon, and a civil servant in Busan Regional Tax Office all took their lives before or during prosecutors' investigations.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200404/200404290022.html

Society and the Suicide of a Governor
But why would these people, who had accomplished so much in their own political, economic or social spheres, give up on everything as soon as they experienced setbacks? One wonders if these tragic acts reveal some hidden aspect of our society, or whether, from some unknown point, our understanding of life and death has changed.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200404/200404290037.html

[kangnamdragon]

Interesting that none of my Korean coworkers have heard that and I cannot find it in the Korean news. I wonder why it is only in English.

[the_beaver]

[sadsac]

Clever chauffeur.

[spliff]

I thik Pres Roh could use a swim

[Real Reality]

Over the last year, high profile figures have committed suicide while under investigation for alleged corruption. Shim Young-hee, a sociology professor at Hanyang University, said yesterday, "Their fame, career and wealth collapsed as corruption allegations emerged." She added, "As Korean society becomes more transparent, corrupt acts by leaders that were permissible under previous standards are no longer tolerated."
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200404/29/200404292232469309900090409041.html

Transparency International's "Corruption Perceptions Index 2003" lists Korea 10 places lower than what it was last year, meaning the country ranked 50th. It means that in this new government in which civil servants are given lectures about reform and ministers in tune with the government's politics throw their work aside and run around the country, the corruption has gotten that much worse. According to a recent survey, as many as 90 percent of Korea's youth think they live in a country that's corrupt, and a considerable number of them say they're ready to join the club if the occasions calls for it later in life.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200310/200310080034.html

[weatherman]

[Real Reality]

Paju City Mayor Commits Suicide
Paju City mayor Lee Joon-won jumped off the Banpo Bridge into the Han River and drowned to death on Friday at 3:47 p.m. Lee committed suicide by leaping from the bridge with his driver. Police rescued Lee and transferred him to Suncheonhyang General Hospital, where he soon died. The body of Lee��s driver has not been found. Although details of Lee's suicide motives are not known, sources said prosecutors had summoned Lee over bribery allegations.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200406/200406040048.html