Korean Job Discussion Forums

[viciousdinosaur]

Do you think we are losers? The Korean media certainly portrays us that way and schools treat us that way, and to be honest I also see us that way.

The majority of people I see here in Korea are round pegs. The anti-social, the socially awkward, the ugly, the failures, the lazy, the directionless, the hopeless, the drifting, the broken...most the people who come to Korea would be unemployable back home.

When I do see "normal" people come here (good-looking, smart, sociable) they don't stay long, like they just got lost on their way to Thailand.

So, we have a bad rep in Korea, but really, don't we deserve it? If we look in the mirror for a second, aren't we really who they say we are?

Let's debate. Put your two cents in here.

[JustinC]

Yes I think you are.

[tiger fancini]

[Pablo]

They treat you like a loser, with centuries-honed stinkeyes, because they want you to lose. They do not understand the concept of win-win, much less lose-lose. Only by you losing can they feel that they win. They will try to string you along (doing a very poor job of it), and attempt to suck your blood, until you get smart and leave.

I speak, of course, of my Uncle Vrasdurk and Aunt Kropchak.

[PeteJB]

Considering how high the suicide rate is in Korea one might say that Koreans also look upon themselves as losers. The question is, do you see yourself as a loser? If yes, then you need help with that. Because what other people think of you isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things, now is it?

Oh, and last time I checked, being directionless or ugly in life doesn't automatically make one a loser. Stop eating that crap that society feeds you.

[luckylady]

I think viciousdino might be on to something

[Leon]

I find that the people who think Koreans think we are losers, tend to be losers.

[Malislamusrex]

jackpot.

[Pablo]

I find that the people who think anyone is a "loser" are misinformed.

[viciousdinosaur]

It seems denial ain't just a river in Africa after all.

[Seoulman69]

If you troll message boards then I would say yes, you are a loser.

[edwardcatflap]

Why don't you tell us why you think you're a loser?

[Pablo]

[tideout]

There's an idea that seems to circulate on the board here that if you're working in S. Korea you're probably a "loser". Sometimes people qualify it and sometimes they don't.

Just a couple of thoughts.

I think a majority of those westerners working in Korea are in their twenties or early thirties and by design (Korean visa regs) they have a BA. This means a majority have spent most of their life in a fairly orderly and predictable track (finish 1st grade go to second, finish high school, go to college etc..) and view the future as part of some logical, generally "ascending" path. When you get to Korea, you find people are now off "the program".

In short, you have to be fairly young to think that the three years in _____, (fill in the blank - Korea, Tampa etc.. were somehow a "mistake". You made or are making tradeoffs as best you can for a limited view into the future - which is what people do in life to get through it. Only the fairly rich and privileged get to avoid this and maybe not even them. Talk with anyone with a lot of life experience - they've usually done a lot of jobs and in the end, if they are fairly healthy individuals don't base much of their opinion about someone based on their past job titles.

We also live in a global economy that is offering something less than the clear career path you may have imagined in early adulthood. I think we can expect more of this not less. We may just be ahead of our time in some odd way. Why is someone more of a loser who teaches in Seoul than someone who works in Cleveland at an Apple Store? Seems pretty subjective.

Having said that, I think Korea's a terrifically unfortunate choice for a lot of people. It's largely a society that's uncomfortable with foreigners and rigidly structures by visa and job title the foreigners who do come here. People might find things to do here but I think are largely not integrated into society here the way I've seen in other countries. On top of the general, second class social status you're somewhat likely to be living in an area w/o many people you can talk with which in itself leads to people who have a high (maybe too high) tolerance for social isolation. I think for many they were different before they came here and then become more isolated socially and well - a little weirder.

Or as a friend of mine who's been here for over two decades says. "You'll get weirder in Korea and the damage is cumulative".

[viciousdinosaur]