Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maitaidads]

Went to a delicious Korean-owned pancake/pajeon restaurant in Oregon last weekend, and the ajumma owner asked me and my friend what college we went to, how we old are, where our high school was, how tall we are, etc.

She stayed around while were eating to say her son worked at Samsung, her daughter worked in DC and Paris, she was offered an opportunity to run the fanciest restaurant in Gangnam, and her niece (the head waitress) went to MIT.

Also, her father was a famous SBS news anchor and her other daughter just sold her apartment for a cool $1,000,000.

Another surprise to me- the Korean guy who works at the Penny Market near my place was a very famous hip hop artist and breakdancer in Korea.

Also, a Korean man I deal with tangentially for a SE Asian charity says he was a captain in the army, flew jets over N Korea, and was an original partner at LG. His son is one of the most famous singers in Asia at the moment.

I say "goofballs" because why would all these successful Koreans give it up and move to the US? I guess Oregon is pretty nice, but it hardly seems worth leaving your chairman position at LG to go to work in America at a laundry delivery service. Anyone else seen this phenomenon or have any ideas??? What am I missing???

[Who's Your Daddy?]

They think a white person is stupid enough to believe it.

[Steelrails]

The real reasons behind their being in the US

1. For their kids. Get that US citizenship.

2. They're semi-retired and just work those jobs to get some kind of an income stream, maintain residence if they are non-citizens, and/or have a base of operations. Came to America for cheap golf, big lawns, and other whathaveyou.

3. They're on the run from the law/exiled for S&L scams in the 80s. If the last time they were in Korea was when they left, odds are they might not be allowed back in.

4. Or they're full of it. They gambled and tried to make it big in the U.S. but flopped and ended up running a liquor store or laundry.

But yes the Koreans (Many immigrants in general) you meet back home are going to be disproportionately well-off and from higher backgrounds. Some of them from staggeringly prosperous and powerful families. Some may flaunt it, some may keep a low profile.

[optik404]

You really think someone would do that? Just lie to complete strangers?

[cdninkorea]

[jvalmer]

[northway]

It could be something of a stretch, but most of my friends where I"m at are FOB Koreans and while they live in kind of crappy apartments with a bunch of people crammed in, they generally came from money in Korea and are sitting on some rather large cash reserves. A lot of Koreans in the States owned urban property in Korea dating way back, and have seen themselves get rich through its appreciation.

[Old Painless]

[Steelrails]

[maitaidads]

I'm still not sure I believe the bit about the server niece going to MIT...

[Weigookin74]

I had a friend tell me that some Koreans with good credit lines took out big loans then immigrated and used that to start a new life abroad. They never paid the money back of course. In Canada, if you start a business or bring a high in demand skill set, it's easier to immigrate. This is especially true if you move to less populated areas and avoid the big cities. (Meaning immigration will fast track you.) My own hometown has become filled with Koreans since I left. These were folks with good jobs in Seoul and now are running restaurants, convenience stores, and other types of businesses. They do it for their kids, nice lawns, and blue skies. Most of these Korean folks weren't the poor of Korean society. Some did have good positions and no doubt have a lot of money put away. Whether it was legitimate or not might be another story. Also, I think all them are Christian and even have their own church going on.

[jvalmer]

^^^

I love the term 'filled'. Considering there are only like 160,000 Korean-Canadian permanent residents/citizens in Canada. And basically, 130,000 of those are in the metro Toronto, and Vancouver areas. Throw in Alberta That only leaves like 20,000 Korean-Canadians to populate the rest of the county...

[kberger]

I don't know what to make of some of the Korean enclaves back in the US. I was in the neighborhood of the H Mart in Naperville / Chicago, and I felt compelled to go in.

I picked up some kimbap and left, and thought that was interesting. Just like being at the grocery store back in Gyeongbuk.

I guess it's nice that Koreans can get authentic food from home in the US.

They must be successful I guess, but the grocery business is tough in the US, and then then to have that big of an investment in a place that only appeals to a small portion of the population...

Dunno, I don't want to put any more thought into this post. I can't believe I still look at this forum!

[Steelrails]

[northway]