Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cmxc]

The Korea Times sometimes wows me with their ability to tell it straight.

Now don't get me wrong, most of the time it's a low quality newspaper that fawns over anything Korean, especially Samsung, and loves to practice yellow journalism against foreign residents of Korea. However, every once in a while, it just nails it and criticizes Korea as strongly as any foreign person ever could.

Here is a quote from an article about the need for Korea to improve its attractions for tourists:

“What drives Koreans abroad so much, then?
One reason may be the urge to escape ‘social stress’ ― the nation is a frantic-paced society marked by all kinds of conflicts between different classes and ideological groups, rampant corruption, cutthroat competition from the cradle to grave, an oppressive government, a regressive democracy, an economy dominated by a handful of conglomerates, constant threats from the anachronistic regime in the North, etc. This is a hell on earth, albeit an exciting one, so Koreans seem to long to find a paradise abroad, however boring it may be.”

Read the rest:
Overseas travel spending
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2014/07/202_162089.html

[optik404]

No wonder you got banned from marmots hole. You basically scan the internet for any article criticizing Korea and you troll with it.

[misher]

I'll never forget what one of my good Korean friends said:

Canada is boring heaven. Korea is interesting hell.

[edwardcatflap]

[atwood]

I always find it confusing that for example a Korean living in Manhattan can call it "a dry desert" and think that living anywhere in Korea is so much more interesting. And IMO it's not an exaggeration to say many Koreans share that opinion.

I've also heard the comment "It's too quiet" regarding living in the U.S. Canada, New Zealand, etc.

[johnny_russian]

[cj1976]

The problem with Korea is that it is full of Koreans and their han. I have never met a Korean who is truly happy. It's like they crave misery and adversity.

[Chaparrastique]

[jcd]

I don't agree with the characterization of Korea, too negative. This article is a sneaky way to compliment Korea. It's exciting and other countries are boring? I don't see the excitement. If excitement is yell talking when you want to do something simple like buy some fruit, then wow thrilling. Also many other countries are more exciting like all of them in southeast asia and south america.

[Smithington]

I'm no apologist, but I wouldn't describe Korea as "hell". That's just absurd. Id guess, like someone above, that it's a set up to compliment Korea. "It's hell, but by gosh isn't hell exciting?" And yes we've all heard that Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc. are ""boring heaven" while Korea is "exciting hell". Although I couldn't be bothered reading the article, I'd assume it's the adjective we're supposed to focus on not the noun.

Saying Korea is "hell" is taking things way to far. I'm have some very bad experiences in Korea (when it felt like hell at that time) but to describe life here as hell is just nuts.

Plenty of things I don't like though.

[cj1976]

It's all the hofs and noraebangs that make Korea exciting. Without their excessive drinking culture, Koreans don't have much else to do.

[geldedgoat]

[edwardcatflap]

[Stu_miller]

[edwardcatflap]