Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lucas]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2014/10/207_165596.html

[Cave Dweller]

If she refused it, then fine. But putting it on the other lady's neck was going a little far. She's going to be fined or otherwise punished.

[cj1976]

..

[cj1976]

In such a fiercely competitive society, where a few points on a test means the difference between a lifetime of privilege or of relative mediocrity, a culture of cheating is almost inevitable.
Every time Korea host an international competition, the same allegations arise. It's not just sporting tournaments or beauty contests that come into question either. Academia has also been through the ringer, with reports of fake credentials, fabricated research, organised cheating on tests, and so on.

[Smithington]

The Indian woman crossed the line. The Korean didn't deserve to have her moment ruined like that. If there was corruption involved, however, the blame goes to the judges. The Korean athlete probably had nothing to do with it.

The Indian lady could hjave just taken off the medal and lewft it on the podium. The camera shot of that would have made a stronger impression.

[aq8knyus]

I would usually side with the organizers as all athletes think decisions are biased against them, however, when it comes to Korea and boxing I am not so sure.

The clear as day cheating in 1988 means there will forever be a cloud over their impartiality.

[Steelrails]

I will say that it wouldnt surprise me if some pressure up to and including outright match fixing was given to ensure a North-South matchup in soccer for political reasons.

[Soft Machine]

Which is exactly why it confuses me as to how Korea gets chosen to host ANY int'l sporting event. Korea doesn't have a monopoly on match fixing, but officals here seem to not care if the whole world sees it; they just deny and reap the benefits. It's instilled at all levels and in all facets of society. How many presidents in Korean history HAVEN'T embezzled millions? Still, none are punished; it's just the way it is: cheat and deny, cheat and deny.

From an LA Times report from Seoul:
"Basically, Korean school athletes have been told repeatedly that if you aren't cheating, you aren't trying," the newspaper said. "No wonder so many of them display a lack of respect for competitive integrity as pros, cheating, complaining, even fighting at the hint of a loss, or just jumping at the first fixer offering them a chance to lose intentionally to make some money on the side."

[Steelrails]

[Chaparrastique]

[atwood]

[Stan Rogers]

Sore loser.

[Soft Machine]

Soft power goes a long way, and SK's infrastructure is bright and shiny; plus, Korea puts out a hell of a spread for the selection committee, and the population gets behind bids like few places on Earth. Traveling in Brazil a few years back, a whole lot of locals I met thought hosting the World Cup was a blunder that would resonate in the economy for generations; in Athens, I remember daily anti-Olympic demonstrations for months. Can't imagine that happening here. Spotlighting the country is one of the post-Park Republic's nat'l pastimes.

Comparing match fixing and stealing signs? Institutionalized fraud and pinching in a scrum? Coaches encouraging cheating and high elbows? Bit of a stretch. The issue of steroids and the whole WWF-style enertainmentization of US sports....let's not start on that. We're talking coaches, kids and cheating. I've played sport my whole life, and the only cheating we were involved in required skill (stealing signs ain't easy!), and that's at the heart of that old saying, man, not putting cheating into the curriculum. When outside agencies control results on a playing field, then the athletics of it all goes out the window. But when we encourage our kids to cheat....c'mon, let's not argue that.

A lot of us ESL aren't bitter (there's your biased, sensationalist media at work), just honest. Poor sportsmanship, cheating and fixing make for frustration, animosity and resentment - not exactly what the Games are supposed to be all about. What happened in Korea in '86, '88 and '02 - and there have been a slew of other incidents over the years in sporting contests - leaves an ugly track record.

Yeah, other places have equally or worse histories (and we should question how they are awarded games as well); yeah, this is a forum about life in Korea, so we mention it here; yeah, everyone cheats to get ahead; yeah, bad decisions have gone down elsewhere; yeah, we all have anecdotes to prove our.....blahblahblah. Just a preemptive addendum so I won't have to reply anymore.

[Steelrails]

[Soft Machine]

I've never seen a US Olympic athlete protest a match by holding a two hour sit in while coaches, fans and cops try to strangle the officiating crew; I've never heard of teams leaving a US Olympics without competing 'cause they felt there wasn't an even playing field; I've never heard of US Olympic officials intentionally failing to tell opponents of scheduling changes, thus leading to forfeit and US medals; I've never heard of the US Olympic committee inventing an award to give to an opponent 'cause they so brutally robbed him of a gold medal (Roy Jones, Jr. was given the first and only "Best Boxer of the Games" award after being swindled out of his gold - did the guy ever lose professionally?; I never heard US Olympic officials make public their plans to cheat when the games are held there.

SR, you're from the US - have you seen such behavior during US games? I've seen US arrogance, bombs, questionable tactics, but anything remotely close to the above? Would you like to compete in such an atmosphere? Would you be in a hurry to attend Games where such shyte goes down? Don't you think that when Korean skating officals vow that Korea will not be cheated when the games come to Pyongchang is a wee bit much? I hope you see it.

But, man, you've missed the point if you think it's an attack on Korean people, or you've steered it away from the gore to....the festering stew of crime that is US professional and college sports? I don't see the comparison - do Olympic dudes interview Sandusky when the US puts in a bid? How would Kirby Puckett or Ray Rice be a propos to choosing an Olympic venue? Besides, if you put Korean amateur and pro athletics under the scrutiny their US counterparts get, what do you think we'd find?

Do you really think I'm singling out Korea? I question holding Olympics anywhere that shtye like the above would happen. Hope you see that.

I once had what I thought was a Korean friend get all upset at me for telling her that the traffic was heavy that day.....she took it as a personal attack on Korea. That whole overly sensitive to the truth thing gets to some people. When you tell me of US incompetence and underhanded ways, I'm not going to well up, turn red, suck in my teeth, and roll up my sleeves for a fight.....not a good start in discussing how to better things.