Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cmxc]

While Korea has many areas for improvement, it is worthwhile to appreciate all that makes this place so special that many of us stay despite our many challenges:

What's best about Korea?
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2015/02/396_173462.html

[edwardcatflap]

Some of those I agree with, some I think are just things every country has and some I think actually make Korea worse.


Things that make Korea better

Internet
Convenience stores
Deliveries
Nightlife

Things that all countries have

different food (the test of Korea's food being superior to other countries' would be how many Korean restaurants there are abroad)
museums, sightseeing places etc.. (Korea is not well-endowed with these. its museums are mostly pretty dull its and tourist sites are samey)
an airport
shopping (you can get all that designer label crap everywhere nowadays, even in developing countries, Paris Baguette doesn't do it for me and choice in the supermarkets is poor compared to other countries)
people (what country is going to claim its people are a negative selling point?)
transport (in most countries the subway is more regular)

Things that make Korea worse

Its entertainment. (more crappy Korean stuff means less, superior, Western stuff is available)
Cutting edge technology (just means more people glued to their phones, not looking where they're going or not talking to people in social situations)
4 seasons (2 of them are crap)

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Low taxes, cheap internet, short skirts.

but the people seemed boring, rude, and sad. Such a depressing place.

[Steelrails]

Things that are better-

People not dividing the tab down to the last cent

Being able to make a recreational plan and stick to it instead of actively resisting any attempt at organization and coordination. Having at least some concept of time, logistics, and organization in doing said event.

Not having to worry about 50 different dietary requirements when you go out to eat limiting your choices, some of which seem to be based on quackery or Hypochondria. Their quackery and hypochondria means they eat more things, not less. A small, but relieving difference.

When deciding upon a course of action, they'll usually move and do it, generally with alacrity. perhaps too much so, but they do move.

Understanding that while you may not be a great singer or musician, you shouldn't get up on stage if you suck and make mistakes and they will make sure they have something nailed down before doing it.

The whole IMF pubic finance drive where people voluntarily gave their money to pay off the IMF debt. You would be hardpressed to find people willing to do that back home.

Things that suck-
No trash bins.
1 lane Expressways- 88 boo. Haphazard road planning in general.
Overpackaging things. No, I don't need a ribbon around my pizza box.
Suicide as a way of solving problems.

[GJoeM]

That newspaper article is meaningless -- it is so generalised that is says nothing at all about real human experience.

Imagine if you read a news article about minorities living in Saudi, saying 'oh, at least the net is fast and I can order food quickly...'

[Cave Dweller]

Good things: Generally fast paced. Less red tape. Life is simple. Multitude of everything everywhere. Some certain things are dirt cheap as compared to the west.

Bad things: People have poor manners. The food lacks variety and depth. Porn is blocked on the net. Toocrowded. Their tv and cinema sort of suck. Lack of original thought. Anything worth doing will be too busy or sold out way too fast.

[bossface]

[happyinhenan]

Positives about Korea:

Safety - very safe place - for an over six foot and 200lbs male anyway.
The public transport system - buses, subway, Korail - superb and cheap - my own country could learn how to run a public transport from the Koreans.
Smartly dressed people - they might not be the most stylish people, but most people take a pride in their apperance and clean, ironed clothes are the norm - you never see scruffs - not even the old adjosshis.
It's pretty clean
And modern
Issacs Toast and Kyochon!
Koreans and their generosity.

Negatives

Not a good place to work (working alongside Koreans is a pain)
The Borg like thought collective.
Their racism and the importance they stow on 'purity of race'
Deeply entrenched beliefs that cannot be challenged without
upsetting Koreans (Fan Death, Dokdo).
I am not a massive fan of the food though some of it is pretty good.

Now, personally, the place wasn't my cup of tea, but I know a fair few people who love the place and are massively prospering, but it isn't a place - in my opinion - that would suit the majority of westerners.

I liked Korea on my time off. If I could live a life of leisure or study, then there would be a fair few places a lot worse than Korea.

[edwardcatflap]

[maitaidads]

[Captain Corea]

[Steelrails]

[motiontodismiss]

Pros:
Cheap public transportation
Low taxes

Cons:
Everything else. But to list some specifics-
1. High housing costs(No, the market is NOT deflated, it's a ticking time bomb. The free market dictates that when the apartment you can't afford is not selling, you lower the price or face foreclosure and the consequent losses, NOT demand your 287th bailout. And when you make the decision to buy a home you can't afford hoping the price will go up, that's an investment decision.)
2. Inflated prices for everything
3. Insecurity("we have the best XXX")
4. Rude and inconsiderate people who think they're above the law
5. Workplace culture(When you're done for the day, GO HOME)
6. Working hours and low wages
7. Ignorant politicians and the ignoramuses who keep electing them(I realize this isn't unique to Korea)
8. The drinking culture
9. The fact that everyone's in your business all the time
10. The stupid "jeong" culture (Sorry, business is business.)
11. Zombie economy
12. The systemic corruption that led to incidents like the Sewol
13. The ignoramuses that keep asking me if I've ever been shot when I tell them I went to school in NYC
14. Countless others that I don't feel like listing right now

[motiontodismiss]

[happyinhenan]