Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yangtheman]

I just got back from two-week boot camp outside Seoul, and it was brutal like a real Army boot camp. I heard that is typical training for new employees in most Korean companies....., and it's worse for Japanese companies in Japan. I am writing a blog entry about it, but I keep stopping it because I have to go to bed early (to wake up at 5AM).

Anyhow, the one I went was for new employees (about 300 peeps) who had prior job(s) and most of them thought pretty much the same way as I did; the whole training was a brainwashing attempt and full of shit.

Being a fluent Korean speaker, I talked to many of them about my first impression of Korean culture. One thing I learned is people's distrust in government. Throughout Korean history, there had been many invations from foriegners and Korean government failed almost every single time. Ultimately, Korea was occupied by Japan for 50 years or so. And finally Korean War, where South Korean government couldn't do jack until UN led by US came to rescue. So, it became natural that Koreans think that government can't protect them and they have to take of themselves on their own. I think that's the root of many problems in Korea. Me first culture. Passing down all of family fortune to offsprings rather than donating part of it. You NEVER know what might happen and who will take of offsprings then? Not the government. The parents. The same philosophy goes into Jaebols (conglomerates) and their corporate structure. Even though they are public companies, most of the shares are owned by owner's families, thus making them basically owners of the Jaebols. It's really hard for outsiders to become CEOs or Chairmen.

So, when you look at ajummas doing the Heisman next time, take a pity on them instead of being angry at them.

I am off to bed.

[jajdude]

Maybe Confucianism plays a role as well? A lot of "me (and my family) first" thinking, and strangers don't seem regarded as real people. They need to know age and status first before knowing how to act with each other. Strange that you would base your level of "respect" for a person depending on his age and job, but that's Korea, and maybe true to lesser extent in the west.

And it also seems to me that many Koreans really have no clue how to interact with foreigners, even if language isn't a big obstacle.

They seem very exclusive. Go out as a group, stay with the group the whole time, and leave as a group. Not a lot of individualism like we westerners like.

[the eye]

yang

i have a korean friend who is working at LG. he has told me such things about k.companies as well. he is compared to his peers in every aspect of his job and his performance is ridiculed in front of his entire department.

I have a lot of respect for what the working class have to put up with in this country. Now, when i am listening to the odd drunken shout from some ajushi to 'go home!'... i remember what my friend has told me...and now you too

i don't want to be a scapegoat for anothers misfortune in life, but i can understand his life is often held beyond his control.

i thinks it's great that you made this post! hopefully you will open some people's eyes a little to be more understanding of each other before reacting.

[hellofaniceguy]

I don't take pity on any korean who is long on rhetoric and short of specifics.
I hear all the time...we must change the education system...we must change corruption...we must change the ways of doing business...we must do this or that...yet??? But...no action!
It has nothing to do with Confucianism! Nothing. It's all about monkey see monkey do. "Confusedism," OK! Confucianism? No.
These people going to the training camps...who is forcing them? Don't go and the big wigs will have no choice but to listen to the small fry and institute positive changes.
Come on...the counntry bands together for some protesting BS over the Americans! And you mean they can't band together for some positive changes and protest?!
It's the koreans own fault. They are there own worst enemy at times.
I see the way "the system" abuses them. But, why do they let someone use and abuse them, and then take out their frustrations but treating others the same way? The cycle needs to stop and it won't. Most koreans are not into individualism it seems. And the way they are currently doing it is not working either!

[casey's moon]

hellofaniceguy (nice name if it's true), I know what you're trying to say but your info is totally wrong! Koreans band together to protest ALL THE TIME, almost too much!!! And they don't just protest the U.S -- in fact arguably, they are never protesting against the U.S. -- they are protesting against their government's policies relating the U.S., whether it is the military or imported rice. But they protest over labour law and all sorts of things all the time. I live near Gwanghwamoon and I've seen many a demonstration that had nothing to do with Americans.

[the eye]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Anyone who has been to China for any length of time would agree with the following statement:

China is Korea on steroids.

I don't think the rudeness and selfishness is strictly a Korean phenomena. It's completely Asian.

[the eye]

[weatherman]

I find Korean society very weak. You talk about the government not protecting it citizens, but a 'society' organizies a government, and ever since the confucian purges of the 1500's, Korea has had weak governments. Korean society is still very weak. There is lots of public emotions, but little public opinion. Sure Korea has modern statecraft, but its organization is mostly done around western lines. Korean soceity as a whole is weak. Korea is still a place where power is king. Lips service is given to confucian values.

[On the other hand]

Hellofaniceguy:

I agree with you that Koreans complain a lot about social problems without taking the appropriate action. However:

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[the eye]

[mindmetoo]

[casey's moon]

You're so right about Korean kids being more than willing to share. I remember how much they HATED it when some kids won prizes and other didn't -- they always found a way to share. There are examples of selfishness too, but I think overcrowdedness is also a big part of it, as you definitely see it in crowded cities way more than rural areas. I also notice myself acting more selfish in Seoul than I ever did in Jeollabukdo...

As for the rudeness, well -- what is rudeness? One of my Swiss friends claimed Koreans have "no manners, no manners at all," referring to his Korean wife's slurping of ramyeon. But it isn't a lack of manners -- it's a different set of manners, isn't it? Same with the shoving and all that -- it just isn't rude or annoying to Koreans. Although it IS rude when a drunk ajossi pulls his pants down on the street near passers by and pees. Nobody wants to see that....

[HamuHamu]