Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

Korea doesn't seem too happy to me. Lots of stress. Always trying to get somewhere, to succeed in a very competitive society. And damn always referring to "waeguk" and miguk" as a source of problems and standards to live by. And concerned what outsiders think, of us few who do, of their small nation. Korea has done well but they seem rather joyless. Kids in hagwons all day long. Parents wanting a better life for them. But meanwhile life goes on and don't see much joy around. Perhaps though the younger people are happier. But wait, almost 30 and still single? Problem? In this society, apparently so.

How come some of the poorer nations seem happier, more ready to smile, enjoy life, and definitely nicer to foreigners?

Cannot understand Korea really.

[indiercj]

I really wish there exist some way that would enable people in a nation with no natural resources, without much accumulated wealth, with a brothren nation witch is one of the pooriest one in this world just waiting to be taken care of(imagine all the money waiting to be poured as the "unification cost") without much of high technologies that can be monopolized to at least keep the status quo or maybe some progress and still being happy, smiling, enjoying life and being nicer to foreign people as much as others do. If this were the case of an induvidual he/she is sure to be on the top of my "superman/woman" list!

[rapier]

Koreans are so miserable- oppresively so. Just look at them sitting at the bus stop every morning- will someone please LIGHTEN UP!!!!! Are they like that just because a foreign invader has just stepped on their holy soil, or what? They make me paranoid!!!

[Moldy Rutabaga]

[edit]

[candu]

I really do like living and working in Korea, but this is neither the mellowest nor happiest place going. Sure, geography, politics, economics, etc. have played a role in this, but having traveled in Cambodia, Myanmar, Mexico, Vietnam, Morocco, and a few other places that haven't been dealt the best of hands in the game of life, I cannot think of another place I've been where so many people appear to be outwardly miserable, in spite of the many things they actually do have going for themselves. I've been here for almost seven years, so while a few grumpy faces on the subway don't bother me very much, I can't deny that there does seem to be a high ratio of unhappy folks to happy ones, if I were to make the comparison with virtually any other place I've spent time in. Korea can be a stressful place - and nobody knows better than Koreans themselves who don't have the luxury of living on the periphery of things like most of us - but Koreans do not a have a monopoly on all the problems in the world, even if some seem convinced that they do.

[makushi]

Well who is happy anyway?

Isn't it amazing that in the most "advanced" nation in the world, 40 percent of the people have an obesity problem, there are more homicides and drug-related deaths (not to mention drug-related homicides) than any other country, the avergage child spends 5 hours a day watching TV or playing video games, the leading cause of the death is heart disease (preventable), and six percent of our nation's youth (the hope for a brighter tomorrow) are hopped up (or down) on antideppressants. But hey, it's all good, cuz I'm feeling pretty cumfy kickin in it my gas guzzlin SUV (bought on credit) as I cruz down to the store to pick up a half rack for me, and a bottle of coke for the kids (they needed something to wash down their chocolate filled french fries). Wake up America....get out of your somotropic trances and realizes that life is not all about you and fufilling everyone of your selfish desires. It's not about a frenetic race to spend each moment of your free time in crazy pursuit of recreation. Nor is it a competition with your neighbors to see who can aquire the most matierial positions. All of these things are in fact quite simple to do. Just sell your soul to the banks and credit card companies and it can all be yours. However, if for some crazy reason, you decide that spending $ 500 on your three year-old's birthday party might just be a bit much, try slowing down, simplifying, and looking inward in an effort to find out who it is you really are and where it is you really want to go. And while your at it try to lose some weight you fat bastard.

I feel happier now

[maryk]

[dogbert]

[makushi]

[quote="maryk"]

[maryk]

[makushi]

[quote="maryk"]

[jajdude]

Well as often occurs the topic veered off course. I agree with maryk about being free to be greedy slobs or whatever, but the fact is that it is unhealthy, and usually leads to shorter and unhappier lives. Now who except the mentally incompetent wants an unhappy life? If you're unhappy because of your choices, I'd call them bad choices. It's not so much a matter of right or wrong as of having a good life or a lousy one.

I wonder if the trenchant Confucianism in Korea keeps it less happy than it might be. Some of those ideas seem so out of touch with wanting to be a free and progressive nation. If a country treats its women poorly they will never advance very far. If a country is afraid to give up the old ways even though the old ways are counter-productive, how can it get very far? In Korea, perhaps everywhere in the world too, it's not hard to see the heavy cultural training that goes on. It's almost like a recipe for life, which is very restraining. When you tell people how to live they will not live freely. Guess North Korea shows this even more.

[dogbert]

[richinkorea]

I saw this a couple of hours ago and was going to post on my experiences in developing countries.

How many of the people seemed fairly happy even though they had very little. How my K-girl couldn't understand it, "why aren't they working" she would say or something like that.

And though those people seemed happy there is also a down side. Lack of mnedical attention means shorter and somewhat uncomfortable lives health wise, no teeth, etc.

If you are going to lay in the shade all day and work just hard enough to eat, you may be happy but not live long. In Korea, many people are so stressed, they seem to be unhappy. Who can blame them though ? They have made enormous strides in the last 50 years, but unfortunately many aren't happy.

I think most "wetern countries" have found somewhat a middle ground. In the "west", you can be a slacker and get by pretty much. Sure some people are stressed out and unhappy, many others aren't.

Well, that's what I was going to post, instead I'll just congratulate makushi for his rage against the machine.

[Tiger Beer]

If you go drinking, you'll see lots of Koreans having fun, etc.. particularly Shinchon/HongDae area..

Most university students seem to have a pretty good time..