Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Corea]

So, I think I just figured a few things out and I thought I'd share them with you all...



About a month ago my (wife's) aunt's place got broken into and her debit card stolen. The thief was fast, because my aunt got home 30 minutes later and reported in right away. However, by then the bugger had already withdrawn 5mil. A day or so later my aunt got to look at the bank machine's video footage but didn't recognize the young male (but police believe that he followed her throughout the day to get the PIN number).

Fast forward a month and the guy just got busted (for something else - never have found out what). He had my aunt's ID on him so she was called in. She got all her stuff back and the thief's mom begged her to drop the charges. 'Please, my son is young, poor and from South Jolla' (not sure how that last one factors in).

So, what does my aunt do? Yup, you guessed it. She let him go.
I was pretty surprised by this so I asked her... WHY?!?!
She said it was just too much bother to go through it all and she wanted to be done with it.

I was kind of shocked but then today I had diner with an ex-supreme court justice and told him my story. He said that it was more than normal in Korea, that it was expected. Basically he explained that after someone files a report, they then have to go first to the plice station, then later to the procecuters office and then for any number of court dates. With this in mind, most people like to settle (thus why we always hear about blood money).

Now this was not news to me, as I had heard it many times before (in relation to fights and damages), but it got me thinking; where does civic duty come in? I mean sure, the whole thing would be more hastle than it's worth, but at least that guy would be off the street for a bit. I mean, look at the recent thing with the two GIs and the alleged rape - if the report earlier in the day would have been pressed, there might have been one less assualt (in now way laying blame on the first victim, just giving a recent example).

Part of me really wonders how many people would stop and help at an accident with this type of thinking.

I also got to thinking of the police over here. I'm really not a fan of them as I see them A) ignoring people who are breaking the law in front of them or B) breaking the law themselves. Usually, I just shake my head and wonder how they can get paid for seemingly doing so little... but now I think I understand a little better.

Imagine bing a cop, catching the bad guy after a month's worth of work, and then having to let him go because someone didn't want to bother pressing charges.

I think I understand them a little more now.

[Fresh Prince]

That's a pretty interesting point. It sounds like the system doesn't really want people to press charges since it's so difficult and time consuming for the victims.

I've had a couple incidents with random Korean guys following me. I wonder if they were doing the same thing? I think I'll be a lot more aware of my surroundings now.

[hubba bubba]

[Travelous Maximus]

[ariellowen]

Westerners seem to be used to the idea that "justice" means "punishment."

Interesting use of the words "civic duty." Perhaps your aunt sees it as her civic duty not to send a poor boy from South Jeolla to prison because of her own carelessness. To elaborate a bit, you write, "...in no way laying blame on the ... victim," but why not? It is the habit of Westerners to excuse victims, when rather often it is the victim, who, through their own negligence, allowed the crime to happen.

Korea and the West have ethics of individualism and responsibility each in their own way. To prevent break-ins, Koreans sometimes go as far as to have broken glass in the tops of the walls, heavy steel doors and barred windows. In this way, Koreans pre-empt break-ins. We on the otherhand have alarm systems that dial directly to security companies once a break-in has already occured, which is in comparison reactive.

"Part of me really wonders how many people would stop and help at an accident with this type of thinking." We both know that in the West, as well as in Korea, persons hurt in accidents are often left without any assistance. It's never possible to pin down vague philosophies on cultural groups.

Regarding your remark about the police, I think you already know that the Korean police are not going to intervene in something which they do not see as being any of their buisiness. The laws being broken "in front of them" are most likely pretty insignificant: traffic by-laws, littering, minor assaults and the like. Police forces operate very differently from one part of the world to the next. It wouldn't even be too for a strech to say that Korean police are more in line with the clasical Western (Greek) notion of a police force than the characters who patrol London or New York.

I think your account of what you see is quite balanced and culturally sensitive. The Koreans have gotten along very well for thousands of years, just as Westerners have, with the idiocyncracies of our cultures. I for one am very sympathetic to the Korean version of individualism and responsibility. I don't have much sympathy for victims, on the contrary, I have quite a bit of sympathy for prisoners. I feel confortable with the Korean do-it-youself mentality towards "justice" and personal security.

[Captain Corea]

[cdninkorea]

This does help explain the 'blood money' system of justice that seems so prevelant here, and I'll also keep it in mind the next time I see a Korean police officer not doing their job- your story doesn't justify either, but it does explain it.

BTW, dinner with a former Supreme Court justice? I'm suitably impressed...

[Hanson]

Captain, my MIL has several very relevant stories to tell pertaining to your OP.

First, an old woman she met at church convinced her to lend her a sizable amount of cash for a short time. I don't know the specifics of why she needed the money, but let's just say my MIL is way too trusting and gullible. The money lent was in the tens of millions (won).

Well, you guessed it, the old lady dissapeared with the money, never to be heard from again. My MIL went to the cops and had a warrant put out for her arrest (she had the loan in writing). The old lady was nabbed and when she was caught, claimed not to have the money anymore. The old lady was jailed until she could come up with the cash.

Enter the old lady's daughter, who pleaded with my MIL to drop the charges, that she was an old lady and she didn't deserve jail. The old lady's daughter promised repayment of the cash if my MIL dropped the charges. My MIL did, and the old lady and her family then severed all contact with my MIL an avoided her many advances.

My MIL went back to the cops and pressed charges again.

This has all happened in about 2-3 years, with no end in sight. Last I heard the MIL had a court date, but that whatever happens, an appeal will be made.

No wonder people don't want to go through this hell.

[Adventurer]

[billybrobby]

[Yesterday]

[jaderedux]

The problem here is crime is seriously under reported. When the serial rapist was caught recently. I talked to my husband about it. He is Korean and he said that it was not reported widely that there had been rapes. The women involved don't want people to find out for one and it looks bad.

Police are frequently not professionals and are young men doing their service time.

I love how in the "won" There is a police station less than half a block from the guys who sell pirated DVD's not that I would ever buy one.

Strange sort of honor among thieves here I have had my wallet lifted here twice. Once my own damn fault I left it sitting in a bathroom subway. I went back it was gone of course. Went to lost and found. It was there minus the cash and my T-card. I don't carry credit card so it was a crime of opportunity but I got my arc card and ATM card back. Went to the bank immediately and changed the pin. Nothing lost out of any of the accounts.

Second time I am not sure what happened honestly. I had on the bus cuz I used my card. Got home it was gone. Freaked out. Next day it appears in my mail box in a brown envelope. Again all my money gone. Not alot but a little chunk. But credit card, ATM card all intact. Weird. Changed pins again. Nothing lost. For the life of me I will never figure that one out.

I have had stuff stolen from my school and gotten the sad puppy look. Well you should make sure your desk is always locked. I went to the bathroom and someone stole my mp3 player I had in my drawer. This was in the teacher's room. So someone had to see a student getting into my desk. and no one apparently stopped him. (all boys at that time) At home had I walked into the teachers office and even looked like I might touch something...(if I even was allowed in) I would have been immediately 1. Thrown out of the teacher's room. 2. Spent the rest of life in detention.

Crap got off topic a little sorry but I hate that students can just wander in and out of the Teacher's room. But then who would grade papers I suppose.

Jade

[Ya-ta Boy]

Thanks for your post, CC. I think you made some good and interesting points. I wish more people made posts like this.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[animalbirdfish]