Korean Job Discussion Forums

[VanIslander]

In my five years here I have often noted a certain lack of joi de vive

There's the Buddhist emphasis on life as suffering,
the deep historical sense of Han,
an indifference to the suffering of others,
animal cruelty,
quite high suicide rates,
a Confucian emphasis on duty over happiness,
a culturally materialistic value base without a countervailing standard,
extreme personality traits of arrogance, impatience, low tolerance of frustration and lack of contentment,
etc

Where is the appreciation of life in and of itself?

(I wish this not to be an apologists/haters discussion.)

I sincerely look at my students and the people about town and wonder where the inner or outer sense of joy and contentment and happiness is. There is an emphasis on looks and outward beauty but seeing someone or something made or something in nature which is beautiful doesn't seem to move my Korean friends as much (while hiking, in art galleries, or looking at a baby). There's something I don't see, that seems so different that I see a lacking everywhere. But perhaps I've just not encountered or maybe overlooked it.

What cultural undercurrents actually foster a sense of life as great as it is? (even if intermittent)

Perhaps the wellbeing movement might be such an undercurrent.
I don't think the joys of nationalism or computer games are it.

Take a moment to reflect, if you may.

[Unposter]

I have met a lot of Koreans who just love to travel wheather it is here in Korea or abroad. It really frees them from the pressure cooker that is Korea. I have had university students that tell me they plan to bicycle around Korea before they enter the military. There are simple joys to be had. Even if it is just pitching a tent on a rock strewn beach with a case of soju lighting off fireworks.

I would also add that the number of people back home who really see the fun in life is quite small. There are plenty of work-a-holics who never see their family back home as well. Most people live lives of quiet desperation. These days there are plenty of people who are more ready for retirement than tomorrow. It seemed like at one point it was the complete opposite.

When I see my students in full blown frenzy over "catch the mouse" I know they too can have fun. It is just different than mine.

[tfunk]

Buddhism is negative...

The Buddhists use a negative image to outline a positive image, much in the same way that you can outline a shape in art by drawing the negative space around it. An example of this is the Taoist Yin Yan symbol where white is known and defined by black; its corollory. So, the Buddhist 'emphasis' on Dukkha is a legacy of the Hindu pedagogical method whereby a concept is demonstrated by defining its opposite. Sukkha is the opposite of Dukkha. In Buddhas time everybody(every ego) was fixated upon Sukkha so a more sobering perspective was needed, a counterpoint to offset the idea that life should be ecstacy.

Korean buddhism is from the Mahayana tradition which talks about the Boddhisatva ideal. Thai Buddhism is from the Theravada tradition and to the onlooker appears more nihilistic, pessimestic than Korean Buddhism; in contrast to the day-to-day 'joi de vie' of its adherents.

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I think that Korean society is very strongly role based; people are moulded by societies expectations of the function they are supposed to fulfill and not as strongly by an organic sence of individuality that western society is only now beginning to enjoy in significant numbers. Korean society is quite mechanical, technical, and I think this is how they survived both in the violent times of their past and in their modern economy.

Unfortunately the mechanical aspect of the mind is very addictive and domineering and it is difficult to relinquish it as it consistently in a state of unease...it's only purpose is to solve a problem and if there is no problem it invents one.

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'Joi de vie' is difficult to measure. It could be that babies, flowers and sunsets are only objects and that the most significant 'joe de vie' arises from within; independant on external objects.