Korean Job Discussion Forums

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

My friend mentioned this Korean term other day. A father with family abroad (usually America) who still lives and works in Korea is called a "seagull dad".

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Not seagull. More like a wild goose.

In Korean, it's called 기러기 아빠, and the translated meaning is like 'orphan father', because he's basically a money making machine, but he can't see his children and his wife.

Yo!Chingo · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul Korea

That's really sad isn't it. I know a guy in that situation. He said it's for his family, but a small part of me wonders if he just wants to live like a single guy again. Think about it. No wife or kids to take care of except for financially and he can do whatever he wants.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Most dads don't like this. Men here are coddled by women their whole lives. Most can't cook, do laundry, etc.

robot · Joined: 07 Mar 2006

here's an article i used with some of my advanced FLHS kids -- a good read on the subject:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A59355-2005Jan8?language=printer

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Seagull? Last year it was "goose", as in "girogi nampyeon"- husband who's family separates for years at a time in order to make money or get an education abroad.

Too big a sacrifice to make I think. I mean what married couple on earth agrees to be apart for 3 years for the sake of learning english in a foreign country?

Koreans are missing the point. Its not about living a life of misery and sacrificing everything valuable, its about enjoying all those things before you get too old to do so.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

It is kinda sad. I first heard of this on that SBS English Craze program last Saturday, the "lonely bird father". It's not only with Korean fathers but I've heard it's common among Japanese and Taiwanese fathers as well. A few I know personally. The ones I've met don't make a big deal out of it and simply accept it as their responsiblity and fate. A friend's father worked overseas in China and sent every bit of his money to his family in Taiwan. He later died in a building fire.

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006