Korean Job Discussion Forums

Newbie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

For all the bellyaching that goes on at Dave's, let's face it, Korea is pretty much a cake-walk. Easy job with low hours. Decent pay when you consider all the add-ons. Lots of freetime. Any man above "not grotesque" doesn't have to worry about companionship. Most of our stupid acts are brushed off as "well, he's foreign". Seriously, we enjoy many freedoms and benefits because of us being different.

But now, could you imagine being a Korean living in Korea? Working six days a week, playing the constant suck-up that goes on in the workplace, always biting your tongue when an elder acts like a complete arse. All the rules, conformity... I think I'd kill myself.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

If you don't know of anything else it would kind of be hard to complain.

I'm sure that gyopos would best e able to answer this question.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

Of course Koreans love Korea.

Every country has hardships (in the job market especially). You're from Canada I assume. Is it so easy to make a life in Canada? I don't think so. Yet, Canadians love it.

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Considering that as an American the first thing I did after graduating college was get the hell out the country, I don't think there'd be anything keeping me in Korea if I was Korean. There's so much annoying crap that I don't have to deal with as a whitey that would drive me insane as a Korean.

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Yeah, if I was a Korean I think I would die a slow, slow death on the inside while outwardly appearing to conform. Working 60 or 70 or even 80 hours a week for not such great pay isn't my style. Going for mandatory drinking sessions after work every night isn't really my style either. Kissing ass...again, not my style. Being friends with only people the exact same age...why limit options? Living at home until I was married, even if I'm 40...never!

So yeah, I would loathe it. As it is though, being a foreigner you get the best of both worlds. All the good stuff of Korea but none of the expectations that comes along with it. Plus, if it gets bad enough you have plenty of options. Go to Japan, Thailand, etc to work or just head home. Koreans don't have the same luxury.

Vancouver · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

ryanbonner · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Location: Seoul

Koreans just don't know any better. Very few of them ever leave the country and see other parts of the world. If they did, it might actually motivate them to demand some changes here.

doggyji · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:59 am Post subject:

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

Korea seems to have a lot in common with the UK (for the native residents, not travellers or otherwise)

A Class system (not quite as evident)
Long work hours (I remember a BBC report saying UK follows just behind Korea)
Losing all your money on bills
Everyone living on top of each other/close proximity.
Fewer and fewer live in the countryside.
Only the capital city is the most desirable.
Lot of things are poorly built/designed.
Lots of shoes near the door.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

mercury · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Location: Pusan

Koreans are leaving korea, going to the U.S, Canada, Australia, New Zealand..........I guess if it was such a great place, women would never leave to have their babies in the U.S, or nobody would be leaving to go to schools abroad. Koreans are looking for the promised land....wherever that may be, but they sure know it is NOT in korea!

The Hierophant · Joined: 13 Sep 2005

VanIslander

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

If i was an albino, one legged, hunch backed, political refugee from war torn mogadishu bought here by korean MISSIONARIES at the age of 2 and somehow turned into a global pop star phenomenon by virtue of riding the glorious KOREAN WAVE.......i'd still hate the friggen place.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Its hard to answer the question because each person's subjective experiences makes their judgments unique. People born and raised in Korea come to accept certain aspects of life as a matter of fact whereas visitors to Korea can seem shocked by those aspects. For example, take the whole about nationalism/losing face if you nation loses face (canadians and koreans seem to share this). If mom and dad and everyone in your social network always taught you this is 'good values,' then of course it is not something you are quite as inclined to get upset about when it happens.

Sometimes people from Japan travel to the USA and have trouble because maybe someone gives them the middle finger after being cut off in traffic. It bothers the Japanese people immensely to have this happen. But does it bother someone who was born and raised as an american in New York City? Almost certainly not; those kind of interactions are a part of day to day life.

Except for certain things like working hours or requirements to social network even if you are naturally inclined to be reclusive, its actually BETTER to be a Korean in Korea than it is to be a foreigner in Korea. Koreans are not very welcoming and accepting of foreigners... but they accept their own alot more easily. And from what I've said before this paragraph, most Koreans are not as affected by some things that gravely affect foreigners here in K land.

For sure: Of course being in any country is better if you have more money. Koreans in Korea who have little money are certainly less happy than foreigners in Korea with money...

And add to that list, more specifically for Korea: If you are a man, you are happier. If you are a woman who is pretty, you are much happier. The curve for happiness/man and happiness/attractive is alot more elastic in Korea.

Finally, in observing Koreans in their own land... they just seem happier than foreigners I see here. Yesterday, I drove up some valley where people were rafting on a river. Everywhere I saw people having a good time and enjoying life... Seems to be pretty commonplace. When I see foreigners walking around Korea... somehow they just seem to appear lost.