Seoul Searching
$29.95
Join the author on a captivating journey through the heart of South Korea, where personal experiences blend seamlessly with cultural insights and workplace adventures. Seoul Searching offers a unique perspective on Korean culture, life, and work, providing valuable information for Western expats looking to relocate to Korea and an engaging read for anyone curious about this dynamic nation and its people.
In this enthralling narrative, the author shares how the idea for this book was born during an arduous twenty-six-mile hike along the Han River, a team-building event of the local firm he worked for that turned into an endurance test under unexpected snowfall. These moments of challenge and camaraderie were just one aspect of the author’s deep exploration of Korean society.
Drawing from over twenty years of experience in the asset management industry, including work in a Korean corporation, the author provides a rare insider’s view of the intricacies of Korean corporate culture, hierarchy, and protocols. Unlike many other books about Korea, this author’s firsthand knowledge of the corporate world sets this volume apart.
This book, however, is not limited to the workplace; it delves into the rich tapestry of Korean culture and politics. Amongst other events and insights, the author’s visits to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and North Korea offer gripping accounts of encounters with history and geopolitics.
Seoul Searching is an informative and entertaining resource that combines personal stories with facts and figures about Korea. This book is your passport to understanding the diverse facets of Korea, making it an invaluable guide for those considering relocation and a delightful read for anyone interested in Korean culture.
Table of Contents
PREFACE 10
CHAPTER 1 ARRIVING
The First Very Temporary Arrival in 2002 13
Of Aggression and Friendliness 14
Cats Are Trouble 20
How Not to End Up in an Expat Bubble 21
Flamenco in the Wee Hours 23
CHAPTER 2 BBALLI BBALLI (QUICK QUICK)
Weddings 29
At the Hospital—Common Sense Is Not So Common 31
Technology Supports Speed 34
Reverse Culture Shock 37
Counterculture 38
CHAPTER 3 AMERICA’S INFLUENCE AND DEMOCRACY IN KOREA
Not in Kansas Anymore—Or Rather Not in Europe Anymore 44
‘Be Careful Out There’ 48
East Meets West—Sometimes with Bewilderment 49
Baseball-Crazy, But No Craze Displayed When Cheering 50
The Fight for Democracy 51
Fairness Versus Negotiation 56
CHAPTER 4 THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH
Humble Culinary Beginnings 59
Na Zdarovye—Korean Drinking Etiquette 62
How Not to Die 64
The Creative Side of Drinking 66
Hoesik—What Koreans Do When They Don’t Work Long Hours 68
Letting One’s Hair Down 70
A Wealth of Culinary Surprises 73
Where’s the Tea? 78
Prove Your Chopstick Skills! 81
CHAPTER 5 HOW TO SURVIVE AT WORK
Looooong Working Hours and Few Holidays 87
It Starts at a Very Early Age 95
Morning Gymnastics at Work and Other Health Programmes 98
Fun and Games 102
The Importance of Hierarchy 103
How to Tell? 105
‘You’ve Got the Wrong Rank! Or the Wrong Age!’ 109
Authority Works Better Than Sympathy 110
When Respect Is Expected, But Not Deserved 112
The General! 116
A Befitting Set of Wheels 117
Envy Culture 121
Today’s Youth… 122
CHAPTER 6 OF FRIENDS AND DAILY LIFE
Making Local Friends 127
The Third Gender and the Conservative Side of Society 130
Hot Quickly, Cold Quickly 135
National Pride 136
Cleanliness and Recycling 138
Winter and Heating 140
Fans, the Silent Killers? 147
Making International Friends 149
CHAPTER 7 THE LANGUAGE CHALLENGE
Objectively Difficult to Learn 153
There Is Hope—the Ingenious Writing System 157
Educated Guessing Gone Wrong 161
English-English Translation 163
CHAPTER 8 THE NORTH
From the DMZ 167
The North in the Media and in the Public Perception —Western Media vs Korea 169
Experiencing the Real North 170
POST KOREA 187
NOTES 190