Impressions of S. Korea: Thoughts, Conversations, Etc. 2

There are things about S. Korea one cannot change. Things have been the way they are for years. The Corporations are like the ancient feudal structures. The CEO's are like local lords. Business meetings are like meetings between lords of various local kingdoms. The women come and go to act as the final touch, the final seal to the deal that would help to unite the kingdom?

The examinations that ancient or not-so-ancient Korean took to become a civil official, are they like the examinations that Korean have to take to get into Seoul National University (the top university in Korea)?

I ask my wife how much she studied during high school.

-what do you mean?
-how much did you study when you were a high school student?
-well, outside of school, I studied pretty much all the time.
-until 12pm?
-around then. it really started in middle school. students begin studying then.

I want to ask her, "Why?" I don't. I think I understand. My mother-in-law tells me that students are getting a bit tired and falling asleep at school. The learn English at school, English from private tutors or language schools. Often they learn the same thing again. They fall asleep at school or they grow bored or they show off.

I see two young girls, 11 or 12 year olds, hanging out and shopping at 7 or 8pm. They don't seem to be studying.

Of course I do realize that not all Korean students are this way. I'm sure there are plenty of students who know that they cannot compete. Those who are competing, compete relentless. There are only so many spots to fill at Seoul National. If they want to go to Harvard, Yale, Stanford or Princeton, there are still fewer spots to fill.

There was a recent scandal at one of the top private schools in Korea. I believe that this is the private school that has similar average SAT scores to Phillips Academy Andover or Exeter (The top two private schools in the US). The school passed out the same SAT test that they had already used to prepare students for the SAT. Students naturally took the test and did extremely well. The test results were disregraded when the facts were found out.

This shouldn't dampen the achievement of the students at this high school. Their SAT scores are comparable to that of the top American students. The cheating that was discovered at the school only means that the school wanted to achieve an even higher average SAT score.

When my brother first wanted to prepare me for the SAT's, I scored around a 1070 (This was when a perfect score was 1600). He made me take practice test after test. He made me memorize around 1600 key vocabulary words commonly found on the SAT. He taught me a few mathematical tricks. I scored a 1420 after about 4 months of intensive study. So I don't think that the teacher at this private school was engaging a systematic cheating that was happening all the time.

Why are Koreans doing this? They want to be recognized? They want to fend off foreign attackers who may take over the country? The want to sit in a room and smoke cigars with Americans, Japanese and Europeans?

My father-in-law tells me:
-it's only in the certain businesses that you work so hard. In banking, you work 10-6. There are many Koreans working 9-5.

I look at the employees working at the various restaurants, stores, etc. They don't look like they are working any harder than their American counterparts. They are friendlier and more courteous, but sometimes they are a bit standoffish. I sometimes see owners or employees at restaurants just lying down and watching television. I sometimes see Koreans reading the newspaper and completely ignoring the customer. I wonder what my father-in-law was trying to teach me. Wasn't he trying to teach me how to a Korean?

NO. He was trying to teach me how to be a professional.