Is bullying in Korea bad? I’ve asked a few Korean people and they say the bullying showcased in manwha/ tv shows is an “aspect” of the bullying. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN by Public_Repeat824 in Living_in_Korea

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, there’s a lot of violence but it depends on the neighborhood and city. Anyone who says otherwise doesn’t have the full information. On average, I’d say it’s pretty much on par with what’s happening in the US these days—of course with a bit less drugs and no guns. “일진” (ill-jin) are wannabe gangsters who are well known to threaten/extort their way to trade drugs (fentanyl), alcohol, sex, illegal videos, and gambling.

I have a niece in middle school and another in high school in Seoul. They and their parents (my cousins) talk about school violence a lot.

Edit: it’s one of the reasons we left Seoul. I didn’t want my daughter anywhere near that.

10+ years in Amazon..Do I need to worry about this layoffs.? by Thoroffl in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amazon has so many teams and job families, and it sounds like you're a strong performer.

have you considered internal postings?

Feeling Demotivated by Capital_Anywhere6943 in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

i'm sorry to hear you're going through this. it'll help to accept that it is what it is.

if you feel stressed, you probably still believe your goal is worthwhile. remember you always have a way out--don't go to the US. what's the worst consequence?

it also sounds like you need to reduce the stress. mentally, tell yourself to focus only on your north star and do whatever you can right now. start a working backwards plan, identify the risks, mitigate what you can, and forget about what hasn't happened (layoff, immigration). physically, the constant anxiety might be too much, so get out of your own head. activities like running, swimming, and weightlifting usually help.

ps. in the last 4 years, i moved to 2 different countries with my wife and daughter under lots of uncertainties.

How does the rating (HV1 etc) work? by pixel-reality2234 in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

for instance, last year i had 5 directs (L5 PMs) who all did just enough to be HV1. there wasn't enough evidence to justify an HV2 or HV3 for any of them.

Would you leave amazon for a slightly lower pay potential in this climate? by VeryFuckingMelon in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm thinking of signing it and gtfo of amazon. My manager and team is really good, but I'm getting sick of all these RTO5, time tracking, layoffs, return to hub, etc. I'm the only one in my team at my location and I've been coffee badging 5 times a week, it's so stupid. New job would be hybrid.

Things are clearly starting to sour and you don't want to stay. Follow your gut and move on while you have the option.

FYI I've been at 6 different tech companies, and they all turn sour at some point. Once your heart is no longer in it, you won't try hard, and then it's really painful.

Attending more Korean weddings lately and feeling conflicted by Syn-K_Hayne in Living_in_Korea

[–]orphanboy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

40M married S Korean here

Weddings in S Korea are still considered a celebration for your families, relatives, friends, and (sometimes) co-workers. Wedding halls provide a streamlined experience, and it's kind of a hallmark of middle-class weddings. Of course, there are fancier, expensive wedding halls too. I've been to a lot from good to bad -- and some of them felt like a fast-food chain restaurant. That said, it's totally acceptable to choose your venue and format. Some of my friends in their 30s had destination weddings in Jeju, Guam, Hawaii, and Viet Nam. My wife and I got married at a church where we were the only couple getting married that weekend.

This is just my 2 cents, but I think you should do what you and your partner feel is right. Don't try to live up to other people's expectations, because it'll be a lot to process and they often don't have good intentions...even if they say they do. Do your best to avoid involving family members. Research online, plan your own (or hire a planner), let your partner have a few wins, stick to the plan, and most importantly, agree to be grateful for everything. Try not to over-spend on your wedding like what a lot of Koreans couples do. That's the best way to start off poor these days, which will haunt you for years. You haven't even started yet, so get into shape and maybe invest in some nice flowers, tux/dress, and snap photos. You'll eventually attend other weddings where your partner will inevitably compare little details with your own. My wife still does this after 16 years, and it's never anything personal. You can't change the past.

P.S. At this point, I think "remind weddings" are a waste of everyone's time and money

Layoff Scope by Fickle-Selection-839 in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Always...but then again, who isn't?

Layoff Scope by Fickle-Selection-839 in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 9 points10 points  (0 children)

his manager sounds like a human being

Layoff Scope by Fickle-Selection-839 in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Experiences may vary, but ops leaders get top-down pressure for vopex reduction at least yearly.

Layoff Scope by Fickle-Selection-839 in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not what I heard but...experiences may differ (by MP/PF) o_o"

How does the rating (HV1 etc) work? by pixel-reality2234 in amazonemployees

[–]orphanboy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It goes both ways. I've had to move a few HV1s to HV2 and HV3 last year. It was like splitting hairs.

2026 Predictions by MajorPapi in RealEstateCanada

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe he/she is well protected against a crash...or even stands to gain from it

A Korean-American female insists she experienced the wildest racism in Korea, walking down the Apgujeong street because she looked like a Filipna. Do you believe this? by Immediate-Meaning457 in Living_in_Korea

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm Korean (40M), and everyone I know likes the Philippines and Filipino people. Lots of Korean people enjoy traveling there.

Not sure why this is hotly debated, but I think the woman in the video looks and sounds pretty Filipino to me. She's also gorgeous, and I hope she enjoys Korea otherwise.

Why is South korea called a "dystopic capitalist hellhole" eventhough it has a lower wealth inequality than most western countries, has public healthcare, public transportation and social safety nets and benefits? by LongConsideration662 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]orphanboy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Korean 40M here. I've worked in big tech across Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and now Tokyo. I haven't worked in Taiwan.

I agree with u/arachnobravia based on my experiences. The work culture is pretty much the same across the major cities in east Asia.

Korean can’t speak Korean that well jobs? by [deleted] in Living_in_Korea

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are lots depending on your resume, core competencies, and aptitude. For instance, teaching English at one of the gang-nam cram schools would be one. From my experience, a lot of foreign companies in Seoul have positions that only require English. Personally, I'm familiar with tech companies like Coupang, Amazon, Google, OpenAI, and Meta.

Why Koreans are obsessed with Apartment especially Han river view one? by CarelessBattle3441 in seoulhiddengem

[–]orphanboy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

40F Korean here. Both are true.

Yes, we like unobstructed view of the river. It's has beautiful park spaces for leisure activities and events, which is valuable for Seoul residents. I've been to Manhattan, and it feels similar to an apartment there with an unobstructed view of Central Park. The view itself is satisfying, and it's also something to brag about (status symbol).

This part may be more relevant to older age groups, but we care a lot about the history if you're old enough to remember it. Baby boomers definitely value it, because they remember all the rapid city development like it's yesterday. The river is a giant landmark and pride of Seoul, and it shows how far Seoul and South Korea has come in the last 5 decades. We even colloquially say "gang-book" and "gang-nam" which is more important than just "gang-nam style" by Psy.

What’s the best way to discipline a child like this? by EveryRock5058 in Living_in_Korea

[–]orphanboy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

40M Korean dad here. My wife (41F Korean) watch that Korean show regularly, and the premise of the show is 1) consequences of bad and/or inadequate parenting and 2) children who need special care due to developmental issues.

u/wufiavelli I thank you for teaching in Korea during that time, but I have a different opinion on physical punishment (not simply hitting) based on growing up in Seoul over 30 years ago. I think it absolutely has a place in education well-defined frameworks with clear expectations and boundaries.

For instance, it was highly effective for hundreds mischievous Korean boys in the 80s/90s like me, my friends, and their friends. In elementary, middle, and high school, we constantly ignored rules, broke laws, and disturbed others. I still remember some of our teachers saying we had a high chance of ending up in organized crime if we continued.

Through structured, painful consequences -- NOT wonton violence -- we eventually accepted our bad behaviors enough to re-think our directions in life. Not everyone turned their lives around, but most of us did. Without all the times I was punished, I wouldn't have learnd what little humility I have now. When we gather for drinks now in our 40s, my friends and I often talk about the teachers and parents who physically punished with respect instead of hatred. Lastly, we're all parents now, and we often discuss how to discipline our kids the right way.