Question for South Koreans here:
Is this real or is this report just the usual exaggeration by western media?<p>Asking because Reuter’s has a biased reporting for anything related to India, and I’m wondering if they have a similar lens / filter for South Korea. (I’m from India in US)
Those of you considering the appeal, consider that there are retreats you can go on which structure your time and give you rules to follow. You don't have to make it look like prison.
If I ever developed a chronic illness in old age and would be on the verge of bankruptcy because of it, I would seriously consider committing a white collar crime and get free treatment in prison over suffering through the financial strain it would otherwise cause me.
Actually sometimes I really fantasize about a 3-6 month stint in prison - am I the only one. Surely it can't be that bad If Martha Stewart can do it. Imagine no commuting or on call support or social engagements or children's homework or chores. bliss.
I'm from the US, but spent 2 years teaching English in South Korea. I interacted with very few adult Koreans who weren't teachers, so I can't speak to the 'overworked, stressed Korean businessman' stereotype. However, schooling for kids there is a lot different from schooling here. If you think your American kid is overworked and is given too much homework, it doesn't hold a candle to what Korean kids are put through.<p>From the age of 7 or 8, they are doing full days at school and at least 1 after school hagwon (private academy). That ramps up as they get older. By 10 or 11, they are doing full 9am-9pm days. Middle and high school kids are more like 9am-9pm in class and I've had kids tell me that they go home and study until 2 or 3am, regularly. I routinely had kids breakdown and cry.<p>After a while I realized that in a small way I was helping contribute to the continuation of this lifestyle and I soured on the whole teaching English in Korea thing and moved back to the States. I loved Korea on the whole and would go back in a heartbeat, but not as a teacher.
Doesn't sound that different from people staying in a monastery for a while. Used to be pretty common. But monastic life is not so popular anymore so there are fewer of those around.
I am a bit confused by this, "South Koreans worked 2,024 hours in 2017." That does seem demanding but I am not sure how the US wouldn't be ranked higher where the minimum for full time employment is 2,080 hours a year. Can anyone clarify?
People do this in America as well. Possibly for other reasons. Article: <a href="https://splinternews.com/roleplaying-jail-in-iowa-with-americas-biggest-prison-f-1821464521" rel="nofollow">https://splinternews.com/roleplaying-jail-in-iowa-with-ameri...</a><p>Book your own stay: <a href="http://www.hamptonjail.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hamptonjail.com/</a>
Here's a similar sort of odd business in the US that I read about today: <a href="https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/all-the-rage-tempes-simply-smashing-rage-room-serves-the-frustrated-masses-11051134" rel="nofollow">https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/all-the-rage-tempes-sim...</a><p>I don't think stuff like this is very useful to learn about what it's like to live in a country. These are really tiny niches.
I recall also reading something similar about Japan a while back.<p>EDIT: found it <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-03-16/japan-s-prisons-are-a-haven-for-elderly-women" rel="nofollow">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-03-16/japan-s-p...</a>
I think society (in general, not just Korean) is fundamentally broken when people are actually considering something like this.<p>The Korean Government reduced working hours from 68 to 52, it's still 48 too many (see the four hour working week)<p>Life is for LIVING. Too many people forget that.
Hi I am a korean, but this is the first time I see this.
It is not a universal culture, but something unusual.
I was surprised that Reuters reported what local people did not know.
2000 inmates in 5 years... at $90/days. Hrm. I guess they have a lot of multi-day guests doing hard time, otherwise this isn't too sustainable.