….
Ternyata, di Korea, iklim serta waktu yang siswa jalani untuk belajar begitu jauh berbeda. Siswa mulai belajar pukul 08.00, lalu istirahat pukul 17.00, dan proses belajar-mengajar dilanjutkan sampai pukul 23.00. Ya, dan setelah itu masih saja ada sebagian siswa yang melanjutkan dengan kegiatan bimbingan belajar di lembaga-lembaga swasta.
…
Dikutip dari:
Secercah Pelajaran dari Korea
by Anang
Kompas Edisi Bandung, Jawa Barat
Kamis, 29 Oktober 2009
No wonder the suicide rate in South Korea is so high. Worldwide, only Guyana, Hungary, Slovenia, and countries of the former USSR have higher suicide rates than South Korea.
Suicide in South Korea has gained attention as a national problem after the deaths of several well-known persons, including former President Roh Moo-hyun, millionaire Samsung heiress Lee Yoon-hyung, and actors such as Ahn Jae-hwan, Jung Da Bin, Lee Eun-ju, Jang Ja-yeon, Choi Jin-shil, and Kim Ji-hoo, as well as Korean Pop singer, U;Nee. Former president Roh’s suicide followed the suicide of a number of high profile figures under corruption investigations in Korea in recent years, including the former secretary of Prime Minister Kim Young-chul, former Busan mayor Ahn Sang-Young who committed suicide while in prison, Park Tae-young, former governor of Jeolla province, and Chung Mong-hun, a former Hyundai executive.
Most suicides in Korea stem from these three problems:
1. Financial problems/loss of job and inability to support family
2. Stress/pressure from parents regarding education
3. Mental illness
After the Korean War, South Korea was totally destroyed and left with nothing but post war cities, empty agricultural fields, and obviously its people. Because of the situation the Korean people were placed after the war, the only way they could individually succeed was based on their talent or skills; thus creating a very competitive society where school is a must and constantly stressed. Such way of thinking is obviously effective, because Korea is one of the most successful countries in Asia [accomplished in half a century]; however, it places great stress on students and professionals, as failing in school or work will be seen as a great disgrace to one’s family.
Because family is a very [if not the most] important concept in Korea, failing one’s family in any aspect of life, places great additional stress on one’s shoulders. In Korea, like in many other Asian cultures, one is often raised under the impression that if one brings disgrace to one’s family, one is no longer worth anything and ruined the family’s name [just look at the ways of the Japanese Samurais and how they would perform Harakiri if faced with failure].
In addition to these stressors, Koreans [for the most part] have a very structured and linear way of thinking and when they are extremely overwhelmed, they cannot see past the problem; thus affecting their decision making process, which could subsequently lead to suicide.
Note: Korea is the only country I know of where you could request "stress leave" from work.
Related posts:
If we really care for the customer we’d send them somewhere better.
—
Entries (RSS)