Is an average overseas Korean happier than a Korean living in the Korean nations?
Because of historical reason which can be understood, the Korean nations have developed the very strict culture which controls the people's freedom in the nations, highly emphasizes on success and capital punishment, resulting in considerable pressure on the people, unhappiness and tough personality of the people. So it's not strange that the phenomenon called "overseas Korean" exists because they can find more happiness overseas, especially those living in America, Australia, Canada, UK, New Zealand etc. But I've heard that Korean culture is very strong. So I'm not sure whether these overseas Koreans, especially those living in countries scoring high on the people's satisfaction with life such as the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, UK etc. still retain their original culture especially in term of emphasizing success, capital punishment etc? Or they're happier than those in the Korean nations because they have much more freedom in the US, Canada, UK etc.? Sorry I made a spelling mistake. Not "capital punishment", but "corporal punishment"
Public Comments
- Up front, so that you know I understand you - I am married to a Korean, I work in Korea, and I have lived in the USA with my Korean wife. Having said that: "Overseas Koreans" choose to live abroad for various reasons, notwithstanding the ability to make more money and yes, have freedom that perhaps they "feel" cannot be achieved in their own country. Most of the Koreans I know that live in the USA do in fact keep their cultural heritage. They eat Korean food whenever possible, they attend Korean speaking churches, many choose to drive Korean made automobiles, and they maintain many Korean friends to keep their language skills strong. Some buy satellite dishes that pick up Korean television programs. I don't see "much" corporal punishment in either the USA or in Korea. I see the occasional slap on the head by a "gangster" type, but that is about it. I see the thumping on the head in Korean drama shows, but not that much in public. There are some who very well may be happier overseas because they do keep their heritage and still have the finer things in life, such as a house with a yard. Korea is a small country and land is a premium. This in fact, after all this rambling, is probably the number one reason for successful Koreans to move abroad, live happy, and maintain their cultural lifestyle.
