Perhaps this is why so many netizens distrust the “big three” papers (?).

“man this beef is expensive. If only there were a country that had economic factor endowments more conducive to raising livestock than our own teeny tiny half-peninsula!”

You’re right, of course. But it is virtually impossible to be fired until you reach that glass ceiling at kwa jang level as long as you tow the line.

One of my associates relayed to me that he had gotten a peek at his personnel file and saw the following black mark against him: “he is rather private (kae in cheok”). In other words, keep an eye on him, we’re not really sure he’s one of the boys.

Basically, the Samsung employee gets automatically promoted up the ranks according to his seniority until the bottleneck at cha jang (funtional manager) position. Beyond that, only the best connected advance and are eventually retired by being appointed an honorary title at some little-known subsidiary where they drift for a few years before retiring with a full package.

Some of those who don’t advance are quietly pushed out the door. Often they become subcontracted employees doing the same job at less pay and poor benefits.

Inteeeeeresting comment. I worked for Samsung from 2002 - 2005 with the creme de la creme of the Korean professional workforce at the creme de la creme of Korean industry.

My observations: College graduates who make it into Samsung are entering a good ol’ boy’s club where pretending to work hard while kissing the right butt is rewarded and individual responsibility is not. I found the company to be poorly managed and the workforce to be effete elitists.

Basically, the Samsung employee gets automatically promoted up the ranks according to his seniority until the bottleneck at cha jang (funtional manager) position. Beyond that, only the best connected advance and are eventually retired by being appointed an honorary title at some little-known subsidiary where they drift for a few years before retiring with a full package.

It’s not that Samsung employees don’t work long hours. But the productivity is exceedingly low in proportion to the time spent on the job. And the main work involves constant reporting. The real product of Samsung is reports. Do a report. Make sure it reflects the personal prejudices of your Vice President and doesn’t make any waves. Report it up the chain. Make sure it incorporates the right percentage of English phrases and Chinese characters that are specified in the Samsung Reporting Manual.

The content is often questionable in terms of accuracy and actual value to the organization, but if it contains NEW TERMINOLOGIES that sound impressive, then it is considered groundbreaking.

As for implementation, the idea is thrown out and implemented. Half of the initiatives are never seriously implemented, and there is very little follow up to ensure that it works. It is much like throwing mud against the wall.

Corporate governance? That’s why subsidiaries like Samsung Life exist - to lauder the money.

Like over employment in the Chaebols, this multi-layered system is apartof the welfare system here in Korea. For worse (or better) the consumers subsidizes this over employment.

They don’t own (mostly), they just gouge and both left-wing and right-wing parties have let this pile up through the years, only to have this problem come back to haunt the country in the worst sort of way.

I do not think that one can dig their way easily out of this problem either (canal?) without killing this way of doing business completely.

Say it ain’t so Joe!