By This guy represents all the elderly Koreans that work on the US military bases in Korea:
Kim “Tommy” Si-kyong has been shining shoes and military boots at Yongsan since 1985. He earns roughly $200 a month despite the world economic crisis, failing health and the military’s decision to switch from leather boots to suede.
The chair remains empty.
There was a time when U.S. soldiers, family members and South Koreans would stop by on a regular basis to have him shine their shoes and military boots.
He was making money then. Now, with a strained economy, the customers stay away. Only a handful of people showed up in each of the past couple of months.
It’s still an early Tuesday morning, but he knows no one will come by. He touches his arm, bruised from his visits for dialysis. He yawns and turns on his little radio, setting it on his favorite Korean station.
The music plays, and before long, he falls asleep next to the empty chair.
Kim “Tommy” Si-kyong was born in the city of Bupyong during Japanese colonialism, when his father was forced to paint buildings. But it provided for the survival of Kim and his eight siblings. [Stars & Stripes]
Read the rest at the link. When the camps closed in the Western Corridor and Uijongbu it was a bit sad to see these elderly Koreans who worked on the camps for 40-50 years shining shoes, doing laundry, room cleaning, etc. losing their jobs. However, talking to many of these workers it wasn’t so much the loss of money that affected them, it was the since of belonging they had lost. They had been around US soldiers for decades and was simply what they knew.
At least “Tommy” in this article still has a job that lets him continue to interact with soldiers even if he isn’t making much money now a days.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
11:33 pm on February 15th, 2010 1
Very sad..I hope the South Korean government will have some plan for these old fellows.
11:37 pm on February 15th, 2010 2
One of the best deals on Yongsan is ajusshi car wash service, especially if you get it on a monthly plan.
12:03 am on February 16th, 2010 3
I found an even better plan for car washing outside of gate 17. For 5,000 you get a really good wash. This is cheaper than the $8 they want on post. Off post they use soap. The washers on post have a good gig going. They clock in to their job, never do that job then spend all day washing cars. They use no soap, get free water, and have no expenses. They keep all that they make and if they scrath your car up there is nothing you can do to them and you can't sue them. What a good gig. Americans are so gullable (stupid).
1:19 am on February 16th, 2010 4
I can't remember when exactly…a year ago maybe. But I went to Tommy to get my civilian shoes shined and he was so busy he said he just couldn't do it right then. He said come back in a couple of hours. And when I came back, he was still busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest.
I could have swore he told me he was a former KATUSA.
Hmm…
1:43 am on February 16th, 2010 5
Having houseboy service was the best thing about being stationed in Korea. For 30 bucks a month, uniforms cleaned and starched, boots shined, civvies cleaned and folded, and for a little extra, they would clean your room.
Our houseboy got so many tips on the holidays, he used to buy the local orphange toys for Christmas.
I'll never forget the first time I noticed that everyone looked inspection ready for a 2am alert roll out. 1SG yelled at me for standing in the motor pool and laughing my head off.
3:29 am on February 16th, 2010 6
Their social security isn't as good one in US but I know they have health insurance for EVERYONE. He doesn't have to worry about having to skip dialysis appointments because of lack of health insurance.
And there are others who have to worry about losing health insurance when they lose their jobs.
4:19 am on February 16th, 2010 7
The major thing I would have done differently would have been to get stationed in Korea SOONER. But I hear it is very different now.
4:48 am on February 16th, 2010 8
GIs and others have done their job deterring N Korea too well. The end result is that the economy of S Korea belongs to the G10, hence it's more expensive. Ironic.
10:09 am on February 16th, 2010 9
That's so sad. I hope everything works out for him.
I actually like older Koreans, the younger ones, not so much. I'm talking about those Koreans in their 60's, 70's etc…
Korea IS NOT part of the G-10. They may like to think the are, but they are not.
http://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=7022
According to the World Bank in '08 and the CIA Fact Book in '09-Korean is in fact the 15th richest country in the world.
The IMF, you know that group that saved Korea's ass, but Koreans hate them for it, also puts Korea at 15th as of '08.
Quite far off from ten. I know, I know it hurts, let it all out.
10:17 pm on February 16th, 2010 10
One of the downsides that has come with their increased economic status is they have become more nationalistic. It re-affirms their belief that they are the master race. I really fear the day (if it ever comes) that Korea would be a real world power like the US. They have no social systems, a brutal to their workers, don't believe in 40 hour work weeks, don't have a modern arbitration or judicial system, and aren't rational thinkers. It will be a very bad situation if these folks come to power. I am not just saying that to be racist. In LA, NY, and many other cities Koreans went into communities bought all the stores then raised prices 400% in some cases and then treated the locals with content and prejudice. If they are able to do this on a large scale there will be no winners.
9:57 am on February 23rd, 2010 11
Everyone can join the Korean national health insurance, but not everyone is covered by it. If you are working in a company, etc. it is compulsory, but otherwise you have to make the effort to join and make the monthly payments yourself. This can be a burden on lower paid workers, and quite a lot of independent workers, such as day labourers, do not have coverage. This guy could be in that category.
11:54 am on February 23rd, 2010 12
I think Korea has done a great job to get to where they are at. If Korea took the same approach as the U.S. they wouldn't be where they are today. It is no crime of humanity to work more than 40 hours a week, Korea has adapted to this way of life and it works for them. That is not to say that there aren't problems in Korea just like there are problems in the U.S., no country gets everything right. The unions in the U.S. are one of the contributing factors to our economy and industry being so poor today and 40 hour work weeks and do less for more pay doesn't work very well. I don't think it's hard to argue that Korea has a better health system, better auto industry and better electronics industry than the U.S., it may be hard to admit but it is true…we need to change the way we think about business and the way we go about business in the U.S. We may have the strongest national defense in the world but