#jusaeyo

This is a useful service provided by a few clever native-Koreans for foreigners new to Korea who need help doing certain things such as making appointments, ordering food or services, booking tickets, etc. 

I think this is a great idea for those who are in Korea only for a short period of time or for a period of under 1 year and need help. Like they said, it can feel burdensome sometime stop rely on your coworkers and friends all the time for certain things, for both you and them. 

However, taking the time to learn Korean will help you fix that. This is where I disagree with their slogan of “giving you back your independence” - you are still just being dependent on other people to get things done, by paying for it and feeling less guilt. And also rather than saving that money for helpful and memorable experiences while you are living abroad you are spending it for other people to do things for you, like a King. A king is a King but he’s nothing without his name and money. They have no true power if they cannot fight well in their own wars, earn their people’s love and trust, and even so they rely on bodyguards and servants to do simple things they would never learn to do on their own. I used to know a guy who came from such a wealthy family in Dubai that he didn’t even know how to tie his own shoes. A no one taught him until he was 20 years old. Can you imagine, living on your own, and then suddenly realizing you keep falling on your face because your shoes can’t be tied? A helpless child is aided by his mother or father or sibling and eventually learns on his own, with their guidance. 

It is the same in all things.

I think using this for very important things that are not yet in your range of Korean knowledge is helpful and can be a tool for the future as well. It should be used wisely, not as a crutch.  But also, the way that we overcome our fears in using another language is by using it and going through all of those miserable moments of charades and misunderstandings and the final relief of when things finally go your way, or when you finally figure something out on your own and the sense of pride and achievement you have when things go smoothly. 

I know people who still refuse to speak in Korean over the phone and always make someone else do it for them. If they keep trying, (even talking to telemarketers for practice!) eventually it becomes less scary, even if you can’t be 100% understood word by word. And that’s totally okay. 

make mistakes. learn from them. Ask your Korean friends and colleagues for help with doing things on your own. Don’t ask them to do something for you, but ask them to show you how. Don’t rely solely on a company like this to do everything and take advantage of your fear and laziness to take your money for something you can easily learn to accomplish effectively on your own either!