A Korean woman living in Singapore explains her reasons for choosing to work in the city-state over her home country, citing career growth opportunities, supportive work environments for women, and Singapore's diverse culture. She contrasts this with the hierarchical structures, blurred personal boundaries, and demanding work culture in South Korea, while also acknowledging the high cost of living in Singapore.
A Korean woman residing in Singapore has shared her reasons for choosing to work in the city-state instead of her native South Korea, a topic that frequently arises in conversations. Kay Lee, known as @kaysnote_ on TikTok, attributes her preference for Singapore to the abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth that she encounters daily. Ms. Lee, who is employed by Google, has resided in Singapore for six years and has shared her insights in a series of videos.
She emphasized that the rigid hierarchical structures prevalent in Korean workplaces, where juniors are expected to defer to seniors and innovation is often stifled by tradition, were a significant factor in her decision. She noted the stark contrast with the merit-based culture in Singapore. She described Korean work environments where personal boundaries are frequently crossed, leading to intrusive questions about marital status and cosmetic procedures, often posed under the guise of camaraderie. In Singapore, she has found the professional landscape more welcoming, merit-based, and conducive to personal growth, which she values highly in her daily life and work.\Another critical factor for Ms. Lee is the supportive ecosystem for women in the Singaporean workforce. She highlighted the presence of resources and systems that enable women to balance their careers with family life, particularly in contrast to the situation in Korea, where leadership positions for women are scarce, and the combination of marriage or childcare with a career is often perceived as unsustainable. She also mentioned instances where she felt objectified in Korea. Moreover, she contrasted the extensive unpaid overtime and mandatory post-work socializing, considered essential for demonstrating loyalty in Korean work culture, with the emphasis on performance and results in Singapore. Ms. Lee emphasized her choice of Singapore as a lifestyle choice, where she consistently works with diverse individuals and is exposed to different cultures and perspectives, which she sees as a catalyst for continuous development. She believes Singapore’s multicultural environment constantly pushes her to expand her horizons, contributing to her growth as a person and professional.\While expressing her positive experiences in Singapore, Ms. Lee acknowledges the drawbacks. In other videos, she has openly discussed the high cost of living in Singapore, which is a noticeable difference from her home country. She shared the difference in the cost of a medical procedure, revealing a significant price disparity: a procedure costing S$600 in Singapore versus S$18 in South Korea. She humorously remarked that after experiencing life in Singapore, traveling abroad sometimes feels like everything is on sale. This provides a balanced perspective, showing that she isn't viewing Singapore through rose-tinted glasses. She acknowledges the financial challenges that Singapore presents, even though she appreciates the cultural richness and professional opportunities. Her perspective provides a nuanced understanding of the tradeoffs involved in working and living in Singapore. She highlighted the merit-based performance, diversity and the lifestyle she appreciates while working in Singapore. Overall, her videos and opinions provide a comprehensive and insightful reflection on the comparative advantages and disadvantages of working in Singapore versus South Korea
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