Any young Nepalese’s dream
Sandip Bhujel, a Nepalese man, is 25 years old. When he first came to Korea last year, he raised pigs at a swine barn in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province. This year he is working in cattle sheds in Goheung South Jeolla Province. Sandip’s lifestyle and his choice of work impressed this writer as something special.
When I walked by the barn each night, I was curious about his bright and happy appearance. He lives next to the barn in a small house, about 2 meters by 6 meters i, containing only a kitchen and bedroom.
During college, this young man decided to pursue his Korean dream and passed the Korean language test. Then, with 20 classmates who also wanted to work in Korea, he thought about various jobs that he could do here. He decided to choose jobs that would help his village become rich.
Since the 1990s, foreign workers have been flowing into Korea to help the country solve a workforce shortage. Moreover, with the introduction of the employment permit system in 2004, these foreign workers have been able to enter Korea legally, and the supply of foreign labor has become smooth.
In May 2024, the National Statistics Office reported that there were about 1.56 million foreign workers in South Korea. Of these, 1.01 million were employed, with average monthly wages between 2 to 3 million won.
Sandip grew up in a remote village near Mount Everest. During his adolescence, his parents and teachers often talked about the Korean dream. People who had been foreign workers in Korea for a long time had established themselves as role models.
The role models that this young man observed and learned from had been successful. They achieved success by raising cows or pigs or by working in greenhouses. These jobs were similar to the work done in the rural mountain village where he was born.
Sandip plans to work in Korea for 10 years. After that, he will move back to his country with the money he has saved. He dreams of becoming an agriculturalist, like his role models.
Many years ago, a New York Times columnist said that the people living near the Himalayas were in poverty because of ignorance. As a way of overcoming ignorance, schools should be established so the people could be educated.
Maybe Sandip and the other 20 men were anti-poverty watchmen. After they graduated from college, they visited Korea voluntarily and developed a plan to make money after learning agricultural techniques. Once their goal is achieved, they will return to Nepal, where they will invest their own money in their hometowns to make the villages prosperous.
Sandip saves 2 million won every month and spends only about 300,000 won on living expenses. He has already saved 20 million won in one year. In the barn, he works to the satisfaction of his employer. He is so positive and diligent that the owner of the cow sheds has full confidence in him.
Although Sandip’s living space is small and his expenses are low, he lives happily and cheerfully while realizing his dream. I hope this young Nepalese man’s dream and his practice will enable the people of his village to live healthier and more prosperous lives.
Kim Jin-heon is a retired English teacher who published a book titled "Flower Is Flower."