I think you’re absolutely right.

In Korea, the reputation was partially ruined by "old-school" mechanics who took advantage of information asymmetry to deceive customers in the past.

On top of that, as another comment mentioned, dealing mainly with individual consumers who have limited budgets or are hesitant to pay leads to a lot of friction. There’s also a deep-seated cultural bias against trade jobs in Korea.

Historically, dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, there was a strong social hierarchy where those who held a pen (scholars) were granted high status and honor, while those who worked with their hands were looked down upon.

I think this "white-collar superiority" still lingers today, making it very difficult for many skilled service professionals. It’s especially tough for auto mechanics, as their salary growth tends to stagnate severely over time.

Definitely this im in a small mechanic shop of like 7 of us and we make as a hole 100k a month and we have customers here thats been here for like 30 50 years they also bring us best food in the world and spoil us rotten. We love our customers and they love us we help everyone when we can.

I totally feel you on that. It seems like every country has its own version of these struggles.

Each industry has different barriers to entry and profit margins, but I think the scale of the clients you deal with definitely impacts the overall perception and stress levels.

It’s the same in South Korea.

In many businesses that deal with small capital or general consumers, wages are often kept low just to keep the business profitable.

If it were just about the low pay, that would be one thing, but there are surprisingly many rude or entitled people who go beyond common sense.

Because of this, there’s a strong tendency to avoid jobs like food service, retail sales, CS, merchandising, teaching, and of course, auto mechanics.

Is it really hard on your body? Heavy duty that is

I’ve been checking out some mechanic communities in Korea, and it seems like everyone shares these same concerns. However, one interesting difference I found is that heavy equipment maintenance offers much better pay, benefits, and working conditions compared to general auto repair.

I think because those jobs usually involve B2B contracts between large companies or government-funded projects for public infrastructure.

Of course, the inherent risks of the trade—like exposure to danger, physical strain, and the long-term impact on your body as you age—are still unavoidable.

It seems like a universal truth that mechanics everywhere truly love working on cars.

The problem is that when you compare the customer service, work environment, pay, and benefits to other industries, the rewards just don’t match the effort. For many, this lack of compensation eventually turns their passion into a living hell.

I’ve seen too many cases where the very thing they loved became the source of their misery because the advantages of staying in the trade were so slim.

Of course, there are some who have successfully achieved their dreams and goals, but unfortunately, they seem to be the exception rather than the rule.

So respect for you! Being a heavy equipment mechanic is no joke. If you don’t mind me asking, which country are you working in?

In South Korea, most small shops with fewer than five employees are exempt from many labor laws.

This means workers often don't get legal rights like paid annual leave, overtime pay, or holiday bonuses. It makes it very hard to dream of starting your own business when wages stay stagnant despite gaining years of experience.

To give you some perspective, as of 2025, the median monthly income in Korea is about 2,392,013 KRW (approx. $1,620 USD).

The problem is, even if you have a degree, multiple certifications, and work at an official brand dealership (like BMW), a technician with 4 years of experience often makes less than 3,000,000 KRW (approx. $2,030 USD) before taxes.

I had a friend who truly loved cars, but he recently quit his job as a junior technician at an official BMW center.

He told me the toxic work culture was unbearable. Instead of mentoring him, senior mechanics would literally throw tools at him and use verbal abuse.

He said, "I chose this because I love cars, but people losing their temper and throwing tools in a dangerous workspace is just wrong. I didn't come here for this."

It breaks my heart because I know many junior mechanics who would stay in the industry even for minimum wage, if only they had a supportive team and a healthy learning environment.

I didn't realize that Indonesia had similar issues with social hierarchies and the perception of labor jobs like South Korea does.

In that sense, Japan seems much better because people there tend to keep those thoughts to themselves and maintain a minimum level of mutual respect.

The part you mentioned, "customers always want the lowest price for the highest quality of work," is exactly the same in Korea.

It seems especially common among the older generations, from their late 40s to their 80s; many of them don't seem to respect professional skills or have any intention of paying a fair price for them.

If they feel that way, they should just get their own mechanic certification, buy their own equipment, and do the DIY maintenance themselves—or just go to those "cheap shops" they're always talking about.

I guess people are pretty much the same everywhere. lol

First, I apologize for the late response, as I didn't expect so many insightful comments and advice.

Being an aircraft mechanic is truly amazing! I actually dreamed of becoming a pilot when I was younger, spending countless hours on Falcon 4.0 and MS Flight Simulator (VATSIM). Unfortunately, due to a right-arm injury from boxing and a sudden change in my family’s financial situation, I failed the physical exam for the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy and had to let go of that dream.

Personally, I think the common ground between aircraft and automobiles is that they are both complex masterpieces of human technology, which adds a sense of awe and charm to this industry. I read your comments carefully and found myself agreeing with much of what you said.

Issues like information asymmetry from the consumer's perspective, the "bad eggs" ruining the reputation of the trade, and the relatively low wages compared to other technical fields—all of these points resonated with me deeply.

However, I found it a bit difficult to fully relate to the idea that the mechanic trade is seen as an easy entry point for those without high academic aspirations. This might be due to the differences in hiring cultures and mandatory qualifications between our countries.

In South Korea, even to start as an apprentice auto mechanic, must obtain a national technical certification( 자동차 정비기능사 ) regardless of your education. For aircraft maintenance, the bar is even higher: most candidates must graduate from a 4-year university majoring in aviation systems or materials, have a TOEIC score of 700+, and hold multiple national certifications just to pass the initial document screening for a LCC. The only other common path is serving as a non-commissioned officer in the Air Force specializing in maintenance.

This disconnect might stem from Korea’s unique hiring culture, where there is a strong tendency to view "academic background as a measure of one's intelligence and diligence." Thus, the concept of a "low barrier to entry" for professional trades is quite foreign here.

While every job has its own struggles, it was quite shocking to realize that auto mechanics specifically face such poor treatment and a lack of trust from consumers worldwide. Thank you so much for sharing your valuable perspective.
As 2026 is just around the corner, I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Maybe it’s partly psychological, but it also seems like a complex result of being in situations you can't control, right?

Lol, I can't even deny it.

In Korea, the image of "being average" is actually not average at all. Most people think a middle-to-upper-class lifestyle is the baseline for a normal life. The way people judge jobs and classify them—almost like the caste system from the Joseon Dynasty (Peasants vs. Nobles)—is still very blatant. Of course, this is tied to an office culture that doesn't provide real legal protection for many workers.

South Koreans might think they are the most democratic and progressive in Asia due to the K-pop wave, but in reality, there are so many narcissists who are incredibly collectivist and judge others by extremely strict standards. I knew that writing this about my own country is like "spitting in my own face," but it's the truth.

It feels like Korea never gives you the time to design your own life, to figure out who you are as a person, or to explore what you truly love.

It’s a bit hard to explain, but Korea has this weird, complex mix of U.S.-style capitalism, a historical bias that looks down on trade jobs, and the influence of Japan’s "Master" culture. I was really surprised to see that the low barriers to entry, public perception, and treatment of mechanics are so similar worldwide.

That said, even the barrier to entry isn’t that "easy" in Korea anymore though it’s still lower than office jobs that demand a 4-year degree, high language scores, and study abroad experience.

My reasons for leaving my career behind and starting over as a mechanic at this age are quite complex.

I’ve put a lot of thought into it: the technical apprenticeship and lifetime employment culture in Japan, their slower transition to EV infrastructure, and why they stick with hybrids.

I’ve been asking myself: if I start over in Japan at 33 with a vocational degree and certifications, can I build a solid foundation and eventually open my own shop? '

Since I know Japan will eventually move from hybrids to EVs, I’m planning to use my Computer Science background to my advantage. I’m looking into getting certified in electrical engineering and focusing on a business that combines hybrid/EV maintenance with embedded chip coding.

After all, even in BMW-MINIs, things like the Footwell Module (FRM) data get corrupted all the time just from swapping a battery.

With AI and YouTube these days, there's so much content for learning how to work on cars, which makes it a great environment for DIY

However, I think the housing culture in Korea makes DIY a bit difficult.

Since most people live in apartments, we don't usually have personal garages or enough space at home to store all the necessary tools.

Of course, the "workaholic" culture also plays a part, but because of these spatial limits, the culture of just paying a shop for their service has become the norm.