A skeptics life

I don't know what the deal is with me but since I've lived in this country, I have become a skeptic. I don't trust anyone's word anymore. I never thought that it was necessary that I get things in writing. I never had the need before.

Since coming to Korea, I've seen people pushed around by hogwans (small teaching businesses), cheated money, denied pension, etc. These are just the foreigners. Some of my close Korean friends have been promised things numerous times only to have their plans or dreams ruined.

Have people become too trusting? Or am I just letting myself be affected too much. Honestly, my life in Korea has been good. I just don't like to see the people around me being hurt. I know I let things affect me more than they should.

How do I tell people that put so much faith in others that the only person one can really count on is themselves. It's so distrusting, but with the way that things have been going for some of the people around me, I often feel it. How do you tell someone that in order to get the things accomplished that they want to do, they need to stop relying on strangers' promises for aid. Argh. I'm so frustrated about how I can help people when they never take my advice (which most of the time ends up being correct). I suppose we all need to learn from our mistakes, but after so many disappointments, the mistakes pile up and become too much to handle.

I need help on this situation.