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alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
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 Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| The King of Kwangju wrote: |
| alongway wrote: |
| Of course they are. How else could they be here? they're married to each other not Koreans. There is no general expat living in Korea visa. Unless you'd been a teacher here and transferred to an F2 points. However, they stopped teaching and doing the blog full time before that became available. The only difference being, they're not upfront about it. 100% they've been given special visas to live here and do what they do (likely an E7) and the government is extremely unlikely to do that without having them on the payroll so they can control them. |
I just assumed they were in Korea on tourist visas and collecting AdSense payments in a Canadian bank account. That's what I would do. Perfectly legal.
Even if they were being supported by the Korean government, why would they hide that fact? It's not like they would lose their fans. Their fans would be happy for them. |
Competition. They wouldn't want anyone to know what/how they're doing it. Because if someone did, they might try to get in on their business. If they're getting money from the government every month they might not want to give that up.
Also it would demonstrate a bias. If the fans knew for certain that they were shills for tourism Korea, they might start viewing some of what they do or so in a different light. |
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toby99
Joined: 28 Aug 2009
Location: Dong-Incheon-by-the-sea, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:24 am Post subject: |
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Many of the blogger 'defenders' seem to frame the debate in terms of 'conspiracy theories.' In my view, this isn't quite accurate. Many of us appreciate the work of expat bloggers- food or otherwise. But when reviewing a restaurant or some other aspect of life in Korea, it is important for the blogger to disclose if an interested entity (ie the govt, tourism dept, the restaurant- whatever) is buttering your bread. If no one comped your meal, fine- nothing to worry about, no problems.
But lets say for example that an expat is reading the blog reviews, trying to find a nice place to take their girlfriend or wife on a Friday night, and they see glowing review after glowing review of a place like Sujis (not to harp on that place, just seems like it has received a lot of very favorable attention within the expat food blogosphere over the years). Most readers would want to know if the review is biased in any way. Going out to eat at a place like that ain't cheap, and many of us have to travel a great distance to get there. Only fair to get all the info needed to make a reasonably informed decision. Disclosure requirements solve this issue.
I think because it seems so obvious that disclosure is a good thing, many expats get upset and/or suspicious when reading some of these glowing reviews online w/o knowing whether the meal was comped or if it's really just an advertisement in sheeps clothing. My two cents. |
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toby99
Joined: 28 Aug 2009
Location: Dong-Incheon-by-the-sea, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:40 am Post subject: |
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I tried listening to a new Korea-related podcast I found, called 'Podcast of Destiny'. Couldn't make it past the first 15 minutes; might not have been in the right mood.
Anyone listen to this 'QiRanger' guy's podcasts? |
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toby99
Joined: 28 Aug 2009
Location: Dong-Incheon-by-the-sea, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:16 am Post subject: |
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| Been almost 4 months since a new ep. Any other expat podcasts out there? |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:54 am Post subject: |
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There is quite a good video blogger with Simon and Martina, Eat Your Kimchi: http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/
They are really interesting and are starting to become quite popular. I don't really watch much of their current videos about Korean Pop but I do like to watch their series about particular places to visit around Korea. Very useful and the videos about teaching in Korea are great. I wonder if they have decided to quit teaching and focus solely on videoing themselves now???
I would be quite interested to develop a video blog or podcast for my website in the near future for my move to Korea this autumn. |
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I'm With You
Joined: 01 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:00 am Post subject: |
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| I enjoyed those podcasts. The Midnightrunner episodes where he'd have guests were quite interesting. However, I could see it being a lot of work and fairly time consuming to put out on a weekly or regular basis for just a hobby. |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Whistleblower wrote: |
There is quite a good video blogger with Simon and Martina, Eat Your Kimchi: http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/
They are really interesting and are starting to become quite popular. I don't really watch much of their current videos about Korean Pop but I do like to watch their series about particular places to visit around Korea. Very useful and the videos about teaching in Korea are great. I wonder if they have decided to quit teaching and focus solely on videoing themselves now???
I would be quite interested to develop a video blog or podcast for my website in the near future for my move to Korea this autumn. |
Assuming that you're serious, you must be talking about "production-wise" because they are slick videos. But as far as "Here's the truth about restaurants, teaching, living in Korea", then those videos are as realistic as Disney princess movies are about being a girl or a woman. It's all fluff and nothing about any of the negatives is addressed at all. They answer to their sponsors, and only their sponsors. It's all about credibility.
As other posters have brought up, when will they disclose who pays them for their positive comments? |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| toby99 wrote: |
Many of the blogger 'defenders' seem to frame the debate in terms of 'conspiracy theories.' In my view, this isn't quite accurate. Many of us appreciate the work of expat bloggers- food or otherwise. But when reviewing a restaurant or some other aspect of life in Korea, it is important for the blogger to disclose if an interested entity (ie the govt, tourism dept, the restaurant- whatever) is buttering your bread. If no one comped your meal, fine- nothing to worry about, no problems.
But lets say for example that an expat is reading the blog reviews, trying to find a nice place to take their girlfriend or wife on a Friday night, and they see glowing review after glowing review of a place like Sujis (not to harp on that place, just seems like it has received a lot of very favorable attention within the expat food blogosphere over the years). Most readers would want to know if the review is biased in any way. Going out to eat at a place like that ain't cheap, and many of us have to travel a great distance to get there. Only fair to get all the info needed to make a reasonably informed decision. Disclosure requirements solve this issue.
I think because it seems so obvious that disclosure is a good thing, many expats get upset and/or suspicious when reading some of these glowing reviews online w/o knowing whether the meal was comped or if it's really just an advertisement in sheeps clothing. My two cents. |
That's exactly what happened to me. I recommended a certain Itaewon restaurant just because Seoul Eats, and Zenkimchi were heavily promoting it, and the portions were miniscule and the service was awful. When I complained to the owner, let's call her F-uji (Not her real name, but close enough) that the picture of a the sandwich on the Seoul Eats site was much bigger she screeched at me "And you aren't Dan Gray. You have a blog, you get the special." That's how things roll and why once you get burned by one of those paid off bloggers you don't give them any credibility. |
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toby99
Joined: 28 Aug 2009
Location: Dong-Incheon-by-the-sea, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 7:24 am Post subject: |
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| dairyairy wrote: |
| toby99 wrote: |
Many of the blogger 'defenders' seem to frame the debate in terms of 'conspiracy theories.' In my view, this isn't quite accurate. Many of us appreciate the work of expat bloggers- food or otherwise. But when reviewing a restaurant or some other aspect of life in Korea, it is important for the blogger to disclose if an interested entity (ie the govt, tourism dept, the restaurant- whatever) is buttering your bread. If no one comped your meal, fine- nothing to worry about, no problems.
But lets say for example that an expat is reading the blog reviews, trying to find a nice place to take their girlfriend or wife on a Friday night, and they see glowing review after glowing review of a place like Sujis (not to harp on that place, just seems like it has received a lot of very favorable attention within the expat food blogosphere over the years). Most readers would want to know if the review is biased in any way. Going out to eat at a place like that ain't cheap, and many of us have to travel a great distance to get there. Only fair to get all the info needed to make a reasonably informed decision. Disclosure requirements solve this issue.
I think because it seems so obvious that disclosure is a good thing, many expats get upset and/or suspicious when reading some of these glowing reviews online w/o knowing whether the meal was comped or if it's really just an advertisement in sheeps clothing. My two cents. |
That's exactly what happened to me. I recommended a certain Itaewon restaurant just because Seoul Eats, and Zenkimchi were heavily promoting it, and the portions were miniscule and the service was awful. When I complained to the owner, let's call her F-uji (Not her real name, but close enough) that the picture of a the sandwich on the Seoul Eats site was much bigger she screeched at me "And you aren't Dan Gray. You have a blog, you get the special." That's how things roll and why once you get burned by one of those paid off bloggers you don't give them any credibility. |
Yep, had the same experience. Relatives were visiting from the States and thought I'd take them out for a nice meal so I did a google search for restaurants and naturally a bunch of expat blogs came up. A certain restaurant kept coming up over and over again, so I thought it must be a can't miss type of place. Boy was I wrong.
Food was raunchy, service was awful, and just a horrible experience all around. So another night I tired another hyped up restaurant, figuring there's no way I'd go 0-2. I don't need to tell you how this story ends, haha (hint: I've had better food and service at my neighborhood 3500won boonshik). I guess I'm a fool for putting so much faith in the internet, but, cmon, if everyone is hyping up a certain place ppl will naturally be inclined to visit. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 7:30 am Post subject: |
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| dairyairy wrote: |
| toby99 wrote: |
Many of the blogger 'defenders' seem to frame the debate in terms of 'conspiracy theories.' In my view, this isn't quite accurate. Many of us appreciate the work of expat bloggers- food or otherwise. But when reviewing a restaurant or some other aspect of life in Korea, it is important for the blogger to disclose if an interested entity (ie the govt, tourism dept, the restaurant- whatever) is buttering your bread. If no one comped your meal, fine- nothing to worry about, no problems.
But lets say for example that an expat is reading the blog reviews, trying to find a nice place to take their girlfriend or wife on a Friday night, and they see glowing review after glowing review of a place like Sujis (not to harp on that place, just seems like it has received a lot of very favorable attention within the expat food blogosphere over the years). Most readers would want to know if the review is biased in any way. Going out to eat at a place like that ain't cheap, and many of us have to travel a great distance to get there. Only fair to get all the info needed to make a reasonably informed decision. Disclosure requirements solve this issue.
I think because it seems so obvious that disclosure is a good thing, many expats get upset and/or suspicious when reading some of these glowing reviews online w/o knowing whether the meal was comped or if it's really just an advertisement in sheeps clothing. My two cents. |
That's exactly what happened to me. I recommended a certain Itaewon restaurant just because Seoul Eats, and Zenkimchi were heavily promoting it, and the portions were miniscule and the service was awful. When I complained to the owner, let's call her F-uji (Not her real name, but close enough) that the picture of a the sandwich on the Seoul Eats site was much bigger she screeched at me "And you aren't Dan Gray. You have a blog, you get the special." That's how things roll and why once you get burned by one of those paid off bloggers you don't give them any credibility. |
Dan Gray isn't qualified to comment on food anyway, he just started a blog on eating in Seoul when nobody else did. |
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toby99
Joined: 28 Aug 2009
Location: Dong-Incheon-by-the-sea, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| dairyairy wrote: |
| toby99 wrote: |
Many of the blogger 'defenders' seem to frame the debate in terms of 'conspiracy theories.' In my view, this isn't quite accurate. Many of us appreciate the work of expat bloggers- food or otherwise. But when reviewing a restaurant or some other aspect of life in Korea, it is important for the blogger to disclose if an interested entity (ie the govt, tourism dept, the restaurant- whatever) is buttering your bread. If no one comped your meal, fine- nothing to worry about, no problems.
But lets say for example that an expat is reading the blog reviews, trying to find a nice place to take their girlfriend or wife on a Friday night, and they see glowing review after glowing review of a place like Sujis (not to harp on that place, just seems like it has received a lot of very favorable attention within the expat food blogosphere over the years). Most readers would want to know if the review is biased in any way. Going out to eat at a place like that ain't cheap, and many of us have to travel a great distance to get there. Only fair to get all the info needed to make a reasonably informed decision. Disclosure requirements solve this issue.
I think because it seems so obvious that disclosure is a good thing, many expats get upset and/or suspicious when reading some of these glowing reviews online w/o knowing whether the meal was comped or if it's really just an advertisement in sheeps clothing. My two cents. |
That's exactly what happened to me. I recommended a certain Itaewon restaurant just because Seoul Eats, and Zenkimchi were heavily promoting it, and the portions were miniscule and the service was awful. When I complained to the owner, let's call her F-uji (Not her real name, but close enough) that the picture of a the sandwich on the Seoul Eats site was much bigger she screeched at me "And you aren't Dan Gray. You have a blog, you get the special." That's how things roll and why once you get burned by one of those paid off bloggers you don't give them any credibility. |
Dan Gray isn't qualified to comment on food anyway, he just started a blog on eating in Seoul when nobody else did. |
Reminds me of the ol tune "Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling." Back when I used to frequent food blogs I thought he occasionally had some decent write-ups but was generally way too positive. Seems like he's now focused on promoting his cooking school or whatever. A blog with straight, no-BS reviews is sorely needed. |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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i find blogs like seoul eats along with things like the seoul podcast and that semi-permanent video blog series that seems to be getting a lot of play to be very boring. just nothing there except "hey look at me I'm at..." save it for your families when you get back
problem with the social media age, any idiot can put something out there for people to see and they think they are great |
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toby99
Joined: 28 Aug 2009
Location: Dong-Incheon-by-the-sea, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
i find blogs like seoul eats along with things like the seoul podcast and that semi-permanent video blog series that seems to be getting a lot of play to be very boring. just nothing there except "hey look at me I'm at..." save it for your families when you get back
problem with the social media age, any idiot can put something out there for people to see and they think they are great |
I like the podcast when there is a good guest, and some of the episodes discussing mysterious expat deaths and issues facing the expat community (like random attacks of violence against expats) are interesting. On a different note, I also enjoyed some of the stuff Scott Burgeson was putting out back in the day but I think he has since bolted from Korea (not sure if the bloggers ran him out or what, as he was known for his "zines").
As to the ATEK controversy mentioned earlier, I guess I never really paid much attention to ATEK but I remember ppl getting pretty wound up over its existence and some of its actions. Whatever happened with that outfit? Disbanded? And what was so controversial about it? |
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alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
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| Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| And what was so controversial about it? |
They claimed to speak for all teachers without actually having that mandate. They were also a bureaucratic nightmare.
The blew up in spectacular fashion. A lot of people didn't like the latest president. Someone made a ridiculous trailer for an interview with her, and when that blew up, she suddenly resigned and the interview never saw the light of day. I don't know if they ever elected a new president, but they pretty much died at that point. |
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toby99
Joined: 28 Aug 2009
Location: Dong-Incheon-by-the-sea, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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| alongway wrote: |
| Quote: |
| And what was so controversial about it? |
They claimed to speak for all teachers without actually having that mandate. They were also a bureaucratic nightmare.
The blew up in spectacular fashion. A lot of people didn't like the latest president. Someone made a ridiculous trailer for an interview with her, and when that blew up, she suddenly resigned and the interview never saw the light of day. I don't know if they ever elected a new president, but they pretty much died at that point. |
Did some research. Sounds like in addition to what you've mentioned, much of the leadership was more driven by ego than actually making a difference. |
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