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justagirl
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Cheonan/Portland
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 Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 6:44 pm Post subject: speedy but shoddy--a problem in Korea |
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I know a lot of us have been frustrated with the low quality of products in Korea. I'm certainly not thrilled with some of the things I have bought, nor with the cracks in the wall of my apartment that is less than 2 years old. What I didn't know, is that Koreans actually have a phrase to describe the "speedy, but shoddy" mentality. I just thought I'd share this with you, as I thought it was interesting to hear a Korean write to other Koreans about the problem.
Here's an exerpt from a column in the Korea Herald written by Choi Jin-Young, who addresses the problem.
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There is a very apt Korean word, "jol-sok", which means speedy byt shoddy. This refers to things done with an eye only for speed or quantity, and there is evidence of jol-sok everywhere in our lives, from teh new pavement that needs repair within a few months to the minds of students who have only crammed for examinations all their lives iwthout really learning anything.
Instant gratification seems to be the norm in every area of life. Drop a coin in a slot and you get a ready-made cup of coffee. Flip a switch and you get an on-going entertainment. Pour a cup of hot water and you have an instant meal.
These are modern conveniences I myself take advantage of, but what bothers me is the mentality that is nurtured and inured by them.
....jol-sok always leaves after-effects in its wake. They are, in most cases, negative, seen in apartment walls cracking in less than a year of completion, empty minds after an examination, policies of serious consequences making U-turns in the middle, and people behaving shamefully in glittering new buildings.
Human minds seem to lag behind material progression, I am afraid, and in our case, the head-long dash toward modernization to catch up with advanced countries has left much undesireable residue.
Manufacturing of goods may be speeded up by means of mechanization, but real learning takes time and effort. I think it is about time we took a break to sit back and think seriously about where we are going, and for what we are rushing at such break-neck speed." |
Last edited by justagirl on Wed Oct 29, 2003 6:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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Professional translators have a saying:
"Quick, Cheap, or Accurate -- pick two" |
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Dan
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Sunny Glendale, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Right! Because every other country started out with reallllly slow and well made products since the beginning of time! |
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denz
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: soapland. alternatively - the school of rock!
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Dan wrote: |
| Right! Because every other country started out with reallllly slow and well made products since the beginning of time! |
actually, wasnt japan pretty awesome from the giddy-up? |
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Circus Monkey
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: In my coconut tree
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Dan wrote: |
| Right! Because every other country started out with reallllly slow and well made products since the beginning of time! |
Well, at least some countries are able to learn from their mistakes? No one denies the fact that the West turns out crappy stuff too. It's just that people over there don't put up with it.
"There never seems to be enough time to do the job right but always enough time to do it twice." |
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komtengi
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| can someone put this into Korean for me..... I cant find that term in Korean anywhere |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| komtengi wrote: |
| can someone put this into Korean for me..... I cant find that term in Korean anywhere |
���� ����
�������� rough-and-ready; knocked-up; hasty
�������� �����ϴ� prefer speed to elaboration
���� a rough-and-ready method [rule] |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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Dan wrote:
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| Right! Because every other country started out with reallllly slow and well made products since the beginning of time! |
Denz asked:
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| actually, wasnt japan pretty awesome from the giddy-up? |
I remember when "Made in Japan" was synonomous with "cheap junk". It was little geegaws and badly made toys that you would cut yourself on before they broke. The Honda civic was a little roller-skate of a car that shocked everyone with its popularity. It was the cheapest car on the market. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| komtengi wrote: |
| can someone put this into Korean for me..... I cant find that term in Korean anywhere |
Er...this computer won't let me do it. But it's romanized correctly in the article.
J-O-L/R-S-O-K
Wish I could type it... -_- |
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Squid
Joined: 25 Jul 2003
Location: Sunny Anyang
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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I'm old enough to remember "Japcrap" as a synonym for anything imported from them many moons ago, including goods from the present-day denizen of hi-fi production Sony electronics.
Now Samsung's star is ascending, and if they survive they're recent hitch up with Sony(??), maybe they'll enjoy the next turnaround in repute.
Shoddy, yes, especially in building and construction... and mediocre all round, yes again, look at design here- looks like a four year old did it.
Welcome to an asian manufacturing economy... quick, cheap and unsatisfactory. |
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matthewwoodford
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Location: Location, location, location.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 11:25 am Post subject: |
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'Japcrap'? I even remember my parents still using the phrase 'jerry built' dating from the time - must be 100 years ago - when made in Germany meant shoddy quality.
Matt |
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Dan
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Sunny Glendale, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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| wow, someone agreed with me about something. i do believe this is a first. |
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