Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bookemdanno]

Which do you think will win out and why on the relentless issue of Koreans buying American beef: their misplaced and inflated sense of national pride or their pocketbooks?

My money's with the wallet given their propensity for being cheap.

(And better quality cuts of beef will be on offer, too)

[Join Me]

The majority of Kimchi consumed in South Korea comes from China (even though 99% of Korean restaurants claim they only serve Kimchi made in Korea.) Koreans will be grilling Mad Cow Burgers by the 4th of July! That is a certainty.

[ryouga013]

Korean pride won't die over that, they will simply change what Korean pride means and make eating US beef a new matter of pride....

[kimchipig]

When I lived in Daegu, I used to by US steaks at Costco. Darned good meat it was, too, and cheaper than I pay for it now in Canada.

It will fly off the shelves when it arrives.

[Ronald]

Korean Pride will win as long as the agreement stands the way it is. According to the deal, the U.S. wants to ship Korea 3rd rate Beef, I haven't actually read the agreement, but this is what Koreans are protesting about. The type beef involved in the deal is more susceptible to "crazy cow" disease and other disease. Most Koreans are adament about this deal being discarded. Even if Beef makes it through, it will have to be guarded in the supermarkets.

Apparently the Beef shipped to Japan is 1st rate under 3 year old cattle, but the beef intended for Korea is over 3 years old, mostly used for food according to a Korean source. Also, Koreans are bitter with Lee Myeong Bak because it is believed that his administration did not read the deal before they signed.

[Gamecock]

Yeah, i doubt we'll see it in the supermarkets, at least for awhile. However, my guess is Korean restaurants will be keen to buy the cheapest beef possible, and most Koreans will ending up eating "infected" American beef without knowing it nearly every time they dine out. Of course it won't matter, because like most everything in Korea...it's all about appearances.

[Gamecock]

[GoldMember]

US Beef is not as cheap as you think. Beef prices in the US are on the up and up, Pork prices have already risen substantially.
The only advantage US beef has, is that it is priced in US dollars, the US dollar has lost nearly half it's value against the Euro, Australian Dollar, and soon the Canadian Dollar.

[bookemdanno]

Ronald rote:

[Gamecock]

I could be wrong, but it is my understanding that the beef "agreement" was made prior to the new President coming into office. He is only ENFORCING action that was suppose to take place many months ago but was stalled by activists. There has been no "going behind the backs" of the Korean people on this.

[nicholas_chiasson]

I've been reading the finer points of various articles-korean, western, FDA export, and it seems pretty clear that various export issues are at steak(great pun).
Since one source mentioned Tripe as one of the foods being exported, and a federal spokesman said "It is great to export cuts of meat that are normally not purchased by the american consumer" I think the meat is indeed, third rate. Not third rate in that it kills people, but third rate in that the cuts for the korean market are not USDA Select Prime Rib, but various hock and shank pieces. In other words, Koreans consume cuts we don't consider worth eating, so it is easier to export it.
-For some reason, Korean cow farmers are upset by the idea that they can no longer overcharge for parts such as cow feet and tongue. The offal market and tallow market will collapse entirely, as I think it should.

[Ronald]

Has ANYONE read the agreement? What about the ages of cattle slaughtered here and in America or Australia?? Maybe we're just spreading progaganda too.

[Ronald]

According to the National Cattleman's Beef Association:

Summary:
"The U.S. and Korean governments concluded negotiations on a U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on April 1, 2007. Passage of the U.S.-South Korea is one of NCBA�s goals as part of its �Trade Access Five Point Plan.�



NCBA has said all along that cattlemen will not support the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) until commercially viable beef trade between our two countries is resumed. Key leaders in Congress have also taken a stance against moving the FTA until trade of all U.S. beef products is resumed.



On April 18, 2008, U.S. and Korean officials announced a trade protocol that will allow the United States to resume exports of beef to South Korea. Initially, the protocol will allow for the shipment of all U.S. beef products (boneless and bone-in beef, as well as variety meats) from animals under 30 months of age.



Upon publication of the Unites States enhanced feed rule, Korea has agreed to expand this protocol to include all U.S. beef products from animals of ALL AGES as directed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines.



Assuming trade resumes as planned, NCBA will ask Congress to consider, support and pass the long-awaited U.S.-South Korea FTA as soon as possible. For U.S. beef trade, the Korean FTA could be could be the biggest and most important bilateral trade agreement in history. South Korea potentially represents a $1 billion market and could grow to be the United States� top beef customer.



Background:

In 2003, the South Korean market was valued at over $815 million, and South Korean was U.S. cattle producers� third largest export market. Like many countries, South Korea closed its market to U.S. beef on December 24, 2003 after discovery of the United States� first case of BSE.



In September 2006, Korea finally agreed to accept U.S. boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age. But this market reopening was never viable for U.S. beef producers because it excluded bone-in beef products, which are popular with Korean consumers.



NCBA has said we will support this FTA with South Korea if the following issues are resolved:
- re-opening of the South Korean market to U.S. beef
- elimination of Korea�s tariffs on U.S. beef
- resolution of important sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues



Additionally, South Korea imposes some of the highest tariffs on beef imports in the world, bound at 40 percent. South Korean beef producers are also the second most highly subsidized group of cattlemen in the world behind those in the European Union, but ahead of cattlemen in Japan.



Key Points:

* Any free trade agreement must assure all tariffs on U.S. beef must be reduced to zero. Right now, along with the partial ban, South Korea imposes some of the highest tariffs on beef imports in the world bound at 40 percent.
* South Korean beef producers are the second most heavily subsidized group of cattle raisers in the world, behind the EU but ahead of Japan.
* Cattle producers expect other outstanding sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues to be resolved in the context of the negotiations as well.
* We expect a U.S.-South Korean FTA to follow the important precedents set in other recent FTAs (example: Chile, CAFTA-DR and others) that will assure legitimate market access for U.S. beef and provide improved mechanisms to deal with SPS issues.
* As part of the protocol announced on April 18, 2008, South Korea remarkably agreed to recognize U.S. processing plans as �equivalent� thereby allowing imports from facilities approved by USDA.
* South Korea is a very lucrative market for U.S. beef which could amount to over $1 billion in value. South Korea could grow to be the United States top export Market for U.S. beef".

More here:
http://www.beefusa.org/goveTradeIssuesOverview.aspx

[wylies99]

Money talks.


BS walks.

[justaguy]

Ajumas will see American beef as cheap but be skeptical about the safety of it.

Korean beef will be seen as wonderful but too expensive.

Remember that inflation is taking off in this country and Ajumas will try to cut costs if they can.

Aussie beef will be the big winner because it's much cheaper than Korean beef and their is no safety concerns about it.

Austrailia wins.