Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KOREAN_MAN]

[howie2424]

here's a source, and a Korean one at that. This comes straight from the guys who are bringing the beef in.

[Matman]

[Jake_Kim]

[Scotticus]

What the OP fails to note is that, whoever they're angry at (LMB or America), it's still "Migook-so" that's on the signs at McDonalds and other establishments saying that they don't use American beef.

I completely agree that if LMB signed some supposed agreement to import rotten, diseased, maggot-ridden US beef (which is basically what I keep hearing from people), then Koreans have every right to be angry. However there seems to be a bit of contention about what beef is getting in. You can say what you want about LMB, but I highly doubt he's going to sign an agreement that is so blatantly dangerous. Why would he sign a deal to accept beef that no one else in the world would accept?

The fact that multiple sources are refuting this claim makes the case even clearer. Considering all the lies going around from the anti-US beef crowd (A Korean has recently died from BSD, etc), I choose to trust common sense and actual sources in the know, rather than rumors and fear-mongering.

As other people have stated, even IF LMB signed some terrible deal that will allow old diseased beef into Korea, it has NOTHING to do with American beef. It has EVERYTHING to do with Korea. It's not America's job to regulate Korean foodstuffs. We're both capitalist societies, and if Korea is stupid enough to buy meat we deem unsafe, then there WILL be people who will sell it to them.

If, as Jake_Kim so matter-of-factly states, Koreans are angry at LMB and not America, then why do the signs talk about American beef as well as LMB? Why do I see banners (literally, huge banners at public crosswalks) declaring that "they" will refuse to accept "American" beef? Why is the protesting not against "dangerous" beef, but specifically "American" beef? To deny that there's an anti-US tinge to all this is gullible, and shows either a glaring lack of knowledge of Korea's recent history or a powerful lack of insight into the real motivations of all parties involved.

[bassexpander]

The Korean people are being used by other Koreans who are making money, and unfortunately, the Korean people have allowed themselves to be suckered into the argument.

First, you need to ask yourself why Koreans pay 5 to 6 times more for beef than people in other countries like Australia and the USA. The farmers in Korea aren't the ones profiting from that -- THE KOREAN BEEF PRODUCERS ARE! And they have effectively conned the Korean people into believing this is a USA vs. Korea issue in order to protect THEIR profit-rape of the Korean people!


As for Australian beef: The reason why Koreans aren't protesting Australian beef is because Australian beef is priced very, very high in Korea and isn't considered a threat to the huge profits the local Korean beef producers enjoy at the expense of the Korean people. Australian beef prices are very, very low in Australia. The Korean beef producers know Koreans will buy more Korean beef than Australian beef if priced nearly the same, therefore Aussie beef is not considered a threat.

American beef coming in at 1/4 the price of Korean beef IS A THREAT! Especially when Koreans start realizing that it isn't so fatty and tastes better.

The fear of the Korean beef producers is that the Korean people will one day start asking the same questions that nearly every Korean-American asks: Why the hell are the Korean people paying some of the highest beef prices in the world for Korean beef?

They have also suckered the Korean people into thinking that the poor Korean farmers will all lose their livelihood if the American beef is allowed to come in. No -- the Korean beef producers (middlemen) who jack the price up 5x higher than the rest of the world will lose their profits. They'll have to cut back.

My hope is that one day, Koreans will start asking THE RIGHT questions... like who's making the money in Korean beef, and why are they enjoying a profit margin that's unheard-of in the rest of the world -- AT THE EXPENSE OF THE KOREAN PEOPLE?

[blaseblasphemener]

There is a very high likelihood that Korea has had one, possibly several, mad cows. Many asian countries have. Korea has a horrible food regulatory system, even having a whole class of meat unregulated (dog). If a farmer did have a mad cow, what incentive would there be for him to report it? His good conscience? A farmer in korea would be commiting suicide for himself and all family members by reporting it. Koreans don't have a clue when it comes to the 'facts' on this issue.

[GoldMember]

Actually if the Korean Government was so very "willing" to allow the importation of Australian beef they wouldn't be putting a (I think it's 50%) tax on it.

Just like Korea "willingly", now allows foreigners to buy property.
Forced to by the IMF bailout.
Just like Korea "willingly", now allows foreigners to buy major stakes in Korean banks.
Forced to by their financial problems.

Korea doesn't willingly do anything, it's only if they are forced to.

[howie2424]

Jake Kim said

[bassexpander]

When are Koreans going to wake up and realize that other Koreans are the ones raping them out of their paychecks EVERY SINGLE DAY, and that whipping-up the anti-USA beef thing is just the rich using the poor to protect their profit margins?

When are Korean people going to start asking themselves why they're paying 40,000 to 60,000 won just for 2 people to go out and eat Kalbi together, when the same meal in other countries would cost 15,000?

Koreans, will you figure this one out... PLEASE?!!? I'm tired of paying crazy amounts of money for Korean beef, and I'm sure you are, too.

As an American, I can fully understand why Koreans would be proud of their beef. What I don't understand is why they aren't asking for justification as to the prices for that Korean beef, which are 4 to 5 times higher than what others pay in the rest of the world.

And yes, as mentioned above, there is a massive import tax on Australian beef as well. That's why it's not being protested against -- because some rich Koreans are making MONEY off of it. That huge profit is not being made on taxes on USA beef, which is a threat to everyone who is bilking the Korean people out of $$. Korean people -- PLEASE start asking why Korean beef costs so much. It's OK to like your own beef -- what's not OK are the prices you are paying for it.

[Jake_Kim]

bassexpander pointed out middlemen jacking the price up in the case of Korean beef, and I concur with that point. She or he beats me to it, to tell the truth. Korean beef market, too, needs tougher regulation and major reform - that's what I believe anyway - but it will create another new topic, even though 'everything is connected.'

BTW, I came across with this article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2344375420080424
Noteworthy, I think, given that one of the criteria being cited or argued is 'being 30-month or older.'[/url]

[Adventurer]

Frankly, the OP has done his homework a bit. It is unfair to label him as ignorant as he is not. There is more of a risk if you eat certain parts of the cow. However, is the US exporting whole cows to Korea for slaughter? No. As I understand it, the US simply exporting beef. They are not exporting intestines and the like. Anyway, isn't it the job of your media to discuss this objectively and not discuss it in such a sensationalist way. Seriously, the Korean news seems like tabloid news with the talk of someone being able to spread mad cow. You can't spread mad cow. It also tried to make it seem like Koreans are more susceptible to mad cow disease and many Koreans just accepted that which is not an educated response or scientific. There has been a tint of anti-Americanism no matter what he says, because the media is not discussing it objectively at all, and you have heard of people talking about boycotts and the Korean Left is involved, and the Korean Left has done precious little to help foreigners under President Rho and were overly nationalistic. I don't see Americans looking to export inferior beef to Korea.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

Jake Kim:

First of all, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders... it's nice to have someone who can actually explain it to everyone from a Korean perspective. And to tell the truth, you do sound rather well-informed as well.

I'm not sure if Americans are trying to pass off their unusable-in-America crap for a profit... and then using the economical benefits of the FTA to bribe the president into accepting it. On the other hand, nobody knows for sure... though some people sure think they do. Please keep in mind that a lot of the more dangerous beef products ARE being used in America, though not always in meat... they're also used in cheese, pharmaceuticals, etc... you'd be surprised.

Another problem is the huge double-standard between the average Korean's willingness to accept Korean beef versus American beef, despite the fact that even though American beef could be dangerous it seems likely that American beef is still of higher quality and safer than Korean beef. The problem for Koreans is that in this case, American beef providers want to be held to YOUR standards, not theirs.

You admitted your domestic version of the FDA has very little power in executive decisions... which would suggest that accepting poorly-tested American beef when you're already accepting poorly-tested Korean beef, while not exactly ethical, doesn't exactly seem to alter any of the beef standards already in place in your country. The risk is already present, so the main issue here seems to be about the risk now coming from an external source... which would suggest this is a tactic employed by the farmers in an attempt to preserve their livelihoods. Keep in mind that this struggle between the Korean farmers and the Americans has been going on for 10 years now... and while they've used unfair taxes on imports in the past, now they're using mass-hysteria to preserve themselves.

The issue probably should be about demanding higher standards in general... but you would NEVER see anyone protesting Korean beef, because once again, you see the whole 'Korea is perfect and everyone else is out to get us' mentality at work.

When the question of local standards was addressed you seemed to admit that the standards here need improvement and then quickly deflected to American beef. However the fact that American beef standards are quite likely superior to Korean beef standards (please, prove me wrong here) means that it's only fair, business-wise, to accept American beef imports that are of equal or superior quality to Korean beef products.

[movybuf]

I read the entire FTA document last night, just so I would know what is going on here. The document is generally filled with legal-lingo that I don't really understand. However, it clearly stated that the meat that will be exported to Korea has to pass the US Federal Meat Inspection Act. Not knowing what the US Federal Meat Inspection Act says, I read that too. From what I can understand, there is no way the meat coming here can be anything different from the meat that is on the tables of the USA. The cows must all pass the same tests.

I didn't read anything in the FTA document stating anything about "dangerous parts" but in the Meat Inspection Act it says that those parts must be removed and destroyed. If I read those two documents wrong- by all means call me on it - but I am pretty sure I understood it.

[justaguy]

Last time American beef was sold in Korea many butcher shops and restraunt owners were selling American beef labeled "Korean."

Korean beef sales were supposedly high, but the reality was that Korean farmers lost a lot of money because of it.

Many Koreans only want to eat Korean beef. They want to have what they consider to be good quality beef and support local farmers.

Many Koreans expect the relabeling thing to happen again. This is one reason they are upset.