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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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 Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:10 am Post subject: Japanese Tourists Stingy in Shopping |
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Don't forget to mention that the Japanese are a cruel race Korea Times. There is nothing like blatant racism in this country.
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Japanese Tourists Stingy in Shopping
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
In Myeong-dong, a popular shopping district in central Seoul, many shops post signs in Japanese and hire Japanese-speaking clerks to attract tourists from the neighboring country.
So, are these shops enjoying a sales boom?
Joy and grief alternate among the shop owners, as most Japanese shop thriftily.
Japanese travelers seem to be everywhere in downtown Seoul these days, taking advantage of a weaker Korean won that makes goods here cheaper. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, more than 250,000 Japanese visited Korea from Dec. 1 to 21 in 2008, a nearly 50 percent increase from the previous year.
Miho Funada, 25, visited Korea on a three-day trip for shopping with one of her friends. She had already stopped off at shops such as Missha and Etude House, both local cosmetic brands, and bought Korean beauty products worth 140,000 won ($100), and was headed to the Face Shop, also a cosmetic brand. A friend held a guidebook of the district marked with low-priced makeup shops. ``We came to shop because it's cheap,'' Funada said.
``Korean cosmetics are popular among Japanese women for their low price and high quality. There are similar clothes and shoes in Japan, but these Korean cosmetics are unique.'' Funada said. ``Still, the most important thing is being cheap.''
These Korean cosmetic brands have several shops in the district, including three Missha stores and four Etude Houses. Other brands such as It's Skin, Skin Food and Innisfree have two stores each.
``At stores in Myeong-dong, about 40-50 percent of customers are Japanese. They mostly buy cosmetic items priced at 10,000 won,'' said Kim Chang-soo, an employee at Etude House.
``Forever 21,'' a popular fast-fashion brand, opened its first Korean store in Myeong-dong last October. Clothes there range from 3,500 won to 69,800 won in price and accessories cost 2,000-40,000 won. In November, Japanese visitors started coming to the low-priced store in crowds.
``Most of our customers are Japanese, especially in the morning,'' Betty, the assistant manager of the shop, said, crediting her shop's low prices and ``freshness'' with its popularity. ``We sell the latest fashion items at affordable prices, so it's easy for people to open their purses. The brand does not have branches in Japan and Japanese buyers think it's new and fresh,'' she added.
``Japanese are fastidious in buying clothes. They look around and try on a lot of items but buy only one or two cheap ones. Customers from Singapore and Hong Kong tend to buy much more,'' said Park So-young, who works at an outlet near Ewha Womans University.
Grocery stores in Myeong-dong and Namdaemun Market have set up Japanese signs as well. At Dream Mart, a grocery store in central Seoul, pomegranate and omija teas, which cost around 4,000 won each, are the most popular product among Japanese shoppers.
The owner, Moon Kwang-youl, hired two Japanese-speaking salespeople to cater to them. ``On weekends, hundreds of Japanese visit the store daily and buy foodstuff. Some buy Korean tea in bulk as gifts and we send them directly to Japan,'' Moon said.
Glasses are another popular item. ``Cheap eyeglasses frames with price tags of around 30,000 won are the most popular,'' said Kang, an optician of Gana Eyewear.
Accommodation services have also prospered since last October. Kim Dong-joo, a manager of the Seoul Royal Hotel in Myeong-dong, said Japanese account for 70 percent of the guests and stay for 2.9 days on average. ``The numbers of Japanese visitors to our hotel increased about 20 percent compared to last year,'' Kim said. ``However, they are frugal and do not dine at hotel restaurants or use room service, so we don't have much extra revenue other than lodging charges.''
According to Kim, the rush and consequent economic effect of Japanese tourists is limited only to the Gangbuk district, or north of the Han River. ``Japanese people shop, eat and stay mostly in Gangbuk. Only a few of them visit luxury shops in Apgujeong-dong in southern Seoul,'' he noted.
Park Kyong-soon, a third generation Korean-Japanese who visits Korea two or three times per year, did not buy much during this visit. ``Many of my friends have been coming here more recently due to the proximity and the yen, but Japan is also in an economic slump and they don't buy luxury brands,'' she said.
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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/01/117_37773.html |
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i4NI
Joined: 17 May 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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You call that blatant racism?
You're trying to hard, find a new hobby sir. |
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Knucklehead
Joined: 06 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Well if it's not blatant racism, it's none too subtle either.
Stingy is a strong word, with a bad connotation.
Japanese Tourists Shopping for Bargains. Doesn't have the same vitriol does it?
Er, so the Japanese, like most people, don't want to overpay for brand-name things. That sshit is expensive here.
They are coming here on shopping trips. Of course they are gonna look for bargains and hunt out the best prices. The shop owners should be happy with the extra business but, no, they complain. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:09 am Post subject: |
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since I am outside of Korea vacationing, I can tell you that EVERYTHING in Korea costs TWICE what it costs "here".
I am even thinking of buying a room fan, which will cost me under 20 dollars here, which costs 40,000 won in Korea. (yeah and shoving it in my suitcase! haha)
the biggest MISCONCEPTION people have is about the cost of living in Korea. It is the SAME relatively as living in North America (some things costs less, some much more, aka beef, fruit,)
the ONLY reason one can save any money here is because room and board is paid for..
and of course, there is the matter of the AIRLINES.
are these Japanese paying quasi "Korean" prices for their shopping flights? because IF they are - that annihilates ANY savings one might get in the first place. |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:25 am Post subject: |
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| Knucklehead wrote: |
| Japanese Tourists Shopping for Bargains. Doesn't have the same vitriol does it? |
Why not describe it the way it actually is though? Because it's not eye-catching or sexy enough? Then you're just as guilt of the sensationalism found in a lot of journalism, yet you're also a hypocrite for complaining about it.
Japanese like bargains = "blatant racism"? Only in the racist OP's mind.  |
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Knucklehead
Joined: 06 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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| madoka wrote: |
| Knucklehead wrote: |
| Japanese Tourists Shopping for Bargains. Doesn't have the same vitriol does it? |
Why not describe it the way it actually is though? Because it's not eye-catching or sexy enough? Then you're just as guilt of the sensationalism found in a lot of journalism, yet you're also a hypocrite for complaining about it.
Japanese like bargains = "blatant racism"? Only in the racist OP's mind. |
Er, don't know what you're really on about...
The Korean Times is being racist. By using the word 'stingy', it paints a whole people in a negative light simply because they are looking for bargains.
Who doesn't like bargains. I like bargains. I know plenty of Koreans like bargains.
I didn't think my title was that sensationalist; I was being sarcastic anyway. But that's beside the point, the whole article is rubbish and should never have been written. It talks negatively about the Japanese and makes Koreans look resentful and unappreciative. I'm sure many Korean business people are quite happy to have them over here.
Oh, and I dont think Japanese shopping habits will ever be 'eye catching' or 'sexy', unless of course you're talking about the girls doing the shopping. |
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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| bogey666 wrote: |
since I am outside of Korea vacationing, I can tell you that EVERYTHING in Korea costs TWICE what it costs "here".
I am even thinking of buying a room fan, which will cost me under 20 dollars here, which costs 40,000 won in Korea. (yeah and shoving it in my suitcase! haha)
the biggest MISCONCEPTION people have is about the cost of living in Korea. It is the SAME relatively as living in North America (some things costs less, some much more, aka beef, fruit,)
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Where are you that a fan is so cheap?
I'm in Canada right now... groceries really are the SAME price here as in Korea. If not more.
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| the ONLY reason one can save any money here is because room and board is paid for.. |
Plus lower taxes and cheaper transportation.
I don't know if I'll ever go back to Canada permanently. The only attractive thing about living here is being able to go get a job without having to do a ton of immigration paperwork.  |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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"Stingy" is not an objective word, and the quotes from the shop owners are pretty subjective too. How about some data?
Korea whining. |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Knucklehead wrote: |
The Korean Times is being racist. By using the word 'stingy', it paints a whole people in a negative light simply because they are looking for bargains.
...
I didn't think my title was that sensationalist; I was being sarcastic anyway. But that's beside the point, the whole article is rubbish and should never have been written. It talks negatively about the Japanese and makes Koreans look resentful and unappreciative. I'm sure many Korean business people are quite happy to have them over here. |
Now ... someone that totally understands the reason for the post. The terms and subjective reporting that have been provided in this piece of journalism is both derogatory and illustrates that this little nation likes to complain about those who are not "pure-blood".
Once again a poor use of writing and journalism has now put the paper's reputation down again. The first case for me was the article that was plagiarised by that Seoul National University student. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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This has been gone over before, I know, but "Korean" is not a "race" so therefore I don't think the article is racist.
A moronic article that sheds light on the mindset of many here on the peninsula? I'd vote yes (such as jealousy over the fact that many Japanese have the beans to travel over here and scoop up Korean stuff). |
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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My Headline:
Koreans Stingy when paying Foreign Workers |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
But that's beside the point, the whole article is rubbish and should never have been written. It talks negatively about the Japanese and makes Koreans look resentful and unappreciative. I'm sure many Korean business people are quite happy to have them over here.
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They should be GRATEFUL that Japanese tourists are coming to Korea and buying ANYTHING. Their purchases are probably keeping many of the businesses, not to mention the airlines, in the black.  |
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princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| bogey666 wrote: |
since I am outside of Korea vacationing, I can tell you that EVERYTHING in Korea costs TWICE what it costs "here".
I am even thinking of buying a room fan, which will cost me under 20 dollars here, which costs 40,000 won in Korea. (yeah and shoving it in my suitcase! haha)
the biggest MISCONCEPTION people have is about the cost of living in Korea. It is the SAME relatively as living in North America (some things costs less, some much more, aka beef, fruit,)
the ONLY reason one can save any money here is because room and board is paid for..
and of course, there is the matter of the AIRLINES.
are these Japanese paying quasi "Korean" prices for their shopping flights? because IF they are - that annihilates ANY savings one might get in the first place. |
You are EXACTLY right!!! I have seen many, many things outside of Korea that are way less here. In 2007, I told a Korean coworker who had lived in Australia how expensive Lush is here, and she couldn't believe how much I paid for one of their products. She asked "but isn't Lush cheap"? I said maybe in Australia it is, but not here in Korea. She told me the same thing I bought here at Lush was cheaper in Australia. Hong Kong is THE place for shopping. I was there in the summer of 2007, and I bought an Anna Sui t-shirt for $50. I came back to Korea and told a Korean coworker, and she started saying that maybe it was fake. I said no, it wasn't because I bought it in an actual Anna Sui shop in Hong Kong. I told her stuff is just cheaper there. Also, the airline tickets here are a freaking joke. You can pay more to fly from Incheon to Singapore, than you would pay to fly from LA to Paris. Ridiculous. I have never been able to save lots of money in Korea because I have a life. The people I have met who do save big bucks are the singletons who sit around, or they are married with both people working.
Plus, stuff in Korea is not very high quality...that goes for expensive AND cheap things. I have bought expensive and cheap clothing here that starts to show its poor quality after only a few wears or after a few months. I can't believe I am saying this, but you can actually find some things at Wal-Mart that are better quality than some things here in Korea. I had a pair of $10 shoes from Wal-Mart that lasted for over two years before they started getting a hole in them. I even climbed the Great Wall in them. I bought a pair of famous desogner Korean shoes here for about 250,000 won and after about 3 months, with every step I took, they went "squeak, squeak". It sounded like a mouse was in my shoes.
And can you really expect rent included as part of your salary forever? It is not FREE like some people think either. |
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princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| GoldMember wrote: |
My Headline:
Koreans Stingy when paying Foreign Workers |
That's a good one. I can't wait until the day when I actually don't have to worry from month to month if I will be paid, or ask where my pay is. Even in the US, you may get paid late once or twice on the job, but you will be paid. You don't have to worry "what if I don't get paid this month"? You don't have to worry about being paid 2 or 3 months late like some poor souls here. |
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Xuanzang
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Japanese tourists spend big money at Lotte duty free and the big department stores. It doesnt help that some Myeongdong shops and restaurants often have a Japanese price because they think all Japanese have money. |
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