Korean Job Discussion Forums

[legalquestions]

I saw in the Korean paper today that it is now available here for businesses (maybe for individuals in April). But the article said it costs something like 800,000 won (plus value added tax). WTF?

Isn't that about 3-4 times what it costs in north America nowadays? Another example of Korean protectionism?

Anybody know the cost back home? And will one bought there work here?

[ulsanchris]

My guess is that it is because it is foreign and serves a niche market. Especially since it is a niche market with deep pockets. They are not selling them to individuals. Only companies. Which i think is why they can go on sale now without WIPI installed. In the article in the Joonang daily it said they might not let individuals buy them come april. Which sucks. I would also guess the price will come down in april when there is more competition.

I read some where some time back that some people thought the Iphone would go for around a million won in Korea. that's scary if it is true.

[superdave]

korea still has exorbitant taxation on imported goods ... which is the korean way!

so tax may account for part of that cost. it may also come down once the novelty wears off.

the iphone could be expensive though, cause vendors have already worked out that people are prepared to pay through the nose for apple products.

the taxation part annoys me because korea wants to compete in a world market, and be allowed to sell their cars/phones/junk abroad ... but they never allow foreign companies to do the same here.

free trade ... yeah, right!

[red_devil]

My Haptic 2 was 900,000...but they allow you to make monthly payments over 24 months. In the states they'd check your credit, and do all that shit to qualify for payments.

[sojourner1]

Crackberry is a business persons drug of choice, particularly the international executive who deals with Westerners. It is necessary to have the gear to be in with high rollin Crackberry addicts who press the On power button 2 seconds before the wheels of their flight touches the ground and then are already using it while the plane is still going down the runway in excess of 100 MPH. Deplaning takes longer than it should, because all these Crackberry addicts are too busy catching up on messages, calls, and trying to link up with their dealers, customers, shakers, and movers on the ground. They struggle to get their carryons out of the overhead bins when one hand is tied up to hold the addicting electronic cocain up aside their brains while the other hand is going in all directions indecisively wanting to press buttons and get the bag out at the same time. In effect everyone is slowed down while everyone acts like they're in a hurry to deplane which results in decreased efficiency. Stress levels begin to rise and this deplaning on Crackberries task reveals who's a real professional addict and who's just a wannabe who can't control his/her temper leading to high blood pressure and possible heart attack from over stimulation. Like drugs, these Crackberry devices and computers separate us from those all around us, but connect us to simulated realities staged by millions of anonymous users on the other ends of the world. Go E-addicts!

[crabstix]

if i choose not to go down the blackberry road, what other options do I have for devices which are good for email? Ideally I'd like push email fnctionality but if they are not available in korea i would be willing to settle for checking my email manually.

I need a qwerty keyboard and a screen big enough for surfing and emails

[bassexpander]

They aren't allowing free wifi capability on I-phone here, either.

Short answer: Korea can't handle competition from superior products. They must be handicapped in some (or many) ways: Price, reduced functionality, etc.

[swigs]

Yeah, it upsets me that America is put on a double standard with trade agreements. It seems like all other countries have all these protectionisms but if America does one things to favor its own economy the rest of the world calls out murder. unfair, and uncool

[keseki]

[xpat]