|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Epik_Teacher
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 7:45 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| Epik_Teacher wrote: |
As the US economy continues to sink into quicksand and they can't print all those mountains of fiat money, they will have to make changes. Cuts in the military budget will mean Korea will have to pick up the slack. I remember a few years back a Mechanized Infantry Brigade was pulled out. A brigade is around 500 personnel, give or take. Korea asked the USA to delay it because they were having trouble coming up with the more than $5 billion to replace them. Personnel and equipment ARE NOT cheap.
If the USA starts to pull thousands of troops out of Korea, unless some kind of peace agreement is reached with the North. That 6% tax everyone is currently paying will skyrocket. We'll see how the stats look when your taxes at least double................... |
If you are paying 6% tax...you are paying at least double what you SHOULD be paying anyway. |
I'm not sure what the tax rate is these days. But I guess 6% includes retirement, etc... In any event, the super cheap ride Korea has had in the past decades will end. Prices and taxes will skyrocket. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
liveinkorea316
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Jeollanamdowaegukin wrote:
Now I live a great life in Korea for a fraction of the cost.
Heck, I can go to two movies in Korea for the price of one in Canada.
You're forgetting that Canada has twice the GDP per person and a minimum wage that is nearly double that of Korea.
Unfortunate thing about economics, the more money a country has....the more they spend. |
Actually that is only according to nominal GDP. According to Wikipedia "Comparisons of national wealth are also frequently made on the basis of nominal GDP, which does not reflect differences in the cost of living in different countries (See List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita). Using a PPP basis is arguably more useful when comparing generalized differences in living standards on the whole between nations because PPP takes into account the relative cost of living and the inflation rates of the countries, rather than using just exchange rates which may distort the real differences in income."
The comparison in PPP GDP is much closer at Canada $37k to Korea $27k. A little less than 30% better. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| liveinkorea316 wrote: |
| GDP is much closer at Canada $37k to Korea $27k. A little less than 30% better. |
I wonder why exactly this is. Probably because Canadians have a greater individual land ownership? Or just that they process tertairy goods more.
The whole GDP thing is unfair I think because it includes goods and services produced in foreign countries that happen to be under the ownership of Canadian firms. Meanwhile its foreigners who are actually doing all the producing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rainman3277
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| BoholDiver wrote: |
If I were rating my personal situation, I would rate Korea in top 5. In only a few countries could I live the quality of life I do here.
But if I looked at it more objectively, I think Korea would be lucky to make top 20.
Korea is notorious for skewing stats to make themselves look better. 99% literacy? Give me a break. Yes, they go to school for a long time but learn little. Violent crime here is not as bad as many places but seems to be increasing.
Many members of this board are doing quite well economically but many Korean families are struggling to make ends meet with rising gas and food prices. Wages are nearly stagnant and college grads are leeching off their parents since they can't find a job. |
99% literacy is viable. The Korean language is pretty easy to learn to read, and most Koreans I've seen have learned how to read before the age of 4 or 5. Considering the amount of studying Koreans do, yes 99% literacy is very believable. When I see Canada saying they have 99% literacy and people graduate high school barely able to read and write, I wonder about those stats being skewed. |
Where do you come up with this garbage?? Firstly, I've never met a single person in Canada that graduated high school illiterate so where do you get this "
Secondly, about Canada going of the list because of aging population, that was a worry about, oh, 5 years ago. That was when the pension plan was modified and its no longer a worry, and will maintain a surplus after baby boomers retire. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rainman3277
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jeollanamdowaegukin wrote: |
Amazing to see how far Korea has come, eh?
I agree that Korea is definitely in the top 30-40.
Sadly, I agree with Mr. Pink that my homeland, Canada, is going backwards 
My hometown, Vancouver, is still a great place, but you need lots of money to live a good life there now.
Now I live a great life in Korea for a fraction of the cost.
Heck, I can go to two movies in Korea for the price of one in Canada.
So maybe the key point is that for a non-Korean Education Major I can live better here. |
Cost of living in the top 5 countries countries is as high or higher than Canada, so how is that "going backwards". I think the "key point" is an underachiever can live better in Korea than in Canada. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rainman3277
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Enough with the movie price rational. Comparing the cost of going to a movie is ridiculous. Compare coffee prices and you'd think that Korea was the most expensive country in the world to live in. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| rainman3277 wrote: |
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| BoholDiver wrote: |
If I were rating my personal situation, I would rate Korea in top 5. In only a few countries could I live the quality of life I do here.
But if I looked at it more objectively, I think Korea would be lucky to make top 20.
Korea is notorious for skewing stats to make themselves look better. 99% literacy? Give me a break. Yes, they go to school for a long time but learn little. Violent crime here is not as bad as many places but seems to be increasing.
Many members of this board are doing quite well economically but many Korean families are struggling to make ends meet with rising gas and food prices. Wages are nearly stagnant and college grads are leeching off their parents since they can't find a job. |
99% literacy is viable. The Korean language is pretty easy to learn to read, and most Koreans I've seen have learned how to read before the age of 4 or 5. Considering the amount of studying Koreans do, yes 99% literacy is very believable. When I see Canada saying they have 99% literacy and people graduate high school barely able to read and write, I wonder about those stats being skewed. |
Where do you come up with this garbage?? Firstly, I've never met a single person in Canada that graduated high school illiterate so where do you get this "
Secondly, about Canada going of the list because of aging population, that was a worry about, oh, 5 years ago. That was when the pension plan was modified and its no longer a worry, and will maintain a surplus after baby boomers retire. |
http://www.canada.com/business/Half+Canadians+struggling+with+literary+study/1972168/story.html
http://www.financialpost.com/Rethinking+Canada+pension+problem/1894824/story.html
Almost half of all Canadians struggle to read the directions on a pill bottle...and he didn't say they were illiterate he said they struggle to read and write. If one can not even read a pill bottle or other simple material then he is right.
Only 42% of Canadians have a pension plan...and no it was not modified to the point where it was not a worry.
If you want to post... how about checking your facts first? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| janafromfrance wrote: |
Yes, I am in a 'lower rated country' now, France. I guess I should envy those in Korea.
Well, woke up, had some great coffee, bought some great cheese today and am going to an expo at the C.Pompidou. I live near mmarte, so usually no sounds around, going to Nice on Sunday, Hmmmmmm, I guess I miss korea, ha ha ha |
Yep, lower rated for good reason in many ways, but I guess you conveniently overlook that about France while bashing Korea, right? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rainman3277
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| rainman3277 wrote: |
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| BoholDiver wrote: |
If I were rating my personal situation, I would rate Korea in top 5. In only a few countries could I live the quality of life I do here.
But if I looked at it more objectively, I think Korea would be lucky to make top 20.
Korea is notorious for skewing stats to make themselves look better. 99% literacy? Give me a break. Yes, they go to school for a long time but learn little. Violent crime here is not as bad as many places but seems to be increasing.
Many members of this board are doing quite well economically but many Korean families are struggling to make ends meet with rising gas and food prices. Wages are nearly stagnant and college grads are leeching off their parents since they can't find a job. |
99% literacy is viable. The Korean language is pretty easy to learn to read, and most Koreans I've seen have learned how to read before the age of 4 or 5. Considering the amount of studying Koreans do, yes 99% literacy is very believable. When I see Canada saying they have 99% literacy and people graduate high school barely able to read and write, I wonder about those stats being skewed. |
Where do you come up with this garbage?? Firstly, I've never met a single person in Canada that graduated high school illiterate so where do you get this "
Secondly, about Canada going of the list because of aging population, that was a worry about, oh, 5 years ago. That was when the pension plan was modified and its no longer a worry, and will maintain a surplus after baby boomers retire. |
http://www.canada.com/business/Half+Canadians+struggling+with+literary+study/1972168/story.html
http://www.financialpost.com/Rethinking+Canada+pension+problem/1894824/story.html
Almost half of all Canadians struggle to read the directions on a pill bottle...and he didn't say they were illiterate he said they struggle to read and write. If one can not even read a pill bottle or other simple material then he is right.
Only 42% of Canadians have a pension plan...and no it was not modified to the point where it was not a worry.
If you want to post... how about checking your facts first? |
"people graduate high school barely able to read and write" > barely able to read and write is pretty much the definition of illiterate in my dictionary.
Of course people who opt out of pension don't have pension. the article i'm sure you took 2 minutes to research is refering to that, not lack of funding available which will impact quality of life in Canada.
If you are going to post, read the post you are refuting while you 'check your facts'. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
swoodman
Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Location: Reading, United Kingdom
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
I'd much rather be here than in the UK, for a myriad of reasons.
|
They are:
) Unelected conservative government
) One of the lowest social mobility rates in Europe. Growing underclass and deprivation problems leading to rising crime, especially violent crime
) Ugly, depressed and rude inhabitants
) Ugly concrete cities, with a few exceptions
) Crap food
) Crap weather
) Inability to to go out drinking without high chance of being bottled/punched in the face
) Lingering delusions of grandeur about Empire / Importance in Europe / Football team only add to the depressing state of affairs |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
swoodman
Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Location: Reading, United Kingdom
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Oh and the UK costs an absolute shitload |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| rainman3277 wrote: |
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| rainman3277 wrote: |
| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| BoholDiver wrote: |
If I were rating my personal situation, I would rate Korea in top 5. In only a few countries could I live the quality of life I do here.
But if I looked at it more objectively, I think Korea would be lucky to make top 20.
Korea is notorious for skewing stats to make themselves look better. 99% literacy? Give me a break. Yes, they go to school for a long time but learn little. Violent crime here is not as bad as many places but seems to be increasing.
Many members of this board are doing quite well economically but many Korean families are struggling to make ends meet with rising gas and food prices. Wages are nearly stagnant and college grads are leeching off their parents since they can't find a job. |
99% literacy is viable. The Korean language is pretty easy to learn to read, and most Koreans I've seen have learned how to read before the age of 4 or 5. Considering the amount of studying Koreans do, yes 99% literacy is very believable. When I see Canada saying they have 99% literacy and people graduate high school barely able to read and write, I wonder about those stats being skewed. |
Where do you come up with this garbage?? Firstly, I've never met a single person in Canada that graduated high school illiterate so where do you get this "
Secondly, about Canada going of the list because of aging population, that was a worry about, oh, 5 years ago. That was when the pension plan was modified and its no longer a worry, and will maintain a surplus after baby boomers retire. |
http://www.canada.com/business/Half+Canadians+struggling+with+literary+study/1972168/story.html
http://www.financialpost.com/Rethinking+Canada+pension+problem/1894824/story.html
Almost half of all Canadians struggle to read the directions on a pill bottle...and he didn't say they were illiterate he said they struggle to read and write. If one can not even read a pill bottle or other simple material then he is right.
Only 42% of Canadians have a pension plan...and no it was not modified to the point where it was not a worry.
If you want to post... how about checking your facts first? |
"people graduate high school barely able to read and write" > barely able to read and write is pretty much the definition of illiterate in my dictionary.
Of course people who opt out of pension don't have pension. the article i'm sure you took 2 minutes to research is refering to that, not lack of funding available which will impact quality of life in Canada.
If you are going to post, read the post you are refuting while you 'check your facts'. |
If one's reading and writing comprehension makes it difficult to operate in normal daily life, then yes they are illiterate for all practical intents and purposes. 48% of Canadians struggle to read a bus timetable? That qualifies as illiteracy for all functional purposes.
As for the second article, they didn't choose to opt out of pension. Most never HAD one in the first place. The drop was from 49% to 42% not 49% to zero. And that still left 51% without a pension to begin with.
If you are going to post about articles...read them first. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
End of the day it all comes down to the individual where he thinks is the best place to live!
I know guys who have packed up and moved to the Philipines to retire, to me I'm not big on the 3rd world status.. to him its friggen paradise!
I know guys who love new Zealand and never want to leave and no other place in the world comes close..
to others is a dump and they can't wait to see the back of it...
we can all survive anywhere and everywhere.. just need to make some adjustments to our comfort zones is all.. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LDJS
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Location: Earth
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| swoodman wrote: |
| Quote: |
I'd much rather be here than in the UK, for a myriad of reasons.
|
They are:
) Unelected conservative government
Simply not true.
) One of the lowest social mobility rates in Europe. Growing underclass and deprivation problems leading to rising crime, especially violent crime
Due to lazy, unambitious people's choices mostly.
) Ugly, depressed and rude inhabitants
Same same for half of the world.
) Ugly concrete cities, with a few exceptions
Korea, you mean right?
) Crap food
Nonsense and cliche. Simply just not true if you know where to go.
) Crap weather
TRUE.
) Inability to to go out drinking without high chance of being bottled/punched in the face
Depends where you go, but certainly you have to be careful in a lot of places. that's one thing I like about here - no one going around trying to prove how 'ard they are. I can go to bars and clubsand have a laid back time without all that posturing and strutting and air of menace...
) Lingering delusions of grandeur about Empire / Importance in Europe / Football team only add to the depressing state of affairs
Actually UK is pretty important indeed in the EU and funding an unproportionate ammount of it as a lot of the countries can't compete with us. We'd be better off (financially only) without em. But I'm not complaining as the visa waiver thing is awesome and I don't plan to live long term in the UK either.
Yeah the footy thing is lame, but still, it's just the fun of getting behind and hyping up your team. don't take it too seriously.. lol... |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
0ju
Joined: 30 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have a co-worker who is convinced that Seoul is the best city in the world.
To each their own, I guess. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
