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rchristo10
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
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 Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject: The Olympic hell begins... |
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I'm so happy Korea won (simply because they wanted to win). Eventually, who knows, (maybe several years prior to the event) the economy will (hopefully) feel something from the influx of "good" FDI (if there is a thing).
In the meantime, I expect these days to turn quickly into the "artificial care about foreigners and the 'I gotta improve my (insert language) in prep for 2018' age." All this added, of course, to creating the impression that winter sports have been a history-long pastime, a huge surge in the number of Chinese immigrants hoping make it big by studying Korean and foreigners wanting to teach. Of course this will all be countered by overly vigilant immigration tactics to keep terrorism and social dissidence at bay (and the foreigners out).
Plus, with so many weapons pointed at the country and the South's hawkish tactics these days, I can only expect that the North will use the event for political leverage. I just wonder what that leverage will be...
I'm waiting. The bitter countries who wanted to host the event will surely see opportunities for scheming up an Olympic scandal or pushing for International Media hoopla related to safety of hosting next to a "rogue state." Surely, it won't take long for the sharks to bite...or for people to start their conspiracy theories...like me! 
Anyways, congrats to South Korea!~~Yuna Kim will surely replace that statue of King Sejong in Kwanghuamoon.  |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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My main problem with this is that it gives the appearance of redemption to Lee Kun Hee, who was pardoned for his criminal activities on the grounds that his talents were needed to secure the 2018 bid.
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In an attempt to bolster the country�s 2018 Winter Olympic bid, South Korea�s president, Lee Myung-bak, pardoned Lee Kun-hee, former chairman of Samsung, who had been convicted of tax evasion and breach of trust. The move allows Lee to try to regain membership in the International Olympic Committee, and take the lead in Pyeongchang County�s bid. Critics say the pardon confirmed the common view that corporate heavyweights are above the law in Korea. �A criminal convict travelling around the world campaigning for South Korea�s Olympic bid,� says Kim Sang-jo, an economist at Hansung University, �will only hurt our national interest and image.�
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Now, any future white-collar slimeballs in Korea can point to LGH as an example of why it's of paramount importance for the national interest that they be exempt from criminal sanction.
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rchristo10
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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Commercial idea....zoom to Sejong Statue....then blurs to Yuna Kim picture:
Voice-over:
"He made the language....She made the country."
Followed up with the national anthem. |
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david218533
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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Koreadays
Joined: 20 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:18 am Post subject: |
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| �I didn�t even realize there was mountainous terrain in South Korea,� Eliot Spitzer wrote on his blog this morning. |
LOL |
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rchristo10
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 3:41 am Post subject: |
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Honestly, I agree. I too am far from optimistic about Korea hosting the Olympics. I think it's a horrible move so close to the regime change (to a child) in North Korea (which always uses "threat" as its tour de force). Considering that many Olympiad competitors opted out of China's Summer hosting because of dirt in the air, I doubt that a show of "retaliation" that North Korea loves to throw around will lead to anything but many countries refusing to attend. This means, that North Korea will likely use this event as a wild card for getting whatever they want. Did someone say, another "Sunshine Policy?" That seemed to be the box in which dollars and dollars entered the North in preparation for the World Cup (anything-to-shut-them-up policy).
I doubt that Korea would be able to make much from this Olympics--even with half of the venues up and running. Makes you wonder how much they really knew about it to begin with...or should we start probing illegal, irresponsible use of tax payer's dollars? It's also incredibly odd considering the recent North-South political issues and the fact that the Olympics tries to avoiding making itself a political issue. I mean, I don't want to rain on the parade but hosting it in South Korea is at this point difficult to see as not making the event a political move. President Lee is hawkish and the recent military events just sorta makes you wonder what's going on. Is the IOC using this to get more attention on the Winter Olympics, which has suffered from falling attendance and attention internationally over the years?
The irresponsible FDI will filter into the country and slowly make its way either elsewhere or out. I haven't hung out at Olympic park, but I doubt many (or any) of the companies sprouting from the Summer Olympics remain.
Although I do await the "8" movement. In Chinese it means Fa, pronounced Ba in Cantonese, which is same pronunciation of ba for 8 and "shoot; accrue like mad--money/ develop). I know that the Chinese character for 8 is 발 (发）in Korea which is pronounced differently and means "shoot" instead of "accrue money" as in 发钱 but surely 8 must have some lucky meanings to it....hmm...
I'm just happy that Korea won cuz that's what they wanted to do. I never said that I think it's a good move. Besides, the economic problems that would be caused by countries bailing out in light of a North Korean threat could lead to such economic problems (in a currently already sluggish economy) could make re-unification reasonable--at least from an economic perspective. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:07 am Post subject: Re: The Olympic hell begins... |
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| rchristo10 wrote: |
| I expect these days to turn quickly into the "artificial care about foreigners and the 'I gotta improve my (insert language) in prep for 2018' age." All this added, of course, to creating the impression that winter sports have been a history-long pastime, a huge surge in the number of Chinese immigrants hoping make it big by studying Korean and foreigners wanting to teach. Of course this will all be countered by overly vigilant immigration tactics to keep terrorism and social dissidence at bay (and the foreigners out). |
A good basic summation, but you might be overestimating the effect of these games. I don't think they're at the same level as e.g. the world cup or the summer olympics.
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| I'm so happy Korea won (simply because they wanted to win). |
Actually I'm getting a little tired of Korea winning everything. I think they're even starting to take it for granted now.
You have to hand it to them though, they have their house in order. I mean they have the facilities, the money, the lack of crime...to host the event properly.
I suspect the crazy red nationalism might start to be toned down from now on. Surely they get bored of the whole "korea fighting" thing at some point? |
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Koreadays
Joined: 20 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:22 am Post subject: |
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when lee myung bak gave lee guen hee (samsung owner) a presidential pardon he said." we need his assistance for the bid for the winter Olympic bid,
basically mean't. "YO LEE, you had better grease those palms of the IOC really well, cuz we need some of your BIG CHEESE!
I got you out of jail, so you better reach deep into your pockets.
still, I'm sure Samsung will be advertising all over this show too.. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| There has been a rather remarkable turn around from the good old days after Korea was chosen to co-host the World Cup. In those days, the posts here were full of bashing about how they would make a total mess of everything an | | |
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