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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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 Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Here's my issue with the argument that eating in Korea is cheap if you eat like a Korean: eating in North America is cheap if you eat like a Korean as well. In fact, eating a Korean diet is more than likely cheaper in North America than it is here. I'm very hard-pressed to think of any foods that are cheaper in Korea than they are in the States or Canada. Now, eating out is, in many cases, cheaper than it is in the States or Canada, but I think that's probably due in large part to extremely low service costs. This makes perfect sense, given the countries' relative size, but it doesn't change the fact that eating here really isn't any cheaper than it is at home regardless of how you spin it. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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We can start talking about why more people in North America are overweight just as soon as we start talking about why more Koreans have colon cancer, digestive tract conditions and ulcers. Let's throw in being frozen cold in 15 degree weather, being unable to be awake more than a few hours at a time and men not being able to lift anything above 50 lbs. All these are generalizations of course, and have as much to do with lifestyle as with diet. But I guess you could say the same about the overweight issue in NA. At least that's a relatively modern problem, and you rarely hear North Americans claiming a steady diet of hamburgers and big gulps is the healthiest food in the world. The simple fact is Koreans haven't yet realized that they're not poor anymore and don't need to depend on pig fat, boiled to death vegetables and other useless foods to survive. I wish Korean food had more fresh veggies and fruits and nice cuts of meat.
Of course the hard answer is that there are good things from both, and one needs to consider moderation. I love some Korean food, don't get me wrong, but saying it's healthier than something else simply because Koreans are generally thin is akin to saying anorexia is better than obesity. |
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uklathemock
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
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| How much is litre of milk here? Now, how much is it back home? |
How much arable land is there here, how much is there back home?
Every time the food question gets brought up the fact that people are comparing a mountainous, densely populated, island nation (for trade purposes) to a continent spanning country that has massive states, double the size of Korea, that are ideal for growing grains, then I just shake my head. |
The Korean government has somehow convinced everyone (Koreans and foreigners alike) that this is the reason for high food prices. By this logic, Singapore or Vatican City should have the most expensive beef, rice, fruit, etc. on Earth.
Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. The U.S. (large and ideal for growing) imports $2 billion a year of Brazilian orange juice, $5 billion a year of feed, $5.4 billion a year of cooking oil, etc. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| uklathemock wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
| Quote: |
| How much is litre of milk here? Now, how much is it back home? |
How much arable land is there here, how much is there back home?
Every time the food question gets brought up the fact that people are comparing a mountainous, densely populated, island nation (for trade purposes) to a continent spanning country that has massive states, double the size of Korea, that are ideal for growing grains, then I just shake my head. |
The Korean government has somehow convinced everyone (Koreans and foreigners alike) that this is the reason for high food prices. By this logic, Singapore or Vatican City should have the most expensive beef, rice, fruit, etc. on Earth.
Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. The U.S. (large and ideal for growing) imports $2 billion a year of Brazilian orange juice, $5 billion a year of feed, $5.4 billion a year of cooking oil, etc. |
It's a little different for what are essentially city-states.
I think its the geographic factors, combined with the standard of living, and add in the fact a desire to promote domestic suppliers and producers through protectionist trade policies. Of course the Koreans could flood the market with cheap imported consumer goods and sell everything through a foreign Wal-Mart. I bet that would do wonders for jobs and the economy... |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:54 am Post subject: Re: Consumer Goods in Korea Most Expensive in the World |
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BTW: Is there a Korean version of this article? I want to prove to my girlfriend that Korean prices are ludicrous (she could handle the English, but the Korean would do a better job of nailing the point home). |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 1:15 am Post subject: Re: Consumer Goods in Korea Most Expensive in the World |
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| northway wrote: |
BTW: Is there a Korean version of this article? I want to prove to my girlfriend that Korean prices are ludicrous (she could handle the English, but the Korean would do a better job of nailing the point home). |
I'm just going to jump in here to point and laugh at you for thinking you'd ever win an argument with a woman, regardless of what language you're arguing in  |
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uklathemock
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 1:49 am Post subject: Re: Consumer Goods in Korea Most Expensive in the World |
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| myenglishisno wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
BTW: Is there a Korean version of this article? I want to prove to my girlfriend that Korean prices are ludicrous (she could handle the English, but the Korean would do a better job of nailing the point home). |
I'm just going to jump in here to point and laugh at you for thinking you'd ever win an argument with a woman, regardless of what language you're arguing in |
LOL. Agree. |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:31 am Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| uklathemock wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
| Quote: |
| How much is litre of milk here? Now, how much is it back home? |
How much arable land is there here, how much is there back home?
Every time the food question gets brought up the fact that people are comparing a mountainous, densely populated, island nation (for trade purposes) to a continent spanning country that has massive states, double the size of Korea, that are ideal for growing grains, then I just shake my head. |
The Korean government has somehow convinced everyone (Koreans and foreigners alike) that this is the reason for high food prices. By this logic, Singapore or Vatican City should have the most expensive beef, rice, fruit, etc. on Earth.
Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. The U.S. (large and ideal for growing) imports $2 billion a year of Brazilian orange juice, $5 billion a year of feed, $5.4 billion a year of cooking oil, etc. |
It's a little different for what are essentially city-states.
I think its the geographic factors, combined with the standard of living, and add in the fact a desire to promote domestic suppliers and producers through protectionist trade policies. Of course the Koreans could flood the market with cheap imported consumer goods and sell everything through a foreign Wal-Mart. I bet that would do wonders for jobs and the economy... |
What makes you think they're not doing that? Pohang steel started out by dumping in the U.S. Those LG and Samsung white goods at Home Depot are selling for such rock bottom prices that many believe they're dumping those. If they weren't our ally, the government would be on them the way they're on China.
And as for made in China goods, for a lot of them, the majority of components are manufactured by Korean companies, who reap the profits.
Korean exports sell on price, price and price. Cheap prices. |
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