Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Farm protest paralyzes the city
Angered at government action to allow more rice imports into Korea, farmers blocked five major bridges over the Han River in Seoul yesterday, causing havoc on the roads. As police worked to free an immense traffic jam across the city, they smashed the windows of the farmers' vehicles. More than 300 arrests were made.

The protest later spilled over into the offices of two U.S.-based multinational grain dealers, Purina and Cargill. Police said about 20 farmers broke into the companies' branches in Seoul and staged noisy protests. The authorities said by blockading bridges over the Han River, 1,000 farmers in 50 trucks were able essentially to paralyze a broad swath of the capital for more than an hour.
by Lim Mi-jin and Lee Min-a, JoongAng Daily (December 21, 2004)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200412/20/200412202329324239900090409041.html

Is this good news for the Hub?
Are the people of Purina and Cargill highly motivated to work in the Hub?
The Hub of Asia? The Hub of Northeast Asia?

[just because]

Seriously,

I feel sory for the rice farmers as they will lose their livelihoods but for the country as a whole, it will be so much better if they move foward and get free-trade cracking.

Korea really is missing the boat.

I think the only free trade partner is Chile. It really is hurting them economically and it will only be worse n the future if the government doesn't get its finger out of its rear.

Make for good photos all these protests though.

[funplanet]

as long as Koreans are willing to pay 4x the world price for rice and the rice farmers still refuse to join the 21st century by increasing efficiency and yield....Korea will continue to miss the boat..

it seems as if the Kgovernment has never heard of, or understands, the economic theory of "comparative advantage."

trying to produce champagne in Cheolla province would be a waste of capital and labor because they cannot compete with the French, who do it better and more efficiently...same goes with rice.....leave it to the other countries who can produce more, and at cheaper prices, than Korea (which benefits the Korean consumer) and let Korea produce plasma screen tv panels...better use of resources, capital, and labor

Koreans are so stuck on preserving outdated ways that it always comes back to bite them in the arse...

[Daechidong Waygookin]

[dogbert]

Some of them might be able to be retrained as assembly line workers, though.

[weatherman]

[rapier]

They only know one way, they only think one way.
"Such a versatile nation, they really know how to compete when there is a level playing field. So innovative and open minded to new ways, Korea is truly an advanced country".

[animalbirdfish]

[ulsanchris]

Farming methods here are old and out of date. there aren't as many tractors as there should be. Unfortunately all the best farmland where the farmers would be the most productive has been paved over. forcing them into less productive areas and with out the space needed to use larger farming equipment.
considering the price of rice and how poor most farmers are, I really wonder where all the subsidy money is going.

[hellofaniceguy]

If these farmers are complaining about not making money...who the hell told you to be a farmer then?!?! Who is forcing you to continue to farm?
Get out of farming...get a life...learn a new trade and move on! Stop your whinning like a ajuma!
Obviously you don't know how to farm! Cause you are not making it!!

[Real Reality]

Man Cannot Live on Slogans Alone
EU Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK) President Frans Hampsink had some harsh words for Korea the other day. He said the country has no long-term development plan worthy of the name, and its Northeast Asia Hub project is an "ad-hoc initiative." He warned that in the long term we will become nothing but a "logistic niche" between our giant neighbors.... He is right. The same has been pointed out since free economic zones were first proposed. The reason we only set up a limited number of free economic zones was that we were not confident of absorbing the impact from opening the entire country.
Chosun Ilbo (April 7, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200504/200504070040.html

EU Businesses in Korea Blast Seoul's Economic Policy
He [Frans Hampsink] complained that over the last seven or eight years, the EUCCK had given plenty of advice to the Korean government as to how to attract foreign investment, but the problems were not being corrected. "The EUCCK feels that Korea's regulatory framework is still much mired in red tape and lack of coordination between the various administrations." A promised "one-stop service" was nothing but talk, and because authorities are often replaced, businesses have to make the same explanations over and over again each time a new official comes in, he said. The EUCCK feels Korea is not successful in promoting its image abroad for foreign investors, he said. It receives countless requests from European companies who seek help in solving their trade problems after having unsuccessfully contacted Korean trade promotion offices in Europe, he added.
Chosun Ilbo (April 6, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200504/200504060018.html

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
Overall living conditions, including education, housing, medical care, transportation, immigration, and access to the Internet are pointed to as inconveniences. Not only inconveniences caused by different systems and customs in Korea, but also special discriminating practices,...
"Even though Korea has achieved some degree of globalization in going abroad, it has still a long way to go for globalization in embracing foreigners inward," said foreigners residing in Korea. by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448