Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

5 Million Koreans Live in Poverty
More than 5 million Koreans are living in poverty, with one in every 10 people surviving on an income below minimum living expenses. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Wednesday... The poor include those who earn less than the minimum living costs and those who make less than 1.36 million won per month.
By Bae Keun-min, Korea Times (May 25, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200505/kt2005052519085811910.htm

Rich Earn 18 Times More than Poor
The top 10 percent of the income bracket earned a monthly average of 7.76 million won ($7,760) in the first quarter,... The "haves" spent more for education as monthly educational spending by the top 10 percent of the income bracket came to 598,000 won in the first quarter, while the bottom 10 percent bracket spent only 85,000 won.
By Lee Hyo-sik, Korea Times (May 25, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200505/kt2005052519463110160.htm

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

Meanwhile, in Communist Cuba, EVERYONE lives in poverty (excpept Fidel)

Capitalism is the worst system
except for the rest.
QED

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

The dichotomy of the classes...

dzeisons · Joined: 14 Oct 2004

What are the figures for people living in poverty in the US, RR? i'd guess that this is one area in which koreans are outperforming the us.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Wow, that means if I marry my girlfriend and I get an F-2 visa, I'll be able to work two FT jobs or 3 PT ones and make over 5 million -- for about the same hours the guys put in at Samsung.

She already makes 2.6 after tax anyway, so we'll be in the rich bracket once you combine the salaries.

Pretty cool. We'll be banking 5 million a month, I estimate. Three years of that, and I've got a nice down-payment on a crib back home.

Now I know why many people hate English teachers so much.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

dzeisons · Joined: 14 Oct 2004

Swiss james wrote:

Guri Guy · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island

I am not sure how reliable those sources are. Korea listed at only 4%. China at 10%, Malaysia at only 8%??? The United States at 12%. Methinks that some countries have been fudging their numbers.
Yes, China and Malaysia have less problems with poverty than the United States.
Maybe South Korea is doing something right though. I will check into it. I will google it up...

Hagwon Muppet · Joined: 18 Mar 2003

Guri Guy · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island

Hmmm....I had a thought. Koreans said that 5 million Koreans live in poverty. If there are 48 million people here then that is over 10% of the population that is in poverty. On the other hand, other Koreans say 4%.
So Koreans tell two different statistics. Lies, damn lies and statistics. Razz

shakuhachi · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Sydney

Yes, these are Korea's forgotten people. Most Koreans that foreigners come into contact with tend to be middle class or wealthy. Korean students overseas almost always come from well off families. The people you dont see live in places like this.

Remember that the hot waitress you saw at that restaurant is probably working for less than $3 an hour, and probably comes from a place like those above. It explains why many Korean girls seem to think an English teacher in Korea is a good catch.