Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

[Swiss James]

[tomwaits]

I do'nt get the complaining. Add this to the "cheapest waygook" thread.

A cab costs only pennies more than a copy of the Herald-Tribune, Where else is that true. And tipping is not expected.

If fares TRIPLED I could see moaning---but even then they would only be in line with other countries.

God almighty what do people expect? I guess they wire cash home and look at things from the perspective of someone earning 700 thou a month.

STAY HOME if you are going to be like this. Have a bit of dignity...

[JongnoGuru]

The cost, annoyance and confusion factors alone (and there are other factors as well) dictate against raising cab fares every year. So when they do go up, it is inevitably by a largish percentage. Annualised, it's not out of line with most other goods & services. For people who've been driving their own cars and paying for petrol the past 3~4 years, this increase of 20% looks (and is) minimal. From the narrower perspective of someone who relies on taxis for regular transport, then yeah, it's a bigger bite out of their budgets. But it's by no means unreasonable, illogical or unfair.

[JacktheCat]

Yes, it is simple economics.

In three years ...

Taxi fares have gone up 20%

Teacher salaries have gone up 0%

[JongnoGuru]

In that case, then it's not just taxi fares that teachers' salaries haven't kept up with.

[paperbag princess]

dudes, i'm far from being a cheapo. the argument, "in other places you would be paying more" doesn't hold any water, this isn't other places. this is seoul. when are people going to stop saying that. i live in seoul because it has a low cost of living so i can pay off my student loans and travel. otherwise, i'd be in japan.

anyway, in the grand scheme of things i don't care about a raise in prices, fine that's inflation, that's how the world works. when gas prices go up, the price of everything goes up.

[JongnoGuru]

[coolsage]

Taxi rates are still a bargain compared to Western countries. (Frankly, I don't know how the drivers make a decent living given the cost of fuel here.) That being said, clearly inflation has outpaced the minimal raises that most of us receive upon contract renewal. If it weren't for the free housing and low tax rate, Korea would not be a cheap place in which to live. On the other hand, the Won has moved from about 1300 to the US$ a year ago to (as of today) 1012. So if you're sending money offshore, you're better off than you were a year ago.

[Homer]

[SuperHero]

[Homer]

Similar deal for me superhero...

[Real Reality]

More for Korean Fast Food
Nongshim, Korea's leading instant noodle company, announced Thursday that it will raise the price of its noodle products by 8 percent from Friday. The price hike on what is often dubbed Korea's favorite fast food is likely to prompt other noodle manufacturers to follow suit. The decision to revise up the retail price comes a year after the company raised them by an average of 6.5 percent last December.
by Kim Sung-yoon, Chosun Ilbo (December 23, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200412/200412230028.html

Households brace for higher living costs
By Yoo Soh-jung, Korea Herald (December 6, 2004)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/12/06/200412060033.asp

OTC Drug Prices to Rise 10%
The prices of about 20 over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, including Tylenol, will be raised by around 10 percent, according to pharmaceutical firms.
By Lee Jin-woo, Korea Times (March 21, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200503/kt2005032116121410220.htm

Medical Costs for Elderly Show Tenfold Rise
Medical expenses for senior citizens increased by nearly 10 times from 10 years ago.
By Bae Keun-min, Korea Times (March 21, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200503/kt2005032115515010230.htm

Subway Fares Rise 61% in 5 Years
Tuition for private universities and vocational colleges shot up 30.1 percent and 32.8 percent, respectively, according to the NSO.

Cram schools for college entrance exams raised fees by 27.2 percent. Tuition fees for piano rose 15.5 percent and art lessons by 20.7 percent while supplementary education institutions for middle school students increased charges by 13.1 percent. Other items that showed large increases in charges include telephone services, medicine and medical consultation costs. Charges for basic home telephone services rose 48 percent, with public telephones shooting up by 40 percent and inter-city charges 7.5 percent.

The prices of digestive aids jumped 28.3 percent, with cold medicines and tonic drinks ascending 14.4 percent and 17.4 percent, respectively. Medical consultation and diagnosis fees rose 16.1 percent with medication costs rising 26.8 percent.

Flour surged 44.3 percent, contributing to a 30.6 percent price rise for instant noodles and a 24.7 percent jump for other noodles. Delivered milk rose 30.2 percent and tofu increased 13.2 percent.

Costs for dining-out also soared in the double digits...
By Bae Keun-min, Korea Times (February 10, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200502/kt2005021016101210220.htm

House prices go up despite regulations
by Park Won-gap and Park Sung-ha
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200504/12/200504122242279639900090509052.html

Strict league regulations dictate the terms under which foreign athletes can play,...There is a salary cap of $280,000 that must be divided between the two players. Their Korean counterparts can earn considerably more; Mr. McHone says that star players make between $350,000 and $400,000. "We do the work," Mr. Lang says wryly, "but we're at the bottom of the totem pole." But it's impossible to ignore the foreign presence on the court, especially on the scoreboard. Mr. Won, the Thunders' translator, says he believes the two Americans take 60 to 80 percent of the playing load during any given game.

But foreign players show little emotional investment in their teams. Their contracts are rarely renewed for a second season, and the coaches consider constant turnover good for the team. Each team is allowed two changes in their foreign roster per year, meaning both players could potentially be replaced mid-season. Teams frequently exercise that option in pursuit of better players.
by Chanel White and Kim Sun-jung, JoongAng Daily (February 14, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200502/13/200502132231128609900092309231.html

E-1 Status (Professors)
A. The Object of Visa Issuance
This category applies to foreigners who,...
* In the case of a national or a public University, a foreigner is not permitted to be a full-time professor.
[Republic of Korea] Ministry of Justice, Immigration Bureau
http://www.moj.go.kr/HP/ENG/eng_03/eng_306030.jsp

Foreign scholars merit equal status
The foreign professor -- colleague or hired hand?
Foreign professors must submit to yearly contracts (compensated at a rate only 60 percent of their Korean peers).... According to the Samsung Group's chairman, Lee Kun-hee, to succeed globally, Korea must forgo the thought that Korea and being Korean is superior, and foreign specialists must be treated with respect.
by John B. Kotch, JoongAng Daily (June 14, 2002)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200206/14/200206142349223599900090109011.html

South Korea
Salary for Professor: US$5,511 per month
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/salaries/2000/popups/content/21prof.html

[jajdude]

Oh well will have to drink a few beer less per month to make up the difference

[Maugrim]

I'd just like to say that:

1) Buying a scooter is a bad idea.
2) There is no such thing as "simple economics".
3) Cheap is endemic to Korea.

and

4) I'll be damned if I'm going to drink less beer.