Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kalbi]

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200605/kt2006051017553111870.htm


Here is the text of the article:


Calrose Rice Fails to Impress Koreans
Consumers Not Buying, Big Marts Keeping It Off Shelf, Schools Staying Away


By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Calrose rice, imported from California since March, has failed to penetrate South Korean distribution channels. No large discount chain, such as E-Mart and Home Plus, sells the U.S. rice.

Few restaurants offer the U.S. rice despite lower prices compared to Korean products. Furthermore, under import agreements, excluding U.S. soldiers here, it is not allowed to be used to feed students or soldiers.

The Korean government is also not allowed to use the U.S. rice for aid to North Korea.

Policymakers, citing compulsory import quotas under the 1994 Uruguay Round, have cast deep anxiety over the situation in which distributors and consumers are shunning the imported rice.

``We are embarrassed by the situation,�� an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said. ``But we have to sell it by any means.��

He said, ``It seems that large discount chains avoid bidding for the U.S. rice for fear of possible boycott among consumers and farmers. We cannot send it to schools or military corps as the Calrose is sales-only.��

The official said there has been no reaction from the United States about the poor sales in Korea. But he added the rice exporter is likely to research the quality of Calrose rice and take countermeasures soon.

Some say farmers� strong opposition to opening the rice market proved to be an ungrounded fear. But a majority of netizens argue the poor sales are attributable to imports of ``polished�� rice.

Netizens say there is no doubt U.S. rice is tasteless as it spends too much time in shipping. They say the situation is a trick to appease Korean farmers and to set a cornerstone to open the market gradually.

``The U.S. provides U.S. soldiers in Korea with rice by flight,�� according to one netizen identifying himself as a former KATUSA with the Naver.com ID of chs1260. ``Its taste is as much as Korean rice.��

Many netizens echoed the view, saying the U.S. will export the rice by flight or polish the rice here in the future.

[Wangja]

[mack the knife]

The best part is where Koreans "don't like the smell."

This, from people who eat gimchi thrice daily.

Give me strength. People who "buy local" are naive idiots the world over.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Wait a few months. Then there will be a story about how restaurants are buying cheaper foreign rice and selling it as Korean rice at higher prices...just like they do with pork and beef.

[mishlert]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

The thread shouldn't be called so. It ought to be called "Farmers' and Nationalists' Lobby Opposed to Inward Free Trade and Trying to Maintain Fixed Prices on Rice Shuns American Rice".

Cheese in Canada is also outrageously priced, thanks to the same farmers' cartels holding the prices up. I wish both rackets would be broken up.

Ken:>

[huffdaddy]

it's not just Korea.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4473714/

[Harpeau]

My only concern is whether or not the U.S. rice (or any for that matter) has been genetically altered or manipulated. Otherwise, I'm not very fussy. I'll take the cheaper rice any day... now I only have to convince my Korean wife.

How about a blind taste test.

[Satori]

Nationals have every right to buy local and protect thier own industries.