Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Korea Cheaper Than Japan? Not Anymore
The idea that prices of commodities in Korea are cheaper than Japan is losing credibility.

"I went to a department store to purchase a suit, but I gave up because they were so expensive. What I can buy for 300,000 to 400,000 won in Japan is about 500,000 to 600,000 won here in Korea."

Global brands with standardized service and taste are also more expensive in Korea. The price of a cup of cappuccino (small) at Starbucks is 3,300 won in Korea and 290 yen (approximately 2,465 won) in Japan, where Korea�s cup of coffee is almost 1,000 won more expensive. The price of a McDonalds Big Mac hamburger in Korea is 2,900 won, while in Japan it is 280 yen (approximately 2,380 won).
by Chang-Won Kim and Kwang-Am Cheon, Donga.com (May 27, 2006)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2006052719498

n3ptne · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Poh*A*ng City

why would you go to a department store to buy a suit when you can have one tailored for half the price?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

What the hell? That writer founds suits in Korea for 500,000 to 600,000 won? I've bought two in Itaewon for 180,000 won each.

I have no idea about massive fastfood chain prices like Starbucks and McDonalds and relations in prices between the two countries - they might be right. But it has no reflection on the cost of living between the two.

Last time I was in Japan (two months ago).. minimum for basic hotel accomodation starts around US$70 and goes up drastically.. the taxis, subways, public transportation are also outrageous - at least double. Beer prices in bars start around US$6-7 and goes up at just basic dive bars. Korea is easily half that all the way around.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

capebretoncanadian · Joined: 20 Feb 2005

hamburgers...suits and coffee? Does it address real cost of living issues like rent, utilities, real food and transportation?....Hell no.....I got a haircut (with spa like treatment for an hour) today for 7,000 ....I ate dinner for 3,000 and took a twenty minute taxi ride home for 5,000.....can you do THAT in Japan? I'd wager you'd be pushing it to get the taxi ride for that much.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 2:54 pm Post subject:

I think it's time RR applied to work in a Japanese university. After all, he deserves a higher pay and thinks the country is so much better than here. Seriously, RR. Why haven't you? (perhaps you'd miss having an axe to grind?)

rocklee · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul

VI, how do I enable images on my sig?

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject:

Gwangjuboy · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Location: England

I have noticed that Koreans have become obssessed with becoming the most expensive place on earth. Property is outragiously expensive when considering the per capita income levels here. It's as though they drive up property prices deliberately so they can one day boast "property here is more expensive than Japan." Countless Koreans I have spoken to wax lyrical about property in Daechi dong. Daechi dong isn't close to competing with the likes of Belgravia or the fashionable suburbs Tokyo yet. It's just another injection of we are the usual "(insert adjective in here)est" country in the world. The truth of the matter is that despite their best efforts Korea is not as expensive as Japan. Comparitively, essential services here are dirt cheap. Nowhere else in the western world can one take taxis, public transport, and stay in half decent hotels as cheaply. Why in the article does the reporter use overly priced suits in hyundai department store as a comparison? Get to parkland, or Itaewon and suits are much cheaper. Most Koreans in their twenties could not live without their parents life savings. Considering Korea's comparitively low per capita GDP its people are being ripped off right royaly.