View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
otis

Joined: 02 Jun 2006
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:47 am Post subject: The Funny Thing About Korea |
|
|
It's weird. We put it down a lot. But let's face the facts. It's a top ten economy. In fact, it probably has a better economy than places like Scotland, Canada, France, South Africa, etc. It has a strong middle-class. It has a sense of family. Overall, it ain't a bad place to live. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tomato

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
I forgot where I read this, but South Korea is the only country in the world which has progressed from receiving from UNICEF to contributing to UNICEF. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Imbroglio

Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Behind the wheel of a large automobile
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
In all the time I lived in Korea, I only really had one bad experience, nearly 3 years, that's not a bad record. Korea gets a thumbs up from moi. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Newbie

Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Oh yeah, Korea has a better economy than Canada.
I also heard their army is better than America's. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Newbie wrote: |
Oh yeah, Korea has a better economy than Canada.
I also heard their army is better than America's. |
Canada: diversified economy, manufacturing, resources, services.
Korea: Export economy dependent on imported resources and foreign investment.
The OP has no clue. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: The Funny Thing About Korea |
|
|
otis wrote: |
It's weird. We put it down a lot. But let's face the facts. It's a top ten economy. In fact, it probably has a better economy than places like Scotland, Canada, France, South Africa, etc. It has a strong middle-class. It has a sense of family. Overall, it ain't a bad place to live. |
I agree with you overall, but Scotland's population is 5 million and Korea does not, as far as I'm aware, have a better economy than France. Those aren't strong comparisons. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tomato

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I forgot where I read this (I wish I could remember my sources!),
but I read somewhere that Korea ranks about even with the poor countries of Europe. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
manlyboy

Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Location: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't hear many people putting down the economy or priviliged lifestyles they enjoy here. Criticism arises because of the culture. Economically, they may be in the first rank of nations, but in certain aspects of their culture (attitudes towards foreigners, nationalism, corruption) they've still got things arse-backwards.
But you're absolutely right in that it ain't a bad place to live...and whiny foreigners like me should be more sparing in their criticism. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Peter Jackson

Joined: 23 Apr 2006
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:03 pm Post subject: Korea |
|
|
When I returned here 3 months ago I was very happy to be back. I actually came up with a top 20 list of things I love about this place. I could only think of a few annoying things about this country. So, I must say it is a good place to live.
Most complaints I have are rather petty. I do wish Koreans were a bit more respectful of other cultures but I think they're coming along... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sjrm
Joined: 27 Jul 2005
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
mindmetoo wrote: |
Korea: Export economy dependent on imported resources and foreign investment.
|
well, every country in one way or another is dependent on foreign investment, but korea's problem is that they have fewer companies than most willing to invest here. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
tomato wrote: |
I forgot where I read this (I wish I could remember my sources!),
but I read somewhere that Korea ranks about even with the poor countries of Europe. |
Not quite. Income per capita is akin to Spain and New Zealand. That might be a bit out of date now, but if anything it will have increased. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
The Hierophant

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
SPINOZA wrote: |
Not quite. Income per capita is akin to Spain and New Zealand. That might be a bit out of date now, but if anything it will have increased. |
Yeah, New Zealand is a pretty poor country, capital-wise. I have ALOT more spending money here in Korea than I did in NZ. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Satori

Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:34 pm Post subject: Re: The Funny Thing About Korea |
|
|
otis wrote: |
It's weird. We put it down a lot. But let's face the facts. It's a top ten economy. In fact, it probably has a better economy than places like Scotland, Canada, France, South Africa, etc. It has a strong middle-class. It has a sense of family. Overall, it ain't a bad place to live. |
I don't know any countries or cultures that don't have a sense of family, it seems to be one of the primary unifying factors amoung humans. And like others have said, it's not the relative strength of the economy that people complain about when they do complain, it's usually the culture. But it is a good place to live. It does help to be a strong, independant, flexible, and resourseful individual though. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
ChimpumCallao

Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: your mom
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
about the 'strong family values'...
so i guess a population with the conservative estimate of 1-10 (non-conservative 1-6) of the femaile population being h00kers doesn't add up to any social or familial problems.
they must catering solely to the single men in the ROK. and the dirty foreigners, of course.
imho, korea has the WORST family values of any country i've been in. it's very telling when im out for a stroll and am surprised to see a father with their children. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
|
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="mindmetoo"]
Newbie wrote: |
Oh yeah, Korea has a better economy than Canada.
I also heard their army is better than America's. |
Canada: diversified economy, manufacturing, resources, services.
Korea: Export economy dependent on imported resources and foreign investment.
The OP has no clue.[/quot
Canada's economy is a fake economy. I mean that it's mostly based on exporting raw materials. We don't make anything ourselves any more (unlike Korea which still makes a lot of things). The textile industry has been K-Oed by China and even Canadian Tire has its famous hardware products made in China now. The only think that keeps people employed is the service industry. Go to Canada and you won't see people making things, just pushing paper around and punching keyboards. That's what I mean by a fake economy. People not doing anything that makes a difference, but still earning a paycheck.
What you said about the Korean economy is pretty much the same as the Japanese economy and no one's criticizing them. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|