Korean Job Discussion Forums

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I've been talking to Koreans about strange how strange I find it that the S.Korean president took a Mercedes to North Korea rather than a Korean car. Most agree that it's strange (some are angry about it), but one of them said it's because the president's car has to be bulletproof, and that Hyundai doesn't make armoured vehicles.

I tried arguing that Hyundai could make a special car, especially when it's for the president of the country, but he was adamant that it was impossible for a car company to do unless they already produced them.

Quite funny.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

That's what Kim Jeong Il drives.

For the president of SK to show up in a cheap-azz Hyundai, when Kim drives up in a Mercedes would be...well... degrading.

Did you also see that Kim Jeong Il also purposefully (we assume) didn't show for arranged meetings with Noh, as a show of "I think I'm more important than you."

The importance of this in Korean society should not be missed.

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

He should have drove a pink matiaz, Now that would have made CNN.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

That Merc is specially designed for presidents all over the world - it is bullet proof and tank-bullet or whatever you call them - proof.

It's very expensive to produce and not many are produced.

There's a reason why he didn't take a Korean car or commissioned a Korean car manufacturer to make his car - they don't have the technology to do it.

whatever · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Location: Korea: More fun than jail.

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Koreans generally will only make a product if they can also get some export sales.
Me finks they did some research and realized the elite around the world are about as interested in being driven around in a bullet proof Equus, as they are interested in having their eyes gauged out.
The Equus and Chairman have the same social cache as polyester ties, Scoth Blue Whiskey, and Majuang wine.
The only people with money (or an easily bribed bank manager) who would be seen in one of these monstrocities would be the Beverley Hillibillies and your local polyester wearing, peasant made good ajoshi.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

So he was endangering his life when he rode into meet Kim Jong Il with the top off and him standing??

What's the use of having a bullet proof car then? Where's the logic?

Of course, that takes us back to JFK who didn't have the technology.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Huh, interesting. I thought there was no job the Chairman couldn't handle.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Any vehicle can can be fitted with anti ballistic armour. Some vehicles are certainly better suited than others. If the vehicle was an armoured vehicle, then it would not have had a sun roof. I doubt very much whether the Mercedes in question was even close to bullet proof. Standard laminates in windscreens will stop most hand gun and sub machine gun projectiles. He could have gone there in a Kia Pride for all the additional protection the Mercedes offered him. The only difference was horsepower, not protection. Smile

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

if you see the pictures there is a huge convoy of the equues, maybe about 10 or so.. only ROH was sitting in a merc. he said its because its KJI favorite car and he drove it up to make it seem more friendly.
he should have left it there as a present then hahahaaha