Korean Job Discussion Forums

[coolsage]

This topic is generated by the fact that it took me a full hour to log on to my e-mail in what is supposed to be 'the most wired country on earth'. Frankly, I'm getting a tad burned out on that tiresome litany, simply because the facts don't support the premise. This KT modem blinking before me has apparently used up its shelf-life already, though its only eight months old. Nothing here seems to be built to last; everything seems to have a built-in-obsolesence, much like the Detroit cars of the fifties, designed to fall apart in order to generate more buying of the same, albeit flashier, crap. The chaebol, the manufacturers, are sending their best products overseas, to compete with the major players, while selling inferior products at home, where competition is virtually 'ruled' out. So those of us living here, Korean or waygook, are almost guaranteed an inferior product, whether it be electronics or cars or almost any household appliance, or for that matter, the best that Korea has to offer in IT. So while SK Telecom is wiring up Brunei, the followup here is shoddy, to say the least. I suppose the good news is that Koreans have not yet learned to make wine , or they'd be shipping the best stuff out as well, keeping only the plonk for themselves... . [/quote]

[posco's trumpet]

[jaderedux]

I have wondered about that. I am on my second toaster here. Back home I can buy the cool retro toasters at a garage sales and they still work. Have a couple made in 1950's and some rad lamps from 1960's that work just fine. I had a touch lamp here die after 8 months.....hmm?

I had a refrigerator die...albeit used. But Mom has had the same frig for about 20 years and finally retired it to basement to house overflow and got a new one.

I don't understand why nothing lasts...clothes.....shoes...appliances...I don't worry much about it.....I just buy what I need and hope for the best.

One thing however I have noticed is Koreans tend to buy new stuff when they move....get married or whatever. Even if the man or woman already has an apartment. They buy all new things. Also, when my neighbors move I am amazed at how much the dispose of and when people move in often 75% of everything is new. (Lotte, CJ, and Hyundai trucks furiously arriving laden with new stuff).

There is no such thing as kitsch...I mean I was over the moon at home when I found a red formica breakfast table! I think I got it at the auction for $30. Just not done here.....not that I am complaining......got a couple of nice items via "dumpster" diving.....

jade

[lush72]

[Joe Thanks]

Pens and lighters were utter sh@t when I last lived in SK. Students would literally go through a single pen in a week. For me it was a coule of days. Lighters - I'd see countless companeros buy a lighter and by the end of the night it NEVER worked.

I started importing Pilot pens from the US (one Pilot pen lasts me at least a year, with 5 years being the longest) and handed them out as gifts.

It could be an example of why Korean electronics distributed within the country, as well as trivial items like pens and lighters - NEVER last compared to similar products abroad. I rarely "Buy Korea" in Korea. Outside of it, only LG/Goldstar stuffs.


Cheers,

Joe

[schwa]

The answer to your KT woes!

I've been using their service for 3 years with minimal trouble. I generally leave it on 24/7 & I also experience the slowdowns you speak of every 3 or 4 days. But I've figured out an easy tweak.

First, a technical explanation. You see, theres all these tiny pacmans running up & down the cord between your modem & your computer. Theyre cute & friendly but theyre dirty critters, which in time clogs up that skinny tunnel. The solution is simple. Disconnect from Enternet, switch off the modem, wait one second & switch it on again. Voila! the pipes are flushed. Reconnect & Bob's your uncle, usually.

But occasionally the first try at reconnecting doesnt improve things. That little score tally box just sits there at 14 & 14 & will not go up. Not to worry! Just disconnect & connect again. Those parameter numbers arent meaningless -- some are lucky, some not so. 2 or 3 tries & you should hit your lucky combo. Praying or cursing are optional, but probably cant hurt.

Sorry for all the technical jargon. Hope this helps!

[kangnamdragon]

Remember the solar flares! We may be having connection difficulties due to the solar flares.... I had problems calling the USA today.

[jaderedux]

[Son Deureo!]

I've been on HanaFOS for about six months now, and no problems so far (knock, knock, knock).

As for lighters, who BUYS them anyway? Sure they're terrible quality, but every bar in Korea is handing them out for free.

I do have one serious quality complaint in the pen department, though, and that's the Mon Ami Plus Pen 3000. They're really cheap fine point flair pens, they explode regularly, the tips last less than a week, and my middle school students have discovered that if they flick them just right ink sprays everywhere. They especially like to do this with the red ones.

[matthewwoodford]

[jaderedux]

[Zyzyfer]