Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cohiba]

Where can we buy the US beef? E-Mart said they will refuse to
sell it and so have one or two other places. Anyone know where
we can get this stuff?

I'm gonna cram my freezer full of sumptuous Yankee bovine body
parts.

Mmmmmm, bovine.

[michael5799042]

I wanted to get some too. Then I realized it would all be cut up Korean style just like the Australian beef. Then my visions of steaks and roasts were replaced with visions of a pile of little fatty beef scraps.

[Ramen]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I think much of it will come over as low-grade hamburger.

[Gamecock]

While not available at any of the major grocery stores, my guess is after June you can eat it at most any Korean restaurant. I'm sure they'll be happy to buy the cheapest beef possible. As long as Koreans don't know they are consuming "infested" beef, all will be fine. Hehe.

[JongnoGuru]

In the long run, in order to successfully open the South Korean beef market, the U.S. beef industry will ultimately have to focus on changing the image of American beef among South Korean consumers. This will take time and will likely require both changes in the inspection and regulation of U.S. beef (as a starting point, the USDA must stop preventing Korean inspectors from entry into any American slaughterhouses they want so that Koreans can then verify that hygienic conditions are up to par) and a concomitant publicity campaign to inform South Korean consumers of these changes. A goodwill gesture is also in order, for which I suggest a programme of ongoing nationwide U.S. beef giveaways in Korea for a period of 15 to 20 years, longer if necessary.

Until this occurs, South Koreans will remain suspicious of American beef and outwardly hostile toward lippy Western expats, especially if American critics of Korea's beef regulations continue to be vocal, and if the EU and Australia continue to offer more palatable alternatives.

heh

[Gamecock]

So will America have to make concessions to Korea EVERY time their media creates a mythical controversy and whips the people up into a baseless, nationalistic fervor?

I expect Korea will lose their most important trade partner and fall into economic despair long before you see goodwill gestures like beef giveaways.

[Scotticus]

[michael5799042]

The whole beef issue was created by the anti-FTA crew. The government is also planning to sign FTA agreements with Europe and China. Wait till they find out mad cow came from Europe, LOL! Then there also will be lots of new issues with China. Everyone will forget about American Beef and start worrying about whatever the next issue that the media decides will get ratings.
These protests weren't started by people with a scientific agenda, they were started by people with a political agenda.

[Justin Kimberlake]

[Ramen]

[Mr. BlackCat]

Scotticus wrote:

[BS.Dos.]

It's all a load of tosh and illustrates American 'trade-agreement' bully-boy tactics perfectly. Much like the illogical and wasteful practices of the European CAP, it's more a case of the US bowing down to domestic beef industry pressure to target and open up new markets for a product that the US simply has too much of and can't get rid of anywhere else.

So what happens, the US, unhappy with SKs refusal/reluctance to allow beef imports; possibly because of BSE fears, but more likely because of SK industry protectionism being as SK beef producers simply cannot hope to compete with cheap foreign imports, starts waving the trade agreement in SK faces backed up with just a subtle suggestion that any refusal to deny the US with a potential new market for its beef will be similarly reciprocated at the US end. "You won't buy our beef? Fine, then we'll buy our semi-conductors elsewhere". Ask yourself who that's going to hurt economically in the long run.

But don't panic. Cheap and plentiful American beef imports will be available soon enough. Perhaps only, say, 5000 tonnes in the first year, but thereafter, there'll be burger joints selling 2000 won 1/4 pounders on every street corner. Far better IMO that the US (and let's not forget Europe too. I wouldn't want to appear as being Anti-American when the CAP is the single biggest drain [read French] on European financial resources) address their own agricultural inefficiencies and stop producing stuff that nobody wants and don't forget, that's without even considering the more important environmental implications of both producing beef and converting more people over to a higher protein diet.

[Ramen]

During my teacher's class, a KT asked me if I would eat the US beef. I looked at him and gave him the "you stupid I'm from the US" look and explained that I grew up on it so I wouldn't hesitate to eat it. I explained to him that you can always choose not to eat the US beef.

Then he tried to argue that the problem is that when the US beef gets here, Korean people will sell it as "han-woo". I shut his mouth by telling him that that's not the US's problem. That would be your problem. End of discussion!

[merkurix]

It looks like those candle-holding [insert expletive in plural form here] aren't going to get their way after all.

Get ready. The beef is coming.