Korean Job Discussion Forums

[garykasparov]

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805220027.html

President Lee Myung-bak apologized to the Korean people on Thursday, the 87th day of his presidency, taking responsibility for a public outcry over the resumption of U.S. beef imports. The president pleaded for cooperation from the people and the opposition parties in ratifying the free trade agreement between Korea and the U.S.

In a televised press conference at Cheog Wa Dae, Lee said he had been �negligent in gauging public opinion on the reopening of the Korean market to the U.S. beef, and fully accept such criticisms.� He apologized for the government�s failure to seek understanding from the people first.

�Rumors about mad cow diseases baffled me, and my heart hurt to see young students gathering to join in candlelight vigils in the Cheonggye Plaza, the very place I so enthusiastically restored.� Lee restored the Cheonggye Stream during his tenure as Seoul mayor.

�The health of our citizens cannot be traded for anything,� Lee said, adding assurances that beef the U.S. exports is the same as the meat Americans eat at their dinner tables. Lee pointed out that Korea has secured the right immediately to halt imports should occasion threaten the health of Koreans.

�It�s all my fault,� Lee said, referring to errors made during the first three months of his administration. He promised to �approach people with more humility.�

Lee vowed to devote himself to reviving Korean economy.

�While the world economy saw unprecedented growth in last 10 years, the Korean economy failed to swim with the tide, and the gap between Korea and advanced countries widened,� he said. �We are at a critical juncture in our history.�

He pleaded with all political parties to cooperate in ratifying the Korea-U.S. FTA.

General opinion is that Lee�s apology was stronger than expected, with its emphasis on emotions like �I am embarrassed,� �it broke my heart� and �It�s all my fault." The apology comes in apparent recognition of his failure to listen to the public amid a series of controversies over government decisions and policies.

The government has been losing public trust since its inauguration, running into criticism for appointing ministers whose qualifications were questioned, and presidential secretaries who hold huge real estate assets, plus disagreements over major issues between the government and the ruling party.

[Ramen]

[spliff]

It won't last long cause someone will sabotage the beef. I think if that happens we should slap high tariffs on TV's, cars and anything imported from Korea. It wouldn't take long. And, if the US military is expelled...have fun dealing w/ China...

[aka Dave]

I accidentally revisted this topic today in my university writing class. On the public teacher's exam (very competitive test) the teachers have 5 essays they have to write. One's based on a "general" subject, sort of general sociological subject, and the example from a past test was the psychology of advertising.

So anyway, I asked my students, given that I was going to assign them 5 essays, one based on this "general" topic, what topic would they be interested in doing.

First response: American beef importation. I had done this topic in my conversation classes, to mixed results. These controversial topics are a double edged sword. Students love to talk about them, but they have trouble thinking critically. And if you remotely, obliquely challenge their position, they shut down and stop conversing (not good for a conversation class).

But if you cheerlead their postion you just get everyone repeating the same thing (not good for a conversation class).

So, my writing class. These are seniors at university, mostly mid or even late 20s. Very smart and we get along really, really well.

So they ask me my take on the American beef. I told them what I've been thinking for the past couple weeks. I think it's better for all concerned if Korea bans the beef, simply because the controversy is more destructive than productive, and, really, let's lose the hate. No one cared in America while the ban was on so reinstate it and no one will care anyway.

But. I also said, American beef is perfectly safe, I'd be insane if let my family/friends back home eat it. Really, I asked them "do you worry about potato chips when you buy them" and of course they said no. Well, that's pretty much the attitude Americans have in buying their beef. It's a food. If it's not spoiled it's like any other. I also said Americans have no idea if their beef is 30 months old or not, they could care less.

However I did say (this is obvious) there are quality differences in American beef, like anything else. My preference is Harris Ranch beef. I've seen those cows and they look happy enough.

As to Americans eating "Australian" beef, I said this was particularly insulting to us, as eating beef (for good or bad), that is American beef, is ingrained in American culture, e.g. Texas Longhorns the Chicago Bulls (this example was provided by a student).

But I didn't make a big deal about it, I mentioned this for 3 minutes. My general attitude toward it was I don't give a crap. They caught on and said forget it.

So our general essay topic ended up being why Korea has the lowest birthrate per woman, the sociological changes that have contributed that, and whether that's good or bad.

[Donkey Beer]

I tell them that i eat crazy cow and crazy chicken on a regular basis.

[Stevie_B]

[BS.Dos.]

United Steaks of Amerkia.

[cheeseface]

Lee Myung-bak should eat a massive US steak on live T.V to prove US beef is safe!



That is what the UK ministers did in 1992, and even fed the meat to their children