Korean Job Discussion Forums

seosan08 · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: Korea

I'm sure many teachers are wondering the same thing along about now. As far as I can figure, given contracting markets (stocks, real estate, commodities), the US dollar index rocketing from 72 to the high 80's, and now the CPI showing a negative value...its all deflationary.

Right now US$ and Yen cash is king, unfortunately at the moment, the won is definately a punching bad. I think it will turn around against the dollar and the Yen. There will come a point when the fundamentals will make the US$ drop like an elevator going to the basement.

For those interested here's a list of how types of investments did last week:

http://static.seekingalpha.com/uploads/2008/11/16/saupload_16_nov_v8.jpg

So, the question remains, where the hell do you put your money? Personally, I say gold, silver and at worst, maybe Swiss Francs. If you can have a Korean front for you, you may want to buy some rhodium, platinum, palladium for you thru Samsung Metals (not related to the Chaebol). You can also buy gold from them.

Put your hard earned money into a Korean ETF like EWY? Wait, stay in Korean cash and cherry pick the market during the drop? Party and make merry, because tommorrow you die?

For the record, I expect Asia to recover much faster than the USA. My views towards investing reflect that. I think you'll see a trend towards more regional trade, rather than so focused towards the USA. Especially if they finally build the trans-Siberian railway from Pusan, thru NK to Russia or China. Russia has lots of resouces, there are 1.5 billion people in SK, China and Japan alone. Far more than enough to support regional internal consumption after the recovery a couple of years hence.

Whether or not they can overcome historical animosities to work closer together remain to be seen. But you don't have to like someone to do business with them. Opinions, please?

bede777 · Joined: 26 Oct 2008

If you don't have to send home. CD and wait for the exchange rate to come around. IF it doesn't your screwed anyway.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

I generally put my money in the bank, but there's always the option of keeping it under your mattress or in a sock.

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

See here:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=137672

Soccerstar · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: Kyungsangnamdo

Great podcast. Good info about safe, reliable return.
If only we had known this info before the collapse.

madhusudan · Joined: 30 Jan 2006

[code]Wait, stay in Korean cash and cherry pick the market during the drop?[quote]

That's what I'm doing. Also some gold.

justaguy · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Location: seoul

newton kabiddles · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

short term us government securites. you can buy them through a fund. It's a safe 3-4% return for the next year.

example:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pm?s=SSUSX

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

At least being in debt means you know what to do with your money...