Korean Job Discussion Forums

[janafromfrance]

Just came back to KOrea for two days, got my account closed, and saw this....................................................

Look at the huge font.


Korea has lost its position as the world�s number one shipbuilder to China for the first time since 2003.

According to Clarkson Research Services Ltd., a London-based market research firm, Korean shipbuilding companies came in second after Chinese ones in terms of new orders, order backlogs and delivery, the three indices that determine industry competitiveness in the sector.

Korean shipbuilders, including Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world�s biggest shipyard, received new orders worth some 4.6 million compensated gross tons (CGT) in the first half of this year, while China�s new orders amounted to 5.0 million CGTs.

In terms of order backlogs, Korea stood at 49 million CGTs, behind China with 53 million CGTs.

Korea, home to seven of the world�s top ten shipbuilders, has maintained its leadership in all three categories since 2003, when it overtook Japan. Since last year, China has exceeded Korea in terms of new orders and order backlogs and now Korea has lost its leading role in terms of delivery, which refers to the volume of vessels constructed and delivered.

According to the data, Korean shipbuilders� deliveries in the first half of this year amounted to almost 7.5 million CGTs, outpaced by deliveries from China at over 8 million CGTs.

Analysts in Korea have repeatedly warned about the ability of Chinese shipbuilders in gaining orders by offering cheap prices.

�The Chinese government has said that its shipbuilding industry would overtake that of Korea by 2015. They have now done so five years ahead of schedule,� said an industry analyst. �It is likely China will maintain its leadership on the back of extensive orders.�

Last year, Korean shipyard orders amounted to 32 percent of the global market against 43 percent for China.

[schwa]

How on earth does your subject header relate to your post?

[isisaredead]

i'm thoroughly perplexed.

[Louis VI]

Geoje Island in its entirety is one municipality so with the Samsung shipyard in Gohyeon and the Daewoo shipyard between Okpo and Jangseungpo, Geoje boasts itself as the biggest shipyard city in the world with billions of dollars generated and less than half a million in total population. Learning English is essential to communication with European engineers, project managers and construction supervisors, so Korean workers on the island are upgrading their English skills, getting higher salaries once their TOEIC scorers go up. Korean shipyard inspectors at Daewoo were worried in 2003 about the rising prominence of China in the shipbuilding industry and a fatalistic attitude was apparent: it was only a matter of time, since the Chinese had a huge cost advantage. Koreans are hoping learning English gives them an edge in negotiating contracts. There are two fantastic hotels on the island btw, to woo Europeans when they visit. Live jazz by imported Russians and Italians, chefs from Switzerland and Germany, really world class.

[sheriffadam]

I want to get into ship bulilding, any heads up?

[mm]

[schwa]

Guess I should start building up my kids with shipbuilding terminology. As if.

[mm]

If your kids want a future, shipbuilding terminology is the way to go. Else they will end up sleeping on a cardboard mat at Seoul Station mumbling about the Chinese and ships.

[isisaredead]

anyone else absolutely content with the way this thread is going?

because i know i am.

[seonsengnimble]

I've also heard that Canadians learn French because Americans produce more software.

[kingppoppo]

[Daniel1981]

Is the suggestion from OP that the extra English will be used to gain international business? Just trying to put 2 and 2 together.

[GoldSoundz]

The OP isn't crazy. Korea has stood in the shadows of Japan and China, business-wise, for a while. Shipping is just one thing. Yeah, Korea had the market corned on shipping, but China is taking over. So, education (the Korean cure-all, along with kimchi) is a natural response. Maybe not the best one though, that's debatable.

Increased efficiency and restructuring may be more fruitful. Learning English doesn't make you a leader in Asia all by itself. (Just as world recognition that Dokdo is Korea's will not automatically afford Korea global respect.)

So, Korea, being under Japan's and China's shadow (historically and economically) has led to some degree of resentment. They are gunning for number one in a number of areas. This is just one more thing that might spur on Koreans to be more competitive.

But, what do I know?

[Julius]

[Vix]