Korean Job Discussion Forums

kalbi · Joined: 27 May 2003

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200605/kt2006051017553111870.htm

Here is the text of the article:

Calrose Rice Fails to Impress Koreans
Consumers Not Buying, Big Marts Keeping It Off Shelf, Schools Staying Away

By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Calrose rice, imported from California since March, has failed to penetrate South Korean distribution channels. No large discount chain, such as E-Mart and Home Plus, sells the U.S. rice.

Few restaurants offer the U.S. rice despite lower prices compared to Korean products. Furthermore, under import agreements, excluding U.S. soldiers here, it is not allowed to be used to feed students or soldiers.

The Korean government is also not allowed to use the U.S. rice for aid to North Korea.

Policymakers, citing compulsory import quotas under the 1994 Uruguay Round, have cast deep anxiety over the situation in which distributors and consumers are shunning the imported rice.

``We are embarrassed by the situation,�� an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said. ``But we have to sell it by any means.��

He said, ``It seems that large discount chains avoid bidding for the U.S. rice for fear of possible boycott among consumers and farmers. We cannot send it to schools or military corps as the Calrose is sales-only.��

The official said there has been no reaction from the United States about the poor sales in Korea. But he added the rice exporter is likely to research the quality of Calrose rice and take countermeasures soon.

Some say farmers� strong opposition to opening the rice market proved to be an ungrounded fear. But a majority of netizens argue the poor sales are attributable to imports of ``polished�� rice.

Netizens say there is no doubt U.S. rice is tasteless as it spends too much time in shipping. They say the situation is a trick to appease Korean farmers and to set a cornerstone to open the market gradually.

``The U.S. provides U.S. soldiers in Korea with rice by flight,�� according to one netizen identifying himself as a former KATUSA with the Naver.com ID of chs1260. ``Its taste is as much as Korean rice.��

Many netizens echoed the view, saying the U.S. will export the rice by flight or polish the rice here in the future.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

mack the knife · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...

The best part is where Koreans "don't like the smell."

This, from people who eat gimchi thrice daily.

Give me strength. People who "buy local" are naive idiots the world over.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Wait a few months. Then there will be a story about how restaurants are buying cheaper foreign rice and selling it as Korean rice at higher prices...just like they do with pork and beef.

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

The thread shouldn't be called so. It ought to be called "Farmers' and Nationalists' Lobby Opposed to Inward Free Trade and Trying to Maintain Fixed Prices on Rice Shuns American Rice".

Cheese in Canada is also outrageously priced, thanks to the same farmers' cartels holding the prices up. I wish both rackets would be broken up.

Ken:>

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

it's not just Korea.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4473714/

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

My only concern is whether or not the U.S. rice (or any for that matter) has been genetically altered or manipulated. Otherwise, I'm not very fussy. I'll take the cheaper rice any day... now I only have to convince my Korean wife.

How about a blind taste test. Cool

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

Nationals have every right to buy local and protect thier own industries.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

American rice is arrogant and imperialistic.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

As long as both are freely available in the market, one is free to choose. Couldn't give a hoot what the Koreans think is better, its their money and they are free to waste it as they wish.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

Thanks for the sentiments.

Now step aside while we conquer the local farmers.

mack the knife · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...

seoulsucker · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject:

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

I think part of the difficulty is grappling with the idea that the food staple on your dinner table was produced in another country. For example; Canadians eating Idaho potatoes when we produce our own awsome potatoes in P.E.I. and other parts of the country. People might ask what's wrong with my country? We can't even make our own basic food staples any more?"

Trying to always eat the cheapest food all the time in the end will only worsen our health. Food producers will try to cut more corners by coming up with stranger genetically modified foods and using more chemicals.

The local farmers have a point too. If they allow America, which is like a big Wal-Mart with prices you can't compete with, to sell rice in Korea, it will cause a lot of unemployment and force them to grow less profitable crops. The same thing is happening in the textile biz around the world because of the Chinese. Factories closing all over the place and ruining local economies. Sometimes allowing the cheapest guy on the block into your neighborhood is not a good idea.