RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

could just reduce massive tariffs on imported goods. although australian beef isn't as expensive as it once was

That can help, but in the case of beef, there simply isn't enough possible domestic production to satisfy domestic demand for it to be low cost so the imports are the only way to cheaper beef. You're right that Australian/American beef is much cheaper these days.

But I just can't get behind this mentality-
"I want cheap beef, cheap grain to feed them with, but have it be ecologically sustainable and as humane as possible with plenty of space for the cattle to roam, have all workers make a living wage with full benefits, raised in heated ecologically friendly facilities, have them transported in green vehicles, strictly monitored to prevent contamination, have carbon offsets for the methane the cows produce, oh and also these guidelines should apply to the nation's poultry, pork, farms, and orchards, all of which should be cheap year round while everyone lives in big houses in nice subdivisions in a country that is what, 75% mountains and has 50 million people in an area the size of Indiana and has to deal with a nuclear armed nation its technically at war with on its border and no natural resources to speak of."

Like, what planet are these people living on?

That can help, but in the case of beef, there simply isn't enough possible domestic production to satisfy domestic demand for it to be low cost so the imports are the only way to cheaper beef. You're right that Australian/American beef is much cheaper these days.

But I just can't get behind this mentality-
"I want cheap beef, cheap grain to feed them with, but have it be ecologically sustainable and as humane as possible with plenty of space for the cattle to roam, have all workers make a living wage with full benefits, raised in heated ecologically friendly facilities, have them transported in green vehicles, strictly monitored to prevent contamination, have carbon offsets for the methane the cows produce, oh and also these guidelines should apply to the nation's poultry, pork, farms, and orchards, all of which should be cheap year round while everyone lives in big houses in nice subdivisions in a country that is what, 75% mountains and has 50 million people in an area the size of Indiana and has to deal with a nuclear armed nation its technically at war with on its border and no natural resources to speak of."

Like, what planet are these people living on?

Damn, LI must've gone in and edited all those criteria out of his post.  All I saw were prices per kilo of beef in different countries.  What a pettifogger that guy is!

That can help, but in the case of beef, there simply isn't enough possible domestic production to satisfy domestic demand for it to be low cost so the imports are the only way to cheaper beef. You're right that Australian/American beef is much cheaper these days.

yes but groceries here are criminally overpriced anyway- for everything. domestic and imported

One of the sentences taught in the learning numbers section of the new textbook: "The watermelon is 30,000 won."

30,000?! 

yes but groceries here are criminally overpriced anyway- for everything. domestic and imported

To some extent, it depends what you buy, and where you buy it, though. Shopping at E-Mart or HomePlus or any of those major chains for basics like vegetables is offensively expensive. But if you buy your vegetables at a local market, they're usually pretty cheap. In a lot of cases, cheaper than you'd find at a western grocery store. Especially for things like radish, bok choy, cabbage, spinach, etc. Although onions and potatoes are weirdly expensive, still. You can get really good deals on seafood and meat online, too, if you keep your eyes out for them. Groceries are overpriced here, but there are a lot of ways to mitigate how expensive they can be.

To some extent, it depends what you buy, and where you buy it, though. Shopping at E-Mart or HomePlus or any of those major chains for basics like vegetables is offensively expensive. But if you buy your vegetables at a local market, they're usually pretty cheap. In a lot of cases, cheaper than you'd find at a western grocery store. Especially for things like radish, bok choy, cabbage, spinach, etc. Although onions and potatoes are weirdly expensive, still. You can get really good deals on seafood and meat online, too, if you keep your eyes out for them. Groceries are overpriced here, but there are a lot of ways to mitigate how expensive they can be.

well, yeah, you can find places that aren't so expensive. but i'm struggling to think of a single thing i buy regularly that isn't more expensive here than it is in the uk- even at local marts or online (both of which i do anyway)

even when you buy in the marts, a lot of it isn't even fresh or good quality, either. so not only are you paying over the odds, you're also buying products that are shit quality

yes but groceries here are criminally overpriced anyway- for everything. domestic and imported

And do you think the population density and arable land as well as relative geographic isolation has something to do with that?

well, yeah, you can find places that aren't so expensive. but i'm struggling to think of a single thing i buy regularly that isn't more expensive here than it is in the uk- even at local marts or online (both of which i do anyway)

even when you buy in the marts, a lot of it isn't even fresh or good quality, either. so not only are you paying over the odds, you're also buying products that are shit quality

uhhhh soju? kimchi? gochujang? helloooo~ the staples

more likely to do with protectionist import policies

half the stuff i'd buy in the uk would be grown/made from outside the uk - often outside europe altogether.

it doesn't even have to be fresh products. i mean, look at electronics. samsung phones are more expensive in korea than what, anywhere else in the world?

more likely to do with protectionist import policies

half the stuff i'd buy in the uk would be grown/made from outside the uk - often outside europe altogether.

it doesn't even have to be fresh products. i mean, look at electronics. samsung phones are more expensive in korea than what, anywhere else in the world?

The UK has much more arable land and lower population density. Also, it is in much closer proximity to friendly trading nations. That's before you get to the legacy benefits of 400 years of Empire. Could we find ways to lower prices in Korea? Sure. But I think we should acknowledge the circumstances that the country has to deal with, especially for agriculture.

well, yeah, you can find places that aren't so expensive. but i'm struggling to think of a single thing i buy regularly that isn't more expensive here than it is in the uk- even at local marts or online (both of which i do anyway)

even when you buy in the marts, a lot of it isn't even fresh or good quality, either. so not only are you paying over the odds, you're also buying products that are shit quality

One thing that comes to mind immediately is fresh shellfish. Mussels, scallops, oysters, clams, etc are all waaaaaay cheaper here than they are in North America, at least.

People, give it up, DM has a bee in his bonnet, Korea has no chance of competitive prices because virtually no arable land and its far from friendly countries in his opinion. NOTHING you can say will persuade him otherwise. He will defend Korea even if you prove him totally incorrect. It is  just not worth the energy.

One thing that comes to mind immediately is fresh shellfish. Mussels, scallops, oysters, clams, etc are all waaaaaay cheaper here than they are in North America, at least.

ah really. not a big seafood fan, so you may be right there. i like tuna though, and cans of tuna are insanely priced here :(

ah really. not a big seafood fan, so you may be right there. i like tuna though, and cans of tuna are insanely priced here :(

I wonder if Long John Silvers would be successful here....chicken, fish and shrimp.

People, give it up, DM has a bee in his bonnet, Korea has no chance of competitive prices because virtually no arable land and its far from friendly countries in his opinion. NOTHING you can say will persuade him otherwise. He will defend Korea even if you prove him totally incorrect. It is  just not worth the energy.

FFS dude, you can't ignore things like population density, arable land, relative geographic isolation and lack of overland trade routes when discussing food prices.

You might as well be like "Why are natural gas and petroleum so expensive here???"
"Well Korea has no petroleum reserves and no pipeline. It's two closest neighbors consume a crapton, one of which also has no reserves..."
"DMART IS DEFENDING KOREA!!!!"

FFS dude, you can't ignore things like population density, arable land, relative geographic isolation and lack of overland trade routes when discussing food prices.

You might as well be like "Why are natural gas and petroleum so expensive here???"
"Well Korea has no petroleum reserves and no pipeline. It's two closest neighbors consume a crapton, one of which also has no reserves..."
"DMART IS DEFENDING KOREA!!!!"

Now, pay attention pettifogger...make sure you take your time and fill this out accurately, OK?

weird innit. older guys here seem to lock on to my path and try to shoulder barge me on purpose.

One of the funniest things I saw in Korea was an old lady attempt a shoulder-check on my (former rugby player) wife.

One of the funniest things I saw in Korea was an old lady attempt a shoulder-check on my (former rugby player) wife.

For the sake of entertainment...des cribe what happened.

One of the funniest things I saw in Korea was an old lady attempt a shoulder-check on my (former rugby player) wife.

While that happens to me too, one of the more pathetic and ridiculous occurrences is when it happens at my local track.

6-8 months of the year, I'm doing sprint training at my local track, which is usually empty... save an ajoushi or ajuma, blaring 트로트 from their phones as the walk laps around the track. This is a proper 800m athletics track, with 8 lanes... 8 lanes to choose from and tick to!
Etiquette dictates that faster runners stick to the inner lanes and walkers on the outer lanes. I don't count on these old fogies knowing this, so I just stick to the middle lane to minimize the chance of them walking in my lane.

Half the time, these old f*cks will purposefully cross over to walk in my lane and usually just as I'm preparing to come out the blocks, forcing me to wait a solid 60sec for them to cover enough distance to no longer be a hazard and making me break my focus.

I really don't know what kind of game these pathetic fools are playing, but it's a dangerous one. Just before coming out the blocks and over the first 30m, I'm pretty much blind to whatever is in front of me (your head stays low), and they've got their backs turned to me, completely blind to an oncoming runner and trusting that I saw them cut into my lane. While I'm no Justin Gatlin or Usain Bolt, I'm still pretty pacey and with my velocity and at 186cm and 86kg, if I collide into you there will be no insurance scam for you to profit off. Your brittle spin will be snapped in two, you will cease to be.

One of the funniest things I saw in Korea was an old lady attempt a shoulder-check on my (former rugby player) wife.

For the sake of entertainment...des cribe what happened.

Granny appeared shocked, as she bounced off and #8 didn’t even break stride.