Korea Critique

Problems in Korea

First, way too many old people. It looks like 80% of people I see are over the age of 70.

Also, lack of kids. It looks like the average family has either one kid or zero kids. And kind of like of America, a lot of young married couples or middle-age couples up to not have any children, only a dog. Therefore, a huge proliferation of boutique dog stores. And pet hospitals.

It looks like in Korea, the greatest luxury is still beef.

Things I am very impressed by

The new Lotte shopping malls and grocery stores are insanely nice. Koreans make very very good shopping malls, and centers. For example we just visited a new Lotte mall the other day, and it was at least 1 billion times better than any mall I have experienced in Japan, America, etc.

Korea is doing a very very good job with the subway system. Very great integration with the new Subway lines, digging ever deeper underground. And even the Korean city suburbs, like Migeum, are very very well developed.

Also, a very good thing with Korea is the reverence towards the elderly. For example, people either over the age of 65 or 70 could ride the subway for free. Even my mom was able to ride the subway for free the other day.

Coffee culture

Also, a new trend in Korea is coffee. Coffee could either be two things; you there pay six dollars and babysit one coffee and talk with your friends for three hours, or you could grab a Takeaway coffee for two bucks, if you’re busy and on the go.

Also, it seems that you’re the integration with LCD screen ordering screens are very good.

Korea does not look like K-pop

The funny thing is that when you watch BLACKPINK, BTS, K-pop, Korean dramas etc., the reality of Korea is very different from what you see on the screen.

First of all, it seems that the hype over plastic surgery is a little bit overblown. Most people seem to have natural faces.

In terms of physique, it looks like most people look very very soft. Most people are kind of skinny fat, and there is not really yet a gym culture here in Korea.

Korea is very very good for photography, and street photography

In the short two days that have been here, I have been incredibly prolific with my photos. It is insanely great for street photography, walking around, and exploring.

How does South Korea or Seoul compared to Japan? Koreans are much more warm and friendly, and seem much happier. Also, Korea is far more bilingual in English. Also currently the upside of Korea is that getting in here is relatively easy, but to my understanding Japan still has lots of restrictions when it comes to tourism.

Korean aspirations?

What is the Korean dream? It involves buying a house or some sort of nice apartment clothing and shopping culture, and getting a nice car.

I no longer believe it is an aspiration for people to have kids. People either have kids out of some sort of filial duty, for people to please their parents and produce at least one grandchild, but for the most part, it seems that people are more interested in fashion and food.

The future?

What will be the future for Korea and South Korea?

Let us consider this big problem: once all of the old people die, there will be a huge population vacuum. Korea is not as bad as Japan, but still, there will be very very few kids and young people.

Then, what will happen to all of these empty apartment complexes? Also, will there be an impetus to build new apartment complexes?

Also in the future society with very few people or young people, where will all the consumers be?

My thought is that in order for Korea to fight this problem, they probably need to import in more foreign labor, and foreign people. They should allow in more South east Asians, Cambodians, people from Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

Koreans are really really good at English now

It seems that “kongliah“, the combination of English and Korean is now well integrated. I could just say lots of common words or phrases in English, and people understand.