The Korean government announced new measures to counter the rapid rise in residential property values. These measures need to be approved by the national assembly. The measures include a raising the property tax to 3% for those with residential properties worth over about one million dollars (and taxed only on the amount over one million dollars), stopping mortgage loans to those with multiple residential properties, raising the value at which properties are taxed to 100% of the actual market value. Most Korean media have "experts" on their news shows criticizing these measures and stating that they will not work. These "experts" do not have any opinions on how to counter the rapid rise in property values, but they definitely are against anything the Moon administration proposes.
The wealthy have few other places to park their money, so they buy up real estate, using loans and mortgages, if possible. This makes owning an apartment, or house nearly impossible for ordinary people. An average small apartment in Seoul costs about $500,000.
Yonhap News: Seoul unveils tougher measures to cool down property prices
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Trump Wants Korea To Pay For THAAD?
The guy is definitely senile. I am certain his generals have told him the history behind THAAD, the missile defense system.
The US had asked South Korea for years to allow THAAD to be installed in Korea. Korea refused. With THAAD in Korea, the US can monitor missiles launched from China, Russia and North Korea sooner.
If North Korea, China or Russia launch missiles at Korea, there is very little time to react. In addition it would ruin good relations with China. Also many Koreans, do not want THAAD in Korea.
CBS News: Why wouldn't S. Korea want U.S. missile defenses? (June 14, 2014)
Stars and Stripes: Why do so many South Koreans hate THAAD? It’s complicated
Former President Keun-hye Park agreed to give permission to install THAAD in Korea in retaliation for North Korean missile launches. She also agreed to give land free of charge for the installations.
Because South Korea installed THAAD, China retaliated by stopping group tours from visiting Korea and cracking down on Korean companies in China. A Korean company, Lotte, had their stores in China inspected and all failed to pass inspection and were forced to closed. After a couple of years of closed stores, Lotte sold their businesses in China for a loss. In total, Lotte probably lost over 10 billion dollars. Korea's tourist economy has probably suffered tens of billions of dollars over the past few years. The land where THAAD was installed used to be land for a golf course and belonged to the Lotte Group. They were pressured by public opinion to sell the land to the government. If they didn't sell, people would complain about them being unpatriotic.
CBS News: Angered by U.S. anti-missile system, China takes economic revenge
The US did little, if anything, to defend South Korea from Chinese retaliation.
As soon as North Korea denuclearizes, South Korea has promised China that it would remove the THAAD installations. This is something that the US generals do not want.
After being told all this by his generals, Trump wants Korea to pay for THAAD?
Definitely senile, IMHO. Trump called President Moon a couple of days ago and demanded that South Korea pay for THAAD.
To Trump, don't worry. In a short time, you can take THAAD back! South Korea has no reason to pay for something that the US wanted and pushed for.
The US had asked South Korea for years to allow THAAD to be installed in Korea. Korea refused. With THAAD in Korea, the US can monitor missiles launched from China, Russia and North Korea sooner.
If North Korea, China or Russia launch missiles at Korea, there is very little time to react. In addition it would ruin good relations with China. Also many Koreans, do not want THAAD in Korea.
CBS News: Why wouldn't S. Korea want U.S. missile defenses? (June 14, 2014)
Stars and Stripes: Why do so many South Koreans hate THAAD? It’s complicated
Former President Keun-hye Park agreed to give permission to install THAAD in Korea in retaliation for North Korean missile launches. She also agreed to give land free of charge for the installations.
Because South Korea installed THAAD, China retaliated by stopping group tours from visiting Korea and cracking down on Korean companies in China. A Korean company, Lotte, had their stores in China inspected and all failed to pass inspection and were forced to closed. After a couple of years of closed stores, Lotte sold their businesses in China for a loss. In total, Lotte probably lost over 10 billion dollars. Korea's tourist economy has probably suffered tens of billions of dollars over the past few years. The land where THAAD was installed used to be land for a golf course and belonged to the Lotte Group. They were pressured by public opinion to sell the land to the government. If they didn't sell, people would complain about them being unpatriotic.
CBS News: Angered by U.S. anti-missile system, China takes economic revenge
The US did little, if anything, to defend South Korea from Chinese retaliation.
As soon as North Korea denuclearizes, South Korea has promised China that it would remove the THAAD installations. This is something that the US generals do not want.
After being told all this by his generals, Trump wants Korea to pay for THAAD?
Definitely senile, IMHO. Trump called President Moon a couple of days ago and demanded that South Korea pay for THAAD.
To Trump, don't worry. In a short time, you can take THAAD back! South Korea has no reason to pay for something that the US wanted and pushed for.
Thursday, September 6, 2018
No Dark Energy?
More scientists are coming to that opinion.
Always suspected that dark energy did not exist as stated in previous posts over the years.
Newsweek: DARK ENERGY: MYSTERY FORCE DRIVING EXPANSION OF UNIVERSE MIGHT NOT EXIST AFTER ALL
Always suspected that dark energy did not exist as stated in previous posts over the years.
Newsweek: DARK ENERGY: MYSTERY FORCE DRIVING EXPANSION OF UNIVERSE MIGHT NOT EXIST AFTER ALL
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Conservative Media Critical Of Newly Reduced 52 Hour Work Week
Korea introduced a law to limit the work week to 52 hours. Many foreign media outlets commended the measure.
Conservative Korean media, such as the Joongang Daily (affiliated with Samsung), try to make the 52 hour work week look bad, stating that it is creating hardships for hourly workers due to decreased income. If they have to work 68 hours a week in order to feed themselves, which was the maximum allowed under the old law, then something is definitely wrong. They need to be paid a better hourly wage.
They also state that companies will have a hard time hiring more workers in order to make up for the shorter work hours. Korea's unemployment rate is at an all time high and labor laws are so unfair that international labor organizations periodically recommend that the laws be changed. They don't even need to classify a "regular worker" as an employee. Under the law, they can be contracted workers with reduced legal rights and who can be fired after one year when the contract ends.
Joongang Daily: Korea Inc. scrambles to adjust to 52-hour week
Conservative Korean media, such as the Joongang Daily (affiliated with Samsung), try to make the 52 hour work week look bad, stating that it is creating hardships for hourly workers due to decreased income. If they have to work 68 hours a week in order to feed themselves, which was the maximum allowed under the old law, then something is definitely wrong. They need to be paid a better hourly wage.
They also state that companies will have a hard time hiring more workers in order to make up for the shorter work hours. Korea's unemployment rate is at an all time high and labor laws are so unfair that international labor organizations periodically recommend that the laws be changed. They don't even need to classify a "regular worker" as an employee. Under the law, they can be contracted workers with reduced legal rights and who can be fired after one year when the contract ends.
Joongang Daily: Korea Inc. scrambles to adjust to 52-hour week
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Korea Unemployment
Most Korean media has finally acknowledged that the rise in unemployment is due to overcrowding of small businesses in such areas as restaurants and retail, and decrease in industrial jobs.
They still criticize President Moon's policies of spending money on low income people and on creating jobs. They do not mention all the tens of billions of dollars wasted by the previous conservative administrations of former Presidents Myung-bak Lee and Keun-hye Park. Myung-bak Lee wasted probably over a hundred billion dollars on construction projects to build canals in which almost all the major construction companies were found guilty of collusion in jacking up bidding prices and faulty construction. They were promptly granted amnesty by President Keun-hye Park. Then there were all the tens of billions of dollars wasted by President Keun-hye Park in her "Creation of Businesses" projects which were ridden with corruption and waste.
The good news is although President Moon has seen his popularity drop from the 80s to the 50s, the conservative party did not achieve any gains in popularity. In fact, they dropped to 11% which is a record low. This is the party that most Korean media blindly support and has almost 50% of the seats in the National Assembly. Their popularity rating was usually over 40%.
It seems most Koreans do not believe conservative media propaganda. And they definitely do not believe the party that supported and fiercely defended former Presidents Myung-bak Lee and Keun-hye Park.
Wish we had NORML in Korea. I would start a chapter, but I am afraid of being arrested.
They still criticize President Moon's policies of spending money on low income people and on creating jobs. They do not mention all the tens of billions of dollars wasted by the previous conservative administrations of former Presidents Myung-bak Lee and Keun-hye Park. Myung-bak Lee wasted probably over a hundred billion dollars on construction projects to build canals in which almost all the major construction companies were found guilty of collusion in jacking up bidding prices and faulty construction. They were promptly granted amnesty by President Keun-hye Park. Then there were all the tens of billions of dollars wasted by President Keun-hye Park in her "Creation of Businesses" projects which were ridden with corruption and waste.
The good news is although President Moon has seen his popularity drop from the 80s to the 50s, the conservative party did not achieve any gains in popularity. In fact, they dropped to 11% which is a record low. This is the party that most Korean media blindly support and has almost 50% of the seats in the National Assembly. Their popularity rating was usually over 40%.
It seems most Koreans do not believe conservative media propaganda. And they definitely do not believe the party that supported and fiercely defended former Presidents Myung-bak Lee and Keun-hye Park.
Wish we had NORML in Korea. I would start a chapter, but I am afraid of being arrested.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
91.3% of Korean Males Drink Alcohol
As stated before, it seems drinking alcohol is a national pastime in Korea.
According to The Lancet, 91.3% of Korean males drink.
The Lancet: Alcohol Is Associated With 2.8 Million Deaths Each Year Worldwide
According to The Lancet, 91.3% of Korean males drink.
The Lancet: Alcohol Is Associated With 2.8 Million Deaths Each Year Worldwide
As many comedians pointed out, alcohol is a very dangerous drug, and so are cigarettes. These actually kill a lot of people. Consuming marijuana never killed anyone.
Monday, August 20, 2018
No "Life" After Death, But "Consciousness" Is Eternal
Had a feeling that consciousness was eternal, now physicists are trying to prove it.
Express: Life after death: Soul continues on a QUANTUM level – scientists reveal
Express: Life after death: Soul continues on a QUANTUM level – scientists reveal