A Nickname

Today, we can join internet cafés and make comments whatever we want. There are a lot of advantages. First of all, we can write our opinions anonymously. Therefore, nobody knows my real name. Also we can use a nickname which shows our character. We can make a nickname whatever we want, so we’re called by our nickname on the internet. In addition, by using a nickname, we can protect our privacy. Nobody knows my name, my age, my location, my information and so on. So nobody can trace my privacy except for some hackers. Through these advantages, we can write something we want and express our opinions, feelings, thoughts. I think this is the most important thing when we use the internet.

However, there are a lot of disadvantages as well when we using a nickname, not real name. Some people may use their nickname and make comments for hurting someone. He or she will make a rumor and spread it. Then many people will see and believe it even if they don’t know who write that comment. As we saw the presentation this week, many people and celebrities commit suicide or suffer from severe depression. Due to some people who made some comments without any thoughts, many people are suffering from the comments

Therefore, when we use a nickname, we should protect and respect others. The nickname system is made for expressing our character, not for hurting someone. I think the nickname system is able to function only when it is being used well.

Bicultural family

I live in Uijeongbu where it has the American Army base. So there are a lot of foreigners and I can see them nearby my home. Or if you go to some places where a lot of foreigners live like Itaewon or Ansan, you can see a lot of foreigners and their lives. In addition, I can also find a Korean and foreigner couple and a baby easily. When I was younger, I couldn’t see that mixed couple. However, I think, a rate of mixed couple is getting higher each year. With increasing an awareness of Korea, a lot of foreigners come into Korea for getting a job or make a trip. This is good situation for both we and foreigners I think. Because when we meet a foreigner, we can share our culture, language, and experience.

As I said, the rate of bicultural family is increasing. Maybe their children will speak two languages. They don’t have any problems about living in Korea themselves. However, some Koreans have a prejudice especially old people. Some people who never met foreigners in their whole lives may think foreigners are more aggressive and rude, but they are not. If he or she could meet and talk with foreigners, he would not say that.

Therefore, we can eliminate the prejudice and learn other countries’ culture through bicultural family. We have to treat them as our family and with respect. Also the Government should protect children who live in bicultural family from any difficulty and discrimination.

The credit loan service

When I heard about our loan services from the presenter, I thought we have many kinds of loan servicing businesses in Korea. And I realized the interest rates are too high for us. Many poor people borrow money from private lenders. And most of the people have no capability to pay back the money and they know the high interest rates as well. If so, why do they borrow the money from the private lenders? It is quite hard to understand for me.

However, when I turned on TV, I could understand somewhat why they borrow the money from the private lenders. The reason is that we can see a lot of commercial advertisements on TV. Also we can find a lot of commercial advertisements at any time, and anywhere, besides on TV. The commercial advertisements tell us they always loan money to anybody easily and quickly. Nowadays, we can borrow money by using mobile and internet from them and it doesn’t even take an hour. They explain a lot of options by using the commercial advertisements. That’s why many people consider this way. If someone who doesn’t have capability to pay back money borrows a lot of money from private lender and he didn’t pay back the money in time, the private lender may harass him or hire illegal collections. This situation will be getting worse over and over.

Therefore, I think the Government should take a step to prevent this situation. What if the Government let the private lenders use less the commercial advertisements? I think if that happened, our loan problem may be reduced.

2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics

I still remember that a lot of Korean were stamping and cheering on July 7 this year. When PyeongChang was chosen by the International Olympic Committee for 2018 Winter Olympics, our citizen shouted for joy, especially PyeongChang’s citizen. It was third time to bid for hosting Winter Olympics and finally they made it! Many people think that there are a lot of advantages of hosting Winter Olympics. But on the contrary, there are a lot of disadvantages of hosting Winter Olympics as well.

First of all, we will construct many stadiums and facilities for only the Olympic game by our taxes. Some people may say we can use it for a long time after the event ends. However, we can use most facilities only winter and also the cost of maintenance is really expensive. Also, the government said that they will construct a railroad from Incheon airport to PyongChang. It will also need a lot of cost for maintenance. If many people don’t use those facilities and the railroad after the event, we will have a big deficit every year. This means we should pay a lot of taxes over and over.

Thus, we need to set a plan after the event. For example, we can hold winter event every year in Pyeongchang and we should make PyeongChang to tourist attraction. We can hold many competitions that can be held all the year around like ice hockey, skating competition or curling. In addition, foreign visitors can stay at a cheap price because we have a lot of accommodations. If we advertise our service abroad in English, foreign visitor will come into our nation.

The Amazon Area

When I heard the agreements and disagreements about the development of Amazon area, I thought it is really complicated problem. For us, the development shouldn’t be progressed anymore. Because it’s destroying our world where we live now and for ever. The Amazon plays a key role in the global warming process and some Scientists are said that the destruction of the Amazon could lead to climatic chaos. Without the Amazon, we cannot survive for a long time.

However, some Amazon residents want their area to be developed more than now because they live in poor surrounding. Everybody wants to live in affluence. Most of residents who live near the Amazon River are native. They couldn’t get any education, medical treatment and so on. If they educated about medicine, the death rate from a slight illness like malaria, snake venom, appendectomy will be decreased dramatically.

So, I believe that we should development only a basic industry and tourist industry for their life. Also we should protect the Amazon area from deforestation or urban growth. The governments which are included in the Amazon area need to have a discussion with the residents for that area. If the governments have to develop some area even though the residents don’t agree, they must compensate for them in some way or other. Or they have to designate some area as a development restricted area like our green belt.

Then, they can protect their valuable area and make their life better. In addition, our awareness for the Amazon is also important. We need to think not only our country, but also our world.

The Street Vendors

The Street Vendors

If you live in Korea, you can see and enjoy the street vendors anywhere, any places. We can get anything we want from the street vendors like a food, a cloth, a book, an accessories, and so on. Like this, the street vendors are became one of our national cultures.

However, there are some problems about street vendors. First of all, there are too many street vendors in Korea. Now, the street vendors don’t pay any taxes. So everybody can make a street vendor with small investment costs and they can be located any places because they don’t pay land tax. Some street vendors are blocking street. So people can feel uncomfortable when they pass that street. Also, it’s not that an attractive image for us because the street vendors left lots of trash like an oil, a paper and a food waste. These trashes are making the street dirty.

Second, the street vendors are selling an unhealthful food and unreliable products. The most street vendors sell a product of bad quality in cheap price. In addition, they are making food next to the road which has a lot of vehicle exhaust fumes. So they can’t make a fresh food and it’s not good for our health.

To solve this problem, I think the Government should control the street vendors. The street vendors should be located only restrict areas and allowed only for authorized vendors. Besides, the street vendors have to pay the tax. Then, the Government can control them easily and also the area can be attractive area for foreigners as well as local residents.

The Minimum Wage in Korea

The Minimum Wage in Korea

When I saw the graph of minimum wage of Korea, I really surprised by the fact that Korean minimum wage was the lowest among OECD-21. I have never thought about our minimum wage before I heard from the presenter. Even though the prices are rising continuously, the minimum wage has risen not that much. I think it doesn’t make any sense.

If you think the prices of any products, you will realize that the minimum wage is not enough for our lives. For example, when you buy a Big Mac Set in McDonald, you should pay for it ￦5,800. Also, there are more expensive berger-sets. However, the minimum wage in Korea is ￦4,320. It’s too low compared to meal costs even if it will rise up to ￦4,580.

Indeed, the price of housing is more serious. If you want to buy a house in Seoul, you should pay ￦17,000,000 per 1 pyeong(3.3m2). So when you buy a house of 33m2  in Seoul, you need to work for about 130,000 hours.

In addition, some companies don’t obey the minimum wage. Some people who work at a fast food store like McDonald, Berger King or construction site get less money than the minimum wage. The minimum wage is made for protect young and old people. So the government should check the owner is obeying the minimum wage.

I think to improve our lives and boost Korea’s national power the minimum wage has to be increased much more.