Comments on: So Wafer Thin It’s Opaque http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/ Korea... in Blog Format Fri, 5 Sep 2008 06:17:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: mins0306 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-79306 mins0306 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 01:32:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-79306 It's no secret that Korean mobile phones last more than 2 years at the most. It's just a rumor, but there is a saying that Korean phone makers intentionally design and produce their phones in such a way that they will break or stop working after a short time, in order to increase consumption of mobile phones in the local market. And well, Samsung electronic products are crap. Despite the low number, it's no surprise that they made no. 2. It's also no secret that Korean bureacrats don't know the regulations that they are working under. They are also well known for their haphazard enforcement or non enforncement of them. If one was to watch a Korean news broadcast where the reporter asks a bureacreat, "Do you know of such and such regulation?" The bureacrat with his/her face hidden and the voice changed usually answers "Gee, I wasn't aware that it existed" Also, the problem when it comes to government-corporate relations in Korea is that the government agencies, instead of regulating and overseeing the corporations, act like they are a division of the corporation they are supposed to be regulating. Considering the above, it's no wonder Korea was ranked 33, in the foreign capital hospitality index. Compared to Singapore(14), Hong Kong(8), and Japan(3), it isn't good. It’s no secret that Korean mobile phones last more than 2 years at the most. It’s just a rumor, but there is a saying that Korean phone makers intentionally design and produce their phones in such a way that they will break or stop working after a short time, in order to increase consumption of mobile phones in the local market. And well, Samsung electronic products are crap. Despite the low number, it’s no surprise that they made no. 2.

It’s also no secret that Korean bureacrats don’t know the regulations that they are working under. They are also well known for their haphazard enforcement or non enforncement of them. If one was to watch a Korean news broadcast where the reporter asks a bureacreat, “Do you know of such and such regulation?” The bureacrat with his/her face hidden and the voice changed usually answers “Gee, I wasn’t aware that it existed”

Also, the problem when it comes to government-corporate relations in Korea is that the government agencies, instead of regulating and overseeing the corporations, act like they are a division of the corporation they are supposed to be regulating.

Considering the above, it’s no wonder Korea was ranked 33, in the foreign capital hospitality index. Compared to Singapore(14), Hong Kong(8), and Japan(3), it isn’t good.

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-79248 Brendon Carr Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:03:38 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-79248 I don't know what you're talking about, but that's basically the objective of any joint venture, anywhere. That's why all the buzz in China is about WFOEs -- Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises. Nobody wants to be forced into a joint venture with a local partner who doesn't add value, or who simply extracts value from the foreign partner. In many Korean-foreign joint ventures the Korean partner does add significant value, be it in the area of purchasing power, access to distribution networks, or government relations. Historically it's been less true in the area of "know-how" or technical prowess, but these days in many manufacturing and technological industries the Koreans -- who just a few years ago were completely dependent on technology-transfer -- have solved many problems and have a lot to teach a joint venturer. They're going to enjoy getting fleeced by the Chinese. I don’t know what you’re talking about, but that’s basically the objective of any joint venture, anywhere. That’s why all the buzz in China is about WFOEs — Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises. Nobody wants to be forced into a joint venture with a local partner who doesn’t add value, or who simply extracts value from the foreign partner. In many Korean-foreign joint ventures the Korean partner does add significant value, be it in the area of purchasing power, access to distribution networks, or government relations. Historically it’s been less true in the area of “know-how” or technical prowess, but these days in many manufacturing and technological industries the Koreans — who just a few years ago were completely dependent on technology-transfer — have solved many problems and have a lot to teach a joint venturer. They’re going to enjoy getting fleeced by the Chinese.

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-79033 SomeguyinKorea Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:52:07 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-79033 Brendon, Any truth in the rumors of a certain American retailer getting fleeced by its partner who stole its business model and now operates a major retail outlet in Korea? Brendon,

Any truth in the rumors of a certain American retailer getting fleeced by its partner who stole its business model and now operates a major retail outlet in Korea?

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78999 Brendon Carr Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:00:37 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78999 A bad habit of most Korean government agencies is their "leakiness" with respect to any competitive information of foreign companies of which they happen to come into possession. It is an all-too-common experience of foreign companies that their business secrets get turned over to favored domestic champions. Not just with the KFDA, although they of course are one of the worst offenders. This is decidedly <b>not</b> the sort of government "transparency" the foreign business interests perennially request, but it's what they get. A bad habit of most Korean government agencies is their “leakiness” with respect to any competitive information of foreign companies of which they happen to come into possession. It is an all-too-common experience of foreign companies that their business secrets get turned over to favored domestic champions. Not just with the KFDA, although they of course are one of the worst offenders. This is decidedly not the sort of government “transparency” the foreign business interests perennially request, but it’s what they get.

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78994 SomeguyinKorea Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:27:55 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78994 Brendon, Did one of your customers ever get in trouble for the cryptic English of the interface of its cell phones sold in the Korean market? Brendon,

Did one of your customers ever get in trouble for the cryptic English of the interface of its cell phones sold in the Korean market?

]]> By: Sperwer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78981 Sperwer Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:10:47 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78981 A little off the precise issue limned by Brendon, but two of the major problems with KFDA (and the law under which it operates) are: 1. the unnecessary duplication of testing for admission into Korea of drugs, foodstuffs, etc. that have been exhaustively proven elsewhere, accompanied by the required provision of formulation and process documentation (for the purpose of?) that is then typically turned over to domestic companies to enable them to create generic versions and/or substitute competitive products; and 2. admission of materials subject to certain substituted ingredients for the Korean market, usually accompanied by a "recommendation" of the local competitor who can manufacture the reformulated product for the local market (pending its development of a copycat product of ots own). A little off the precise issue limned by Brendon, but two of the major problems with KFDA (and the law under which it operates) are:

1. the unnecessary duplication of testing for admission into Korea of drugs, foodstuffs, etc. that have been exhaustively proven elsewhere, accompanied by the required provision of formulation and process documentation (for the purpose of?) that is then typically turned over to domestic companies to enable them to create generic versions and/or substitute competitive products; and

2. admission of materials subject to certain substituted ingredients for the Korean market, usually accompanied by a “recommendation” of the local competitor who can manufacture the reformulated product for the local market (pending its development of a copycat product of ots own).

]]> By: peninsular aborigine http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78973 peninsular aborigine Fri, 20 Apr 2007 08:31:21 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78973 Echoing Snow's opinion, please elaborate on why the Korean FDA is the worst. Echoing Snow’s opinion, please elaborate on why the Korean FDA is the worst.

]]> By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78963 snow Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:33:07 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78963 I'm not being snide, either. It's interesting to hear informed opinions on how government agencies work in this country. Thanks. I’m not being snide, either. It’s interesting to hear informed opinions on how government agencies work in this country. Thanks.

]]> By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78962 snow Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:32:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78962 Interesting stuff, guys. Interesting stuff, guys.

]]> By: Dram_man http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78960 Dram_man Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:28:03 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/04/20/so-wafer-thin-it%e2%80%99s-opaque/#comment-78960 If I can pile on, the Korean Food and Drug Adminstration is the absolute WORST IMHO. As far as best I do not know, but the Customs Service should get a gold star somehow. If I can pile on, the Korean Food and Drug Adminstration is the absolute WORST IMHO.

As far as best I do not know, but the Customs Service should get a gold star somehow.

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