The Seoul Shinmun reports that for the time being, major Korean supermarkets have decided NOT to sell US beef.
This stands in contrast to what they were saying at the beginning at the month, when they were saying they had no choice but to sell it because of consumer demand.
Importers, however, said they would sell US beef to wholesalers and retailers like restaurant butcher shops.
Sinsegye’s E-Mart, for instance, said Monday that it would not sell US beef, regardless of any agreement regarding imports. It said that earlier in the month, it felt it had to put it on its shelves due to demand, but rapidly deteriorating public opinion has made this impossible. It left open the possibility of selling it at some later date, but first there needed to be a public consensus on the safety of US beef.
Home Plus, meanwhile, said it had no plans to sell US beef. It said that when it contacted importers last month, the importers had raised the price, noting the popularity of US beef at major markets last year. With public opinion worsening, however, the supermarket cannot even think about selling it, regardless of how cheap it is.
Lotte Mart also said it has no plans to sell US beef, despite having been positive about the idea earlier this month.
Importers, however, plan to sell their wares as scheduled. One distributor said that while major markets have decided not to sell US beef, he understood that smaller retailers and wholesalers planned to accept deliveries. He didn’t know if the stuff, if labeled US beef, would sell with public opinion being what it is.
Major department stores that sell Korean beef, like Lotte and Sinsegye, meanwhile, have decided not to sell US beef, which will begin hitting the market from early June.
Marmot’s Note: This is complete and utter bullshit. With the market so poisoned, one wonders whether US beef will sell even if it’s allowed back into the country.
Way back when (in 2000), when Koreans got into the “Garlic War” with China, Beijing showed us the proper way to handle trade disputes with Seoul — by being a total dick:
South Korea has decided to import another 10,000 tons of garlic from China, a key trade dispute threatening local exporters of mobile phones and polyethylene goods, officials said Monday.
The decision came as Beijing set Wednesday for the deadline for Seoul to import the garlic or face a temporary ban on two major export items to China — cellular phones and polyethylene goods — in retaliation.
See? Problem solved!
Rather than have the US ambassador call up the head of the opposition to bitch like a little girl, just renegotiate the beef deal, but do so after you’ve slapped retaliatory trade measures on Korean cell phones and cars (which, if the FTA doesn’t go through, is exactly what they may get — on a permanent basis — from the Obama White House). Let the Korean public know that while for cultural and social reasons you’re unlikely to see masses of candle-toting Americans gathering on the Mall to condemn Korean trade practices, this kind of behavior does have consequences. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, for all his faults, at least understood this much. I feel bad for President Lee — this isn’t his fault, after all — but he apparently needs assistance in explaining to the public what’s at stake here. I say let Washington help him out by showing them.
89 Comments
Whatever. They already have contracts with distributors of Australian beef.
The American government is clearly failing its people on this one. I hope someone at the embassy read this blog and realizes how pathetic they are.
Funny, I saw some frozen American beef at my local Home Plus two weeks ago.
Wonder if they differenciate between frozen and not.
just wondering if your ban of me is permanent? again, apologies.
I would like, as a service to readers of this blog and the foreign community, a resource that would provide me with information on where US beef will be sold.
During the beginning of june, I call all readers of this blog to explore all the meat shops in your respective neighborhoods and report back whether or not they carry US beef.
I want to buy a freezer full before they ban it again.
Just curious how much play these anti-beef rallies are getting in the media back home. I think Americans would be interested to learn how their allies are behaving.
I haven’t heard anything about the this issue in U.S. media…
Hear hear, it is time to be a dick with big hairy balls. Monkey with LG, Samsung, Hyundai… Oh but wait, that’s counter to free trade and it puts savings for the American consumer in jeopardy…..The only thing the Koreans have come to learn is the velvet 2X4 between the eyes!
Will Costco come to the rescue?
Ridiculous. The American government has bent over backwards trying to placate and assure the throng of hysterical Korean dipshits that they’re pissing their pants for nothing. They’ve caved in to a load of demands so the Korean government can appear competent and give the impression that they’re “protecting the people.” They’ve given statistics and facts about BSE and US beef until they turn purple. What the fuck else do you expect them to do?
They’re in the impossible position of trying to convince mindless, retarded zealots that they’re being lied to and manipulated. The fact that they’re failing says nothing about their efforts. It merely reflects the ignorant, gullible nature of those they’re stuck dealing with.
If they had a choice and if world economic conditions weren’t in the tank, I’m sure they’d much rather tell the entire country to go fuck itself and to enjoy paying out the ass for domestic beef, rather than wasting their time talking science to people awed by fortune-tellers, fan death, and magic.
But they don’t have that luxury, so they’re forced to undertake the equivalent of convincing Muslims that Allah never existed. And if you think you’ve got a better way to convert true believers, let it be known.
I’ve seen references to the beef issue in the business section of my local paper. It was ‘blotter’ style and no more than 10 sentences.
I agree with Marmot. Slap heavy import taxes on their cars and phones. Time to stop being such a pussy.
No, it isn’t. Ban lifted.
interesting. i’d say get out the crowbar (section 301), but the door is technically open-there’s just no one ordering. very interesting development indeed.
Economy rules all. The beef will get imported. Older Koreans (esp. fixed-income seniors) will welcome cheap beef, nationalist children be damned.
3: Did you really? I thought the ban hasn’t technically been lifted yet. Which is exactly why I’ve been laughing my ass off at ignoramouses at Outback lately demanding that they not be tricked into eating Mad Cow.
Poisoning the market is a non-tariff trade barrier — Korea gets to “open the market” on paper, while continuing to enjoy the “benefits” (higher prices for consumers) of keeping things so that nobody buys American beef. Definitely there were elements of the Korean government involved in orchestrating the beef hysteria.
The problem with slapping a Jack Ryan reciprocal trading relations regime on the Republic of Korea is that the dealers of Hyundai cars are American (and these days, a lot of those Hyundais are made in America too).
Wasn’t this how rice imports were stifled a few years back? Seem to remember similar reports in regard to that. “We don’t put it on the shelves because no one will buy it anyway,” etc.
Aren’t you going to say welcome back to pawi, Mr. Carr?
You can’t force people to buy it. The ROK gov did their part, if the stores don’t want to buy it because their customers don’t want to buy it then thats how it is (idiotic as it may be), but slapping retaliatory trade restrictions on Korean exports certainly isn’t gonna help anything. As long as beef can enter the country and is available to distributors, just relax, let the fervor die down and eventually the market will work itself out. We provide the best beef at the lowest price, and when people tire of this pseudo-political fad and get back to Dokdo or whatever other issue they want to hold vigils about, they’ll start wanting the cheapest product like everyone else. Especially when they realize they’ve been eating it in restaurants for months anyway…
Railwaycharm:
Will Costco come to the rescue?
That is a very good question.
How people spend their own money is their business. If I can buy it at Costco then that will be the end of the issue for me.
Anyone know if stores (due to multinational ownership) will be forced to sell it?
Hmm… When is the Canadian beef due?
Why are you dudes so hyped up about eating beef from the US.
Is is better than the beef fronm Australia? No
Is it cheaper?
Marginally
What’s the big deal, some people are salivating over the prospect of eating steak that comes from a cow that was raised in the US. Why?
You can’t make people eat something they don’t want and you can’t force markets to sell something they don’t want to sell. And yes, something like this is a NTBTT (non-tariff barrier to trade). The US, in its position of being a member of the WTO and a leader in free market economics can by no means enforce direct tariffs in retaliation. Of course, another NTBTT would be just fine, ie. stricter requirements for Korean-made communication technology.
Frankly, I’m in the community that thinks Koreans are short-sighted non-rational people (I should know, I am one) and if the populace wants to remain so, they can, just don’t expect to get ahead too far in the global community. Politicians, on the other hand, have a solemn duty to act rationally on behalf of their populace, regardless of vows to represent their constituent, and should not bow to public demands on things that make sense economically, politically, and socially.
Yeah, the major stores say it now, but it’s not a promise they can keep. Money talks.
There’s demand underneath all that mad cow bluster. You put beef in the store refrigerated shelves for 2,000 won a pound, people will eventually buy it and eat it when their neighbors are not looking. Then, later on, when all the bluster dies down, the neighbors will start buying it too, or at least not look over their shoulder when buying it.
#19
Choice – the simple freedom of choice.
19
It is a matter of market choice and meeting market supplies.
Korean beef prices are extraordinarily high for a developed nation because of strict restrictions to import (specifically US beef). I believe it is one of the highest in the developed world at the moment.
With US beef imports, the price of beef would plummet in Korea (there is a lag effect on economic shocks, this may take a year or two). A decrease in the price of beef would also decrease the price of substitutions, namely chicken, pork, and fish. A decrease in those would also result in a decrease in prices of related complementary goods, most importantly grains.
More food at cheaper prices. People in the lower end of socioeconomic status benefit the most. Less policies, subsidies, and funds are needed to prop up sectors that had inflated wages due to inflated prices of foods. Government spending can be reduced or redirected to more profitable and more beneficial sectors of society.
Diet is an issue as this would also mean an increase in overeating problems (obesity, heart disease, etc.) but it would still mean an overall increase in the median life span.
The only victims would be Korea beef producers and the pride of Koreans who would still reluctantly eat their beef that they can now actually afford.
Also, an opening of one sector of the economy always leads to bigger and greater things down the road. Korea is not a burgeoning beef producer so there is no need whatsoever to prop up an industry which the country has NO COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE.
Koreans need to become less fatheads and more fatasses.
I have noticed for over the last year that it was possible to get hotdogs made from American beef. I can’t remember for sure but the package said all beef and it was not a Korean product. I think the guys at customs were too dumb to notice (surprise).
Anyways,I would not doubt that before long they will have American sausages and smoked meats in all the supermarkets soon.
Slowly but surely the market will open.
And then all of the American beef problems will be CURED :)!
I wish I could afford to have a crack team of burglars go to every restaurant in LA and steal every god damn picture of every god damn Korean singer, politician, star, and tourist eating beef.
This issue is worse than it was when I said it was stupid weeks ago.
Someone set himself on fire and died yesterday? University student leaders are on a hunger strike? WTF!?!?!
You know what would really suck? If some cattle got loose in Atlanta and accidentally trampled a couple of Korean elementary school kids learning English in the USA.
My poetic justice/irony radar predicts the discovery of Mad-cow disease in a Korean cow within six months of the US beef scare finally garroting the FTA.
The US government seriously needs to stop acting like a fucking pussy and take them to task.
Whack-a-mole indeed.
Screw the FTA and go reciprocal on everything that is not produced in the US.
I hope the Canadian government is watching this as well and decides to put the FTA on the scrapheap where it belongs. And I am VERY pro FTA.
[Looks both ways] Shhh…Don’t tell anyone but Hannam Supermarket was still selling black market beef patties as of a couple of weeks ago. My freezer is full of the excellent grill fodder.
…or everybody in Korea contracting Avian Influenza and dying. Heh.
Well, sales of the domestically-mfgrd sedans wouldn’t be effected, and the damages to dealers resulting from lost sales of imported models could be made up out of a reimbursement scheme funded with a tax on profits otherwise to be repatriated to Hyundai ROK. All in violation not only of free market principles, but specific legal agreements. But, hey, let the ROKs take it to the judge and then the US can take a lesson from the ROK playbook and make sure that the matter is tied up in the legal process for a few years Bleakhouse fashion. The US even has some experience of this tactic of its own in the Canadian soft lumber case.
My 30 was in response to 27 - a mad amount of posts on this thread in short reload times.
I was a high school student during the NAFTA negotiations and this issue still makes me laugh my ass off… kind of poetic justice. The US never really honored it’s agree with Canada, happily slapping tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber for years, saying it was “unfair competition” or some bullshit.
Negotiating FTAs is a rats nest of politics - internal and external - a necessary evil in a global economy.
The only thing the US government is whining about is not having the upper hand in the fta.
@32
The softwood lumber issues were simply a pricing issue as the US and Canada used different methods of pricing. Some of the non-binding (iirc) decisions were actually ruled in favor of the Americans - it is not as cut and dry as many Canadians make it out to be.
Kind of ironic, however, that US beef producers are using BSE as a tool to reduce or ban beef from Canada.
In the end, less demand on US beef, and thus more for me over here.
Let the backwards Koreans stick to whatever diet or policy they see fit and let history be the judge. Is it only me who is infuriated by any long stint in that country at how carbohydrate centric the general diet is? All they eat is carbs and everyone opines about what digestion problems they have. I find it astounding. Is anyone else puzzled at how round everyone’s facial features are? Has anyone ever wondered how one survives on the typical Ahjushee meal of rice/noodles/rice 365 days a year?
For every steak they refuse to eat, I will PROUDLY and GLADLY eat three.
I would sooner give Lipitor a run for its money than resign my life to certain contraction of Diabetes.
“You can’t force people to buy it.”
Hence it’s simply mass hysteria.
“Yeah, the major stores say it now, but it’s not a promise they can keep. Money talks.”
I think #1 is right. It’s not a promise…They already have contracts with Australian producers, so they can’t sell American beef…right now.
Feed for the beeves everywhere will be driven up in price by the move to increase gasahol production and use, and probably sooner rather than later. This, and the fact that it takes something like 10 lbs of vegetable protein (agronomists chilling with this marmot help me out with the numbers in here, please) should have us all cutting down on prime rib, and me at the front of the line. I agree with the African Bushmen, “Meat is the real food”. When he can’t get it, he’s stuck with Hoodia.
I say what this joint needs is a giant outdoor texas style barbecue where every man-jack of us gets together, fuck-em-all style, and we power down a ton of rare roast Yankee beast ourselves over the course of an afternoon and evening, washed down with a cow’s milk tanker truck full of beer, while we play a game of gridiron football, with rape-dancing cheerleaders on the sidelines and Kool-aid for the kids. We’ll all wear caricature masks of Bush Administration figures who’ve been driven out by scandal, incompetence or stupidity. That’ll show these Koreans how naturally superior we are, so we can get back to the kind of normal hell-for-leather consumption that is our God-given right. And if the Commie-lovers and North Korea symps don’t like it, we’ll dive bomb ‘em with antique Sears catalogs to show ‘em what they’re up against.
If Utah Phillips hadn’t dropped off the twig two days ago, I’d be on the phone to him begging him to come and tell us his all-time crowd-pleasing favorite story, “Moose Turd Pie”, and when he reached the punchline, we’d all join our voices in unison with his, “Good, though”. For sponsors, we’d look no further than the Bovine Mental Health and Cattlemen’s Association. We’ll just tell ‘em it’s time to defend another country from itself (again).
“10 lbs etc. to raise 1 pound of beef”
I hate it when that happens
i would think the butchers at these super markets are just trying to avoid dip shit farmers walking in and throwing wet drippy cow shit all over them all caught on camera of course
That’s the N. American branch of the BMHCA, natcherly.
This is GREAT!!! More fuel to the fire. Can’t wait to see the FTA fail. If Obama gets in, it’s be DOA.
Cry me a river, Carr. You sound like one of those ACC whores.
NEXT…Troop cuts.
It’s time to end this nightmare the US got itself decades ago. We need to rid these post-Cold War parasites.
Yes, but very few exclusively sell Hyundais. Most keep them in stock along with at least one domestic and one Japanese maker. Thus, tariffs on Hyundais wouldn’t have much impact on the overall revenues of the dealers as customers would just buy other makes.
# 24
“…
More food at cheaper prices. People in the lower end of socioeconomic status benefit the most.
…
”
Yes!
Courtesy of the American taxpayers.
http://farm.ewg.org/farm/dp_analysis.php
United States Farm Subsidies
Top programs in the United States, 2007:
1 Direct Payment - Corn
755,358 $2,048,116,614
…
4 Direct Payment - Soybeans
572,147 $574,640,511
…
7 Direct Payment - Barley
135,314 $76,598,425
…
I read that there is something like a 40 percent tariff on foreign beef that enters this country. It seems its in the Korean government’s financial interest to get as much foreign beef here as possible.
I suspect that a ban on all Samsung and LG products including, home appliances tvs and mobile phones would change the beef stance in a hurry. It seems like Shinsaygye the owner of Emart is owned by a family member of the ownership of Samsung, Homeplus which just bought Homeever is a joint venture with Samsung, Sounds like Samsung either directly or indirectly controls the vast majority of Hypermarts in the country. I believe Shinsaegye used to manage Costco as well. The only credit card Costco will accept is the Samsung Card. Seems like one company has a lot of influence on what is sold in Korea. Seems like laying the hammer on Samsung might produce some results.
Another tongue in cheek tactic would to stop issuing visas to Korean nationals unless they eat a 1/4 pounder of American beef during their visa interviews might also work.
#10 Either my writing skills are lacking or your reading skills are off.
#28 sums up what I was trying to say.
I wouldn’t count on US beef being as cheap as you all think. All commodity prices have gone up big time EXCEPT for beef, well beef prices (Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle)have started going up big time, also Hogs and Pork Bellies.
For more info go to http://www.futuresource.com and click on meats.
#44 I like your suggestion.
BTW I say the US-ROK FTA is dead in the US. Hilary and Obama are opposed, no way this goes to the floor of the Senate, and according to the KT the letter she sent W says a lot of what robert has said
fuck cell phones, cars and beef..I don’t need any of that shit.
Clearly, it shows that some of you have not been to Texas, and have not tried the real Texas beef brisket.
Subsidies and foreign hysteria be dammed, it just possibly might become become your new death row meal.
Btw, clearly Roadchuck is a bitter, insignificant, self loathing, elitist liberal who enjoy painting anyone outside of his San Francisco commune, Birkenstock wearing, pita bread eating, Hippie flock to be a barefoot, Bush-ite, hayseed. What a sad life that is. He is precisely the sort that that gives us Democrats, and Americans a bad name.
Clearly, it shows that some of you have not been to Texas, and have not tried the real Texas beef brisket.
Subsidies and foreign hysteria be dammed, it just possibly might become become your new death row meal.
Btw, clearly Roadchuck is a bitter, insignificant, self loathing, elitist liberal who enjoy painting anyone outside of his San Francisco commune, Birkenstock wearing, pita bread eating, Hippie flock to be a barefoot, Bush-ite, hayseed. What a sad life that is. He is precisely the sort that that gives us Democrats, and Americans a bad name.
Clearly, it shows that some of you have not been to Texas, and have not tried the real Texas beef brisket.
Subsidies and foreign hysteria be dammed, it just possibly might become become your new death row meal.
Btw, clearly Roadchuck is a bitter, insignificant, self loathing, elitist liberal who enjoy painting anyone outside of his San Francisco commune, Birkenstock wearing, pita bread eating, Hippie flock to be a barefoot, Bush-ite, hayseed. What a sad life that is. He is precisely the sort that that gives us Democrats, and Americans a bad name.
This is exactly what must be done. Korean students applying for visas to study at US universities must be rejected. Korean ships carrying electronics, autos, or DRAM chips must be sent back because of “problems with paperwork”. Nothing will get the attention of the Koreans short of using Korean tactics to obstruct trade. Only if Korea responds positively should Korean goods be permitted to enter the US market. As it is, the US is looking weaker and weaker the longer it puts up with this kind of treatment. It is time to say no to Korean goods. 한국제품불매합시다~!!
Hmmmnnnn . . . the heart of the issue is a health issue despite how the left in Korea carries it. I dont think its that troubling but let’s not forget one thing about the beef issue in America–ladies. Nobody here really cares. The real issue is whether the left can use it to carry their water for the next two year– lol. FTA is for the future of Korea not America. If you are passionate about the issue its because you care for Korea. If you could care less then its because you live in the States and are right now enjoying a nice juicy steak at Ray’s Classics in downtown Silver Spring, MD. Damn the steak is so good here and when steak is that good you dont really give a damn.
thanks, marm.
‘Korean students applying for visas to study at US universities must be rejected. Korean ships carrying electronics, autos, or DRAM chips must be sent back because of “problems with paperwork”. Nothing will get the attention of the Koreans short of using Korean tactics to obstruct trade. Only if Korea responds positively…’
what should koreans do to americans who don’t want to buy korean products? you mean, you want to retaliate against people when they don’t want to buy what you sell? bit like the opium wars, no?
according to your logic, the korean government should retaliate against americans for the choices of some americans. do i have that right?
in that light: if americans don’t make the sonata the number one selling car in america by 2009, then, all american expats should be deported from korea!
why doesn’t the US govt simply guaranttee the Koreans that they will eat the SAME stuff as the US consumers?
this magical “30 months old” boundary of the cattle’s age seems to be the point of dissent.
it’s probably all based on bullshit data from the EU.
EU. Origin of the disease.
Wow, Pawi is back…and look at all the new names that came with him. Could they be…his socks?
Out of respect for the rising status of China in Northeast Asia, isn’t it time to consider a deal with the Chinese to “reunite” the Korean people with their Chinese brothers? Koguryo was Chinese, don’t you know? China can make use of Yongsan in 한성/Seoul(漢城). Perhaps Korea can even be granted the same status as Tibet under Chinese sovereignty.
Yes, it’s time to repay Korea (얌체같은 배은망덕한 나라) for its ingratitude toward the nation that liberated it from Japan and made its modernisation possible.
No more student visas for Koreans in the US. No more Hyundai, Samsung, or LG products!! Never has there been a better time to “upgrade” the US-Korea relationship to reflect Korea’s appreciation of the US.
한국제품불매합시다~!! 얌체같은한국과 절대 무역하지맙시다~!!
Do an archive search for a Time (Asia) magazine article if you think Korean beef tastes better than Australian beef or American beef or whatever.
The article takes issue with this kind of bullshit. Those types of notions are totally false and fueled by nationalism, at least in Korea. Just ask a Korean or whomever to prove it
I’ve eaten enough wild game to tell you these types of notions are false. No two deer, moose, rabbit, salmon etc… has ever tasted exactly the same.
I believe it was a Nov or Dec issue.
If Koreans refuse to sell US beef, they should be punished.
#50 “Btw, clearly Roadchuck is a bitter, insignificant, self loathing, elitist liberal who enjoy painting anyone outside of his San Francisco commune, Birkenstock wearing, pita bread eating, Hippie flock to be a barefoot, Bush-ite, hayseed. What a sad life that is. He is precisely the sort that that gives us Democrats, and Americans a bad name.”
Ah-h-h-h has hurt its American Democrat feelings, tsk, tsk.
Click those ruby shoes together three times, Iron Chef, and float me back to Kansas. Oz is a scary place indeed!
Pawi wrote:
“in that light: if americans don’t make the sonata the number one selling car in america by 2009, then, all american expats should be deported from korea!”
Let us leave for f$cksakes! Its the South that keeps us there. Everytime the U.S. wants to pullout, “Oh no! we still need you here in case our Beloved General,… I mean, Kim Jong Il advances his troops south again like his father.”
YES! Gay Asian Singles ad. Thank you Robert for using the word ‘dick’ in the OP. The myth has been proven.
I’m having trouble figuring out what KimSuBok is trying to accomplish. Is he an incredibly bitter American expat (kinda like baduk + pawi, but an expat), or is he a product of a convoluted attempt at satire?
Speaking of, welcome back, pawi.
What’s wrong with pita bread?
What myth is that, if I might ask?
That if the comment section has enough words like ‘dick’ and ‘bitch’ in it, it’ll trigger the google ad to show Gay Asian Single dating website. Someone told me that on one of the comment thread, but I wasn’t able to see it until now.
At my 62. post. I was trying to be sarcastic in referring to expats as being the same as practicing U.S. soldiers. I’m pretty sure they are seen as the same by many.
“what should koreans do to americans who don’t want to buy korean products? you mean, you want to retaliate against people when they don’t want to buy what you sell?”
Might you want to consider the reason why the people do not want to buy the product? Government sponsored (the pinkos) and institutionalized (KTU) fear mongering? Thuggery (literal shit slinging)by unions for those that exercise their choice to sell? Harassment of consumers by said groups for their choice to buy?
I don’t know…it may be connected
As of Today, a total boycott of ENART, HOMEPLUS, HOMEVER Until US Beef is allowed.
listen, how many of you would eat beef that’s over two years old? i’ll bet not a single one of you, but you’d have the koreans eat it, right? if someone at the store told me that a piece of beef was frozen for two years, i wouldn’t buy it. nor would i have the koreans buy it. but you’d have ‘em buy it, wouldn’t you? all that american pride and shit, right? right!
oh, and btw, what gets lost here with the expat going ape shit, is the fact that there is so much opposition here to the fta that it won’t pass. don’t see excee crying about that, do you?
‘Might you want to consider the reason why the people do not want to buy the product? Government sponsored (the pinkos) and institutionalized…’
most of the opposition here against the fta comes from congress and certain presidential candidates. part of the us gov, no? next question.
lastly, start treating korea as the first world country that it is ie same treatment as japan ie they don’t accept rotting beef aged for over 30 months. if you want first world behavior from koreans, then you must act as first world americans like me.
thanks.
‘mei rou bat hoi, mei rou pai!’ chinese saying which means:
if american beef is over 30 months old, then it is rotten!
Ok, I was being nice but I guess I just have to say it - Pawi…you are a fucking idiot.
You may want to read up on the whole age thing before you go spouting off nonsense.
As for the US opposition, are there state sponsored and recognized groups running around telling people that they will die if they buy a Hyundai? Do they throw dirty engine oil on the salesmen? Do they harass the customers? Are teacher unions distributing ‘information’ about the perils and evils of Korean products?
Protesting the FTA to protect domestic industry is one thing - using lies and fear is another. The first, while short-sighted, is at least honest about it.
Are you really that stupid or are you just trying to get banned again?
i think Koreans will accept it wholeheartedly, if they were guarantteed they are eating the SAME beef as in the US.
otherwise, they’re playing by EU, Japan, ANZland propaganda/science/pseudoscience/rumors,
and there is much doubt and distrust.
Hyundai sells the BEST Hyundais to America. Avante in Korea is 1.6L, more expensive. Elantra in America is 2.0L, and CHEAPER !
is it so hard to ask for the SAME beef?
EU and Japan seems to have rebuffed US beef for various reasons in the past. Why is Korea crazy to do it?
Is the reason more to do with angst with your wife or your in-laws?
It would be fucking funny, if you started avoided eating US meat in South Korea, though.
Keeping in mind, the US selling South Korea, “left over meat”.
#70 No, he not trying to get banned, he is just a contrarian fucking idiot.
Re 64: The whole string of names is actually derivative of Denis Leary, Spike Lee, George Carlin, Chris Rock et. al. in other words GENUINELY witty, funny fellows. I think it’s actually supposed to be “Earth Shoe wearing, Granola-eating, etc.” but whatever. (Got me on those Birkenstocks, tho’, dang it, but they’re a great ride, what can I say?)
There is no irony in this iron skillet, as the world has shown an absolute lack of need for bitter self-loathers like the humble Rockchuck when it comes to giving the US a bad name.
wjk,
- What good is a guarantee when the people don’t believe it anyways? It has already been stated (in the newspapers here by US officials) that it is the same freakin’ product.
- The EU is using hormones as a means of keeping the US beef out - nothing to do with BSE. In fact, the EU recently allowed British exports to resume.
- Japan negotiated a 20 month age limit on slaughtered cows - Korea did not. Besides, even on those aged over 30 months, SRMs cannot be exported (and yeah…30 months and older beef is consumed quite regularly in the US).
Please reveal your source that shows that the US is exporting “left over meat”.
I have no idea if I’ve ever eaten 30 month old beef or not. You know why? Cuz I’ve never asked! I don’t really care if its 30 months, 20 months, or just died 5 seconds ago, if it doesn’t KILL ME its OK!
One problem with Operation Total Dick:
Economic sanctions are illegal under the WTO. Beijing struck in Seoul with retaliatory tariffs before it joined the WTO in November 2001.
76 is correct, tariffs are not allowed unless it is in retaliation of another violation and it must be judged to be a violation by the WTO court. The Korean government’s position plays by the rules and the Korean people’s decisions do not have any bearing in the WTO court.
There technically is no correct answer to this problem. There just needs to be a bigger issue for Koreans to be pissed off about for a couple months until they forget this entire thing.
As for the age of the meat, the way the meat industry works, majority of the meat exported is at the very least a couple months old and always frozen. Freezing the meat makes it safe for consumption even after several years, it isn’t as if the meat is rotting in some locker for it’s lifespan.
Baltimoron, we are not suggesting overt retaliation against Korea. On the surface, we should look as cooperative as ever. Behind the scenens, however, we should do to the Koreans as the Koreans do to the civilized world. Afterall, Korea too is a member of the WTO while it acts to block US beef and other foreign products.
Korea turns away foreign goods not by out right bans, but by claiming “saftey” or other technical violations While doing so, of course they overlook the saftey of Chaebol products remembering the fat envelopes stuffed with cash that they received.
We can claim, for example, that Korean goods are not made in an environmentally responsible way. We can claim that product saftey data is suspicious and hold Korean products at our own ports until our own tests are conducted. In short, we can give Koreans a taste of their own medicine. It’s that simple. Korea must be made to see that it can no longer count on easy access to the market that made Korea rich over the last 40 years.
It is time to stop playing by simplistic western standards that Koreans are only willing to follow when it suits their narrow interests, but that are quick to skirt when they do not. A country like Korea is not a reliable partner, not a friend, not an ally. It is a sheister trading partner, and must be treated like one. It is time that we start to treat Korea the way it deserves to be treated.
Let us begin by kicking Koreans out of US universities. Sweeping through Koreatown to look for violations (illegal alcohol sales, smoking in bars where it is illegal, prostitution, tax evasion, etc.) Visa violators must be quickly deported. Most importantly, we have to send a single that Koreans can no longer get a free ride in the US.
Let me further suggest that we all work on informing people back home that Korea cannot be trusted. Images of Korean protests must be shown to those thinking of buying Korean products. The truth about corrupt Korean Chaebol practices must also be told to all those who represent potential buyers of Korean goods. The crimes of Korea must be well documented to encourage a total boycott of Korean goods.
The free ride for Korea must end!
I should have said “behind the scenes” and “send a signal”. I suppose I should learn to proof read before clicking “post”.
The take home message from my post:
Give Korea a taste of its own medicine.
한국제품불매합시다~!!
It’s not only the supermarkets that are doing it. McDonalds, Lotteria, and some restruants here are putting up “We only serve Aussie beef” signs.
#77: I agree that the issue will fade, but the LMB administration’s rep will never recover.
#78: Why hurt college students? Do you seriously think the ministries or chaebol will do any better job creating jobs to put grads to work and off the streets if the trade regime holding ROK together despite South Koreans’ desire otherwise just unravels. No, even more people will suffer.
No, if one wants to strike at a non-trade issue in retaliation, let it be the military part. That might actually have long-term positive knock-on effects.
And, if the Dems kill FTA, wouldn’t that be enough? The photo-op of an African-American man telling ROK it doesn’t deserve FTA would be priceless, even if bad for American retailers.
The proposal for kicking out Korean students and preventing them from entering the US, will help Korea and Canada. I’m all for that one. Sooner the better!
Pawi has value here because he gets everything wrong in nearly EXACTLY the same illogical way the average clueless ajossi (or Korean newspaper columnist) gets things wrong. He is in touch with his inner ajossi and transmits this to us. He’ll never convince us with all his shit, but he does put a flesh and blood person begind all the WTF logic we encounter.
Well, I guess this proves that Kyopo commentators here are hypocrites.
#83 Well put. All along I thought he was allowed to stay for hit count.
Koreans don’t consume cow brain and nerve tissues (spinal cords), where the disease is likely (but rarely) to incubate. But even if you wolf down a hot dog or bologne with “assorted” mystery parts the chances of infection is extremely remote.
I know Koreans are vulnerable to xenophobic hysteria, but I wonder if the majority is sensible enough to recognize the truth, but afraid to speak out. A chunk of the LA Korean community is international / foregin exchange students. I’ve eaten out with some of them who just arrived from Korea, and they consumed American beef products just fine. When I chide them about mad cow disease they’ll shrug it off. They distance themselves (subtlely or not) from “Those students” or “North Korean influenced people” who has nothing better than to stage protests of attend candlelight vigils.
To date, I haven’t met a newly arrived Korean who was uneasy about American beef. Maybe they were pressured to be part of that anti American crowd in Korea, but once they actually stepped foot in America, they changed their tune?
Something’s in the beef in Korea for them to act like this. Pathetic small thinkers.
irresponsible press+gullible public=disaster
If I were Joe Kimchi and I read the papers and watched TV, I’d be demonstrating, too. This is not the first time the agenda-driven press has incited the masses, and it won’t be the last.
I’m an American of Korean descent and those small minded South Koreans makes me ashamed to be Korean. I say we should stop playing nice and hit them with a retalitory trade ban on All imported Korean products. Those few small minded idiots causing all the problems will soon learn that you can’t bully us Americans around.
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