For all you folks debating mad cow with Korean friends, relatives, and colleagues, we may just have something for you.
Bomb English (a little project that mixes the Korean drive to learn English with the need to get a different POV out there) is on its 16th episode and is straight-talking about the politics of the crazy cows.
While the opinions in the podcast aren’t exactly new to the average expat, our quickly-growing Korean audience is very much into hearing other points of view than in their dominant media.
The episode is good conversation fodder in general, while also being great ESL “real conversation” material for Koreans, since all episodes come with a full transcript. Listen — and we hope you might find it useful, especially if you’re in need of more materials to support this “teachable moment” and you’re sick of being the only one on your side of the fence in the classroom, the office, or your group of friends.
As much as we lament the apparent illogic of “Korean netizens,” the response to all of our episodes from our predominantly Korean listeners has been overwhelmingly positive, as we try to create a space for open debate, even as we make no bones about our opinions. It seems as if there are indeed some Koreans out there who both appreciate and can get into that.
48 Comments
The new government, Koreans, should right now be working like crazy forming up a long term plan to avert the looming economic disaster. Korea’s shrinking investments (both foreign and domestic), and growth stalled dead economy are real issues. Yet they’re stuck in a time machine, growing more inward and totally obsessed with - beef. My god this must be a joke. And why the hell do they think that bringing babies on strollers to violent demonstrations to protest, is heroic? One MBC news report showed this man bringing his kid on the stroller and blaming the police for a bad example of a grown up. The news report made the man out to be a hero.
One of these days, one of those kids are going to get hurt, and predictably, the police and the government will be held responsible for violating ‘democratic’ rights. Disgusting, primitive, backwards, and simply utterly disgusting and maddening.
#1,
It’s an exercise in fascism. There’s no other way to put it.
Countries and movements that use child soldiers are condemned.
I think the show was okay. I just read the transcript. I would have liked it better if they had brought up some more of the claims against American beef and then rebutted them. They spent a lot of time criticizing the Korean media and teachers, the messengers, but didn’t focus enough on the message.
Spruik alert
Yo, ’sup peeps? Have I got the high down on the low down of how to converse with American soldiers, Mormons and English teachers about Korea. You know its gotta be good.
Welcome to Korea (Just one in my stable of web sites that aims to promote the Korean experience and also help these wonderful guests adapt to life here) has just published its 218th edition, and this new one has the dope on how to walk like a Hankook homie, take your shoes off before entering yo amigo casa, and learning from listening and not shooting your lip off.
Please copy this comment and paste it in every internet bulletin board, blog and discussion list you view - or even better, convince Al gore to let you put it on every web page of the internet - you will be doing everyone a low brown like I am, and helping to edumacate the other peeps that keep rising up singing zippi-di-doo-dah about life in Korea.
If you post this five times, I” throw in some free chopsticks in a small plastic sleeve that were produced in Insadong. You can give this to your foreign friend to have them chowing down like us, and also provide a little bit of light entertainment on the side.
Now don’t be shy. I just know you be whisting dandy thinking I too can sell my wares on dis here Internet thingy. Well, come on down. If you work in an office, post a link, we all be friends here. If you r a commodities trader, real estate broker, underemployed geek, here is a great venue to promote your wares, (and get a little shiggy from those cute blog groupies dat be lurkin here).
If enough people like it, they come and buy and make you da man. If not, Mr Internet gonna shake his little head, and pull dat post faster dan you can say “fuck dat shit nigger”
What the hell was that?
#5 If the fact that you dislike one of the projects I am working on bothers you, that’s your right. If you dislike the content I help produce, that’s your right.
However, it’s original content that may be of use to the people on the Hole, and is relevant to the topic under much discussion. If you somehow think it’s too self-promoting or “commercial”, that is also a legitimate criticism, although I’d take issue with that, since we aren’t a pay service and no different than any other expat blog/project out there, save we’re trying to put out a professional, regular product in a show format.
That being said, I’d appreciate a criticism sans “zippi-di-doo-dah,” “homie,” and “nigger” references. I don’t see how that mocks anything other than the fact OF me being black, as opposed to an actual mode of speech or style that I actually use.
I don’t see how any of those references, are relevant or funny.
I haven’t the faintest idea.
Thanks for the link, Metro.
BTW, is that dong9chin9 guy a leftover from the recent ChimCom Olympic riot raid or has he been around longer? My commenter program needs some updating.
I reiterate what I said elsewhere. I believe as many Koreans do that the ’silent majority’ of Koreans KNOW that USBeef is safe and would eat it if it becomes available…the educated of Korea know the score. Unfortunately, most of this silent majority holds to the credo of conflict avoidance that is (believe it or not) part of polite Korean culture. They won’t speak up to say that they want US Beef because that would cause conflict with those who want to make a fuss.
If there is a way to make a referendum in Korean politics and have the general public go to the polls about this issue it would be interesting to see the results….if you could get this ’silent majority’ that my friends speak of to get out to the polls it would be a landslide in favor of US Beef.
Guess we’ll never know…as for US Beef at Costco; they said they would be selling it “when it becomes available.”
That kind of racist bs needs to be taken down now.
LMAO, the Metropolitician sure attracts the whackos. I don’t know whats funnier, the comments to a Metro post or the Metro’s reaction to such comments.
On a side note, Michael, references to race abound on this website. Disparaging remarks about Gyeopos make up a large proportion of insults leveled here, as are comments about Koreans and white guys. Are you saying African Americans are not entitled to be treated in the same way?
J.H. Christ I wish Metro could post without someone feeling like they have to be a dick and comment in ebonics or work in the n-word. …or both, as in this case.
dong9chin9…has it ever occured to you that it is quite possable you don’t have the intellectual capacity to appreciate your own rediculousness?
I think you imagine yourself somewhat of an intellectual and a satirical humorist shedding light with your clever capacity to manipulate words.
Really, when I read you post(s), I feel shame and embarrassment for you.
good post, dong9. keep up the good work.
All the more reason to retaliate. Remember 2002 — it was all fun and games until Uncle Sam starting transferring missions and withdrawing troops. It was only then that “the silent majority” started to speak. It’s easy to avoid conflict when you think their nonsense won’t have consequences that affect you.
Actually I found something like that in my refrigerator once and it turned out to be some old soon-dae.
Metro’s reaction is pretty much always funnier. In the present case, though, dong9chin9’s comment was so repulsive as to suck any further entertainment value out of baiting Metro. I think I’ll go watch the video after work, though. I remember liking the Seoulglow stuff last year.
17: R.Elgin: geez. I wish the leftovers in MY fridge spoke in ebonics. The best I can get out of my sundae is incoherent pig latin.
[bad pun alert]
Though my yogurt is very cultured.
Could there be any more damning of a post than to have Pawi articulate his appreciation ?
#12 — Hmm. I don’t know where I said or implied it was OK to be racist against kyopos or use slurs against them. I was simply responding to an inappropriate comment leveled in my direction.
Also, I’ve learned to just respond to only the issue at hand on the Hole, and not take on “the XXXism of the comment section” or other things not specifically relevant to the post at hand. I’ve fought that fight and lost. And I don’t think it’s my role to do that, since I’m a guest here, and the flame wars that result always eclipses whatever issue’s at hand.
Sure, I wish some people wouldn’t be XXXist or rude or all kinds of things on the Hole and other places, but that’s not gonna change by engaging those people directly — not in an anonymous forum. Especially when pointing out the obvious, i.e. “don’t be racist.” I figure that they’ve heard that before, so it’s not news to them.
So I just try to do my part by making good content and staying out of the mud from now on.
#18 — Oops. It’s just audio, though. More SeoulGlow to come, though. Sorry it’s just the one thing that had to get lower-prioritied in light of the four major projects going on right now, with me as a the bottleneck in all of them.
And thanks for listening to the podcast.
Could there be any more damning of a blog than to have Pawi unblocked?
distrust of US beef passed a point of no return.
ROK govt wants to exclude 30 month old beef.
US Expats. Proven wrong.
US gyopos. Ignored by ROK citizens.
Looks like things will work out, or will it?
Next time don’t write your congressman, saying hey, Senator, do this, because Korea is bad. Look at this, Korea is bad.
Email them links of Son Dam Bi.
Besides, when was the last time you said anything GOOD about Korea to your Congressman?
That’s right. Closet Korea Hater.
go apologize to your spouses and children, as well.
if they don’t know what you write here.
Please delete #5 and ban dong9chin9.
Re: #12
“Disparaging remarks about Gyeopos make up a large proportion of insults leveled here, as are comments about Koreans and white guys. Are you saying African Americans are not entitled to be treated in the same way?”
entitled ? I don’t appreciate the blatant stereotyping that goes on at the ‘Hole on a daily basis (why pawi and andy haven’t been banned and thus tolerated, I’m not sure), but that certainly doesn’t justify any further racial hatred.
What is increasingly clear to me is that some of you feel threatened by the fact a multi-ethnic Korean-American like Metro, one that has very good credentials to boot, is gradually winning the attention of the Korean media.
Michael, whatever you do, don’t ever leave Korea. Multi-ethnic Koreans need more people like, people who have the credentials and the eloquence to capture the ears of the Korean media.
most of the information the expat presents here is sourced from the us government. that means, you can’t beleive what you read because the fda was done bought the cattle industry a long time ago.
as for americans eating 30 month old beef, that isn’t a well known fact here amongst the citizens. this is the first time i’ve heard of it and i’ve been a news junkie since i was ten. in fact, now that i know, i’ve begun to rethink my occasional consumption of beef (i’m a pork guy). i’ve cut out chicken and shrimp. i can do it with beef. if more americans knew about this, i wonder how many would feel the same as i do. you see, that’s whqt the expat doesn’t tell you. most americans don’t know how old their beef is. i don’t want to eat near 3 year old beef. i don’t care if the fda says there’s no risk.
as for the issue, why can’t america simply offer beef less than 30 months old? that’s what the koreans want. the koreans are trump style customers to the american beef industry. where’s the attitude of trying to please one of your largest customers? korea ain’t ghana. if the us beef industry wants korean business (which it does), stop treating korea as it were some kind of banana republic that can be dictated to.
microsoft done learned that lesson.
“ROK govt wants to exclude 30 month old beef.”
Well, you’re behind the news a bit. US producers promised yesterday to indicate the age of the cows when they were slaughtered on the packaging of meat. The ball is now in Korean consumers’s court. It’s now up to them to decide whether they want to import and ulitmately consume cows older or younger cows.
“most of the information the expat presents here is sourced from the us government. that means, you can’t beleive what you read because the fda was done bought the cattle industry a long time ago. ”
I’m not American and I still think you’re paranoid.
and start treating korea like korea treats its trading partners!
china done learned that lesson.
#28
Correction: “younger or older cows”.
My twenty won on this madness. Link from a comment posted earlier.
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/.....ent-157924
‘china done learned that lesson.’
robert, that was funny!
Keep eating that dead pig Pawi. We all know pig slaughter is beyond reproach. The hygienic methods, oohh the immaculate killing floor!
Few people are aware or care what the age of the beef is. If you want grade A, you buy grade A. If you want a thick cut you ask for it. Like it’s so thoroughly regulated here in Korea.
I’m pretty sure if the Korean government lifts the ban on US beef, Korean companies can buy whatever the hell kinda beef they want to buy from US companies.
If Koreans end up eating 60 month old US beef with maggots in it, it is NOT the fault of the US government, but the fault of the cheap-ass Korean beef import companies that bought that disgusting shit.
That’s what pisses me off so much about the whole issue. This is not a mandatory, dictatorial decree that all Koreans must eat 30 month old US beef at their next meal. This is LIFTING the BAN on IMPORTS. What is imported after the ban is lifted is entirely up to the private sector. NOT 2MB.
Times like this I think Dave’s is unfairly targetted as the center of negativity and drivel in Korea.
matomiguel, have you ever bought beef in America?
Does it say,
“I am from a cow slaughtered at 30 months of age or 20 months of age” ?
Does it ever?
wjk, first let me thank you for posting the clearest and most understandable post in your entire posting history.
I have bought beef in the US, since I was born and raised in Texas. It did not specify how old it was on the packaging. My best guess for why would be because consumers in the US don’t care.
It does, however, list every piece of relevant information that US consumers DO care about. And the wonderful thing about free enterprise and market forces are that if Korean consumers want to know how old their US beef is, US companies or Korean beef importers can label it by age in order to make a more appealing product. Customers would then buy that product more than unlabeled products, forcing the companies who are selling unlabeled products to label them. Its called “voting with your dollars” and is a very strong tradition in the US.
‘My best guess for why would be because consumers in the US don’t care.’
that’s because they don’t know. be honest. i’ll bet you if some piece of steak was labelled as aged for almost three years, few would buy it here.
just like over there.
as for labelling, they don’t do that here. why? you think it’s because americans don’t care or is it because the american beef industry would prefer most americans don’t know?
korea doesn’t want the us dumping it’s beef onto them. that’s their right. that’s the free market you speak of.
so, what’s the problem?
maddlew, i’m well aware of how pork is treated in this country. i’m aware because i seek. it’s my decision to make. nobody is forcing me. having said that, i have thought about getting rid of pork too but i am not sure i could make it as a vegan since i love bacon too much. in fact, i feel a bit sad i can’t eat my anshim with some crispy bacon wrapped by a lettuce leaf with kochujang, garlic, pepper, and sesame salt dip. man, that’s good!
“i’m aware because i seek. it’s my decision to make. nobody is forcing me. ”
This is exactly true of consumers in the beef question in Korea.
Why is it that you cannot eat you “anshim with some crispy bacon wrapped by a lettuce leaf with kochujang, garlic, pepper, and sesame salt dip”? Sounds like a good fusion idea.
slim , i am a bit shocked to discover that beef sold here may be up to three years old. i’m having second thoughts on whether i want to continue eating beef.
‘good fusion…’
most koreans i know scoff at the idea of using bacon for anshim koo-ee but they don’t know what they’re missing. it’s delicious the way i described. try it. it’s so easy.
Slender asparagus shoots might work well in there, too.
“why can’t america simply offer beef less than 30 months old? that’s what the koreans want.”
Mmm…You’re joking, right? Who ever said that “america” is only selling beef from cows that are over 30 months to South Korean importers? Besides, who is the biggest importer of beef to South Korea? Aren’t they the ones who make the ultimate decision? I can off to sell you bucket of BS swearing it tastes like chocolate pudding, but its your damn fault if you buy it.
#42,
You’re in the US and you’re eat beef? Why? There’s much tastier red meat to be had. You should be eating American bison instead. Try it, you’ll thank me.
#44…Didn’t notice Mateo already raised that point in #35.
#45,
Whoops…Shitty job at editing my comment.
“You’re in the US and you eat beef?”
My father’s from Imperial Valley. Brawley, specifically, and he got his degree in agriculture from Calpoly, Pomona. Our family is well aware of what we eat. We’re well aware of the age of beef and continue to eat it. We don’t become irrational about things that don’t matter. If we want to save money on beef for stew we’ll perhaps buy a lower grade of beef. If we want a steak we buy a higher grade.
Right now I buy Libby’s stewed beef at Hannam Market. It is probably brahma beef from older stock from Brasil more that likely. It makes great machaca.