The Beef With America
So, what’s the key?
I’m Korean. As Korean, I just want to say about the big problem in Korea about US beef.Why Koreans have to fight to their president?
April 18th, 2008, the president Lee Myung Bak of Korea and president Bush seemed to be so close. The problem is that they just seemed to be. Looking back, That was not good things at all. Because at the same time, the president of Korea agreed about importing US beef between Korea and US. Actually, at that time I thought that Koreans would must do some things that America is going to ask Korea and even if Koreans don’t want to do since Korea don’t’ have power.
That was true. After then, tens of thousands of Koreans are protesting US beef imports. All their desire is just that they don’t want to eat mad cow. In other words, they want government to renegotiate with America. That’s because America’s official announcement about their beef was not clear and Koreans could see the fact that we might have mad cow sometime through TV shows or online with plain some evidences. They are afraid of eating mad cow. Most of Koreans believe that US beef is not safe and will threaten their health.
However, in my opinion, the key is that Korea don’t have power. The president of Korea will also want to have safe beef and hope that Koreans will be happy as well. But this negotiation is not personal. It’s trade agreements between countries.Even if you were the president of Korea, the same situation would happen I guess. I would say that the issue is more political than economic.
A lot of Koreans are angry at the president and they think that the negotiation was unfair. That’s why they want renegotiation somehow. Koreans don’t believe government’s announcement of both America and Korea anymore, so they are protesting about the negotiation and president Lee Myung Bak by themselves on the street.
To be honest, I want them to stop doing it. Because I believe that the negotiation will fulfill the way America want to at the end. As a result, Koreans will seem to fight to each other in their own country. Their great protest might be ignored by America.
As Korean, I don’t want to say like this way though. However, in reality, I must admit the fact that America doesn’t care whether how many Koreans agree about this or not. Whether Koreans protest or not, America might think that it doesn’t matter at all.After all, Lee Myung Bak might rather get into trouble in Korea and out of Korea. How can we overcome this crisis? Any ideas?
Hey everyone, I would like to introduce a new occasional contributor to PoliticsAcrossThePond. Her name is Yun Mi and she lives in South Korea and has provided this insight into the current US-Korean Trade issue. Her first language is not English but I am sure most of the people who read this site will be able to gleam the main message of her posts. - Crian
June 16 2008 12:07 am | Korean Politics
June 16th, 2008 at 11:04 am
One question people should be asking follows. In an era of Global Warming, wouldn’t it make sense to cut way back on all transcontinental trade? We are generating a lot of extra CO2 just so corporations can pay lower wages.
June 16th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Libhomo,
No. Constraints on trade always, always lead to worse economic conditions, and more expensive, crappier products.
When I was in Ireland last year, I visited the RTE museum in Cork. There was a collection of Irish-made radios from the 30s, 40s and 1950s. See, in order to protect what little manufacturing Ireland had in those days, DeValera banned the import of foreign-made radios.
You never saw such a collection of junk in your life. They were ugly, unreliable and didn’t work worth a damn. Compared to the beautiful, high-quality and functional units made in Germany, the UK and the US, these looked like they came from Soviet Russia. And, they cost a lot more than people were paying in say, the UK.
Competition drives innovation. It also drives down costs. Trade restrictions make a few richer, but it makes almost everyone poorer.
It also gives politicians and bureaucrats the power to pick and choose which companies get protected. Which gives them wonderful opportunities to line their pockets.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Hey Lib, I am in agreement with Gordon on this one, I think society has come too far to cut back on trans-continental trade. The U.S nor Ireland could go back to the days where a significant part of the economy was comprised of manufacturing.
Global warming is one serious problem, I don’t think anyone can deny that especially here in Ireland considering we haven’t had snow in over 50 years. I don’t think cutting back on trade will improve the issue but developing “greener” technologies is the key.
Competition is good, otherwise you might end up like some of my friends in South Africa who are forced to pay exhorbitant amounts for broadband because there is only one telephone provider for the whole country.
On a side note, I know the radio’s that you are talking about Gordon, you should go to the musueum next time you come over, they have redone it and it looks mucb better.
Hey Yun Mi, given Korea’s close ties with America, I am surprised he American government has let this dispute go on for so long, I think someone within the current administration needs to step up and explain the american side of the trade deal to hopefully pacify some of the Korean population.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Crian,
I actually found the museum very interesting (besides the fact it’s located in the old Cork jail). Apparently the crew running the Cork station was a plucky bunch; they did what they could without much money or equipment.
Nowadays, of course, one person with a PC could do far more. There are quite a few radio stations in the US now that have done away with most local programming and just use a computer to control satellite feeds. Quite a change from the old days; I had several friends who cut their broadcast teeth working late night shifts in small-town radio stations.
June 18th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Hey Gordon, the days of radio have changed drastically, I am still fairly young though according to my parents it used to be much better 20 years ago. I do like the HD Radio, wide selection of stations now days. I actually use my PSP mainly for internet radio as I get to listen to classical piano music. The wonders of the modern age