Korea Life Blog - Vacation: Philippines

Surprise! I'm leaving in the morning for 5 days in the Philippines. I was supposed to go to Shanghai, China, but my passport is too full of stamps for a Chinese visa which requires one full passport page. I could have gotten new pages added but it would take 3 extra days and I had no time. This is what I get for not planning ahead. Then I tried Pattaya, Thailand, but no tickets were available as this is peak season. So I decided to go to the Philippines. So many nearby countries to choose from! I'm actually pretty excited. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update from there or not, depends on what the PC rooms are like and if I have time. I made a new page that will detail my journey.


Click here for Vacation: Philippines

written by shawn matthews    -|link

Korea Life Blog - Molla Game


I found this game while walking around in Suwon. I call it Molla Game. (Molla means "I don't know" in Korean, one of the first expressions you pick up on.) Actually, I do know, but I thought it may be a joyful riot if my readers guess and make jokes about how it's supposed to be played. Funniest idea wins the laughter of readers around the world!

written by shawn matthews    -|link

Korea Life Blog - McDonald's Dessert Center


I'm not sure if they have these back in the states, but they are popping up in a few places around Korea. No, you can't buy a hamburger here. You can only get coffee, pies, ice cream and whatever other McD's desserts. A small ice cream cone goes for 500 Won here, or about 40 cents. In the regular McD's here a small ice cream only costs 300 Won, or 25 cents. It's a hot day, just look at the line.

written by shawn matthews    -|link

Korea Life Blog - Over-employment

If you have ever been to Korea you know how they tend to over-employ here. Especially at the department stores. This is probably because minimun wage in Korea is 2,500 Won, or about $2.25. Others have said it's the culture: they believe it's helpful to customers. For foreigners anyway (and, oddly enough, every Korean I've talked to) it's usually uncomfortable and intimidating. It's not uncommon for there to be an employee in every single aisle. They follow you around and stand next to you when you try to look at something. Often they are aggressive. On a number of occasions I have not purchased what I wanted simply because the sales person was completely annoying. While they may think they are being helpful, they make you feel as if you're about to steal something, the way the follow you and watch you. When they do this I will purposely act insane: walking in circles, zig zagging left and right, back around, ducking behind a display, leaping out, shucking and jiving, all the while laughing maniacally and bewildering the desperate sales clerk. Overemployment doesn't only occurr at the department stores though, it's at the grocery stores, and even at the American fast food chains.


On a sunday evening, I stop off at the Baskin Robins in Suwon where one employee makes my milkshake and three others observe. A classic example of over-employment, brought to you by Korean Life Blog.

written by shawn matthews    -|link

Korea Life Blog - Apartment Madness

With so many people and not enough land, the only solution is high hise apartment buildings. They're tall, they're plain, they block all the scenery, they're everywhere. I have for you here now a stunning collection of modern Korean living taken from a new resedential area somewhere in Suwon.


Hundreds of apartments loom into the distance. Looks like something out of a science fiction movie. Run! Highrise apartments are invading!


Modern day Korea: a clean, safe street, new buildings, giant apartments in the distance.


For a mere $200,000-$300,000 dollars you can move here. Imagine saving your entire life to buy one of these apartments. It boggles my mind considering what that money could buy you in Western countries. The good side is the value of apartments skyrocket here, meaning you can get rich easy if you have money to purchase a unit and sell it even just a few years later. The rich keep getting richer in life.

(oops, picture deleted)
A Pizza Hut, a hospital, and SK high rise apartments. SK, one of the Korean major monoplistic conglemerates controls most of the telecommunications market. In the states it would be like moving into Verizon Apartments. All of the big names here make apartments, including Samsung and Hyundai. As if they don't make enough money otherwise. Can you imagine moving into Microsoft Apartments?


It's been a busy day. Sit down and relax. Enjoy a cold drink and the excellent view.


A massive complex. Can't they come up with some different designs? They all look exactly the same!



Here is a new elementary school. Why can't they make apartments look like this?

I hope you enjoyed this collection. Have a nice day.

written by shawn matthews    -|link