From: phantom@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (James Choi)
Subject: Korean paradise
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 23:26:06 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.033152.10295@news.acns.nwu.edu> andrew@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Andrew Sung Hyun Kim) writes:
>Ah... the infamous Korean Paradise.... :)
>
>The land where there has highest death rate of male age between
>40-55 (from Korean newspaper... the causes given were high stress
>and long working hours).  

This must be seen in a cultural context.  The value of life and death is
different in the U.S. and in Korea.  I am not saying it is good, but it
should be considered that we are talking about a different culture.  :)

>Korea has the longest average work hours
>of any nation (I suppose this can be good).   

This high productivity brought Korea to where it is today.

>Already mentioned ills
>such as union (union is outlawed in certain profession),

Seeing all the ills the union causes in the U.S., this may be
understandable even benficial when seen under the context of KOREAN
CULTURE. :)

>  one
>of the largest per capita prostitution, 

But no pornography or even nude magazine.  This might have positive benefit
when seen under the context of the culture.  Besides, Korea is changing so
fast that you would not believe.  Any five year old perception is wrong.
Any statistic is bound to be outdated by the time it is printed.

>Amnestry International
>reports still large number of prisoners of conscience, use of
>torture is still widely practiced (according to AI), etc...

Korea is changing very rapidly.  With the new democratic government, I am
sure there will be a 180 degree turn in all these matters.  Remember that
Korea is changing, and we have to see it in the context of the culture.
Korea has a long history of beating the hell out of its citizen for
investigation or even to promote some voluntary donations to the officials.

>Oh, yes and these pristine students, I must not forget them.  I believe
>the drung abuse rate is going up (someone verify my numbers but
>something like 1-2% of teenagers).  I am sure you have heard about
>the 'sniffing glue' and inhaling butane gas.

This is nothing compared to the U.S.  Besides, you have to see it in the
context of the culture.  It seems serious when you say 1-2% of the
teenagers sniff the glue.  But see the other side,  98-99% are clear.  And
it will only get better for some reason.

>  Last years widely
>reported Da-Mi-Sun church had disproportionate number of teenagers.

Teens are succeptable for anything.  But remember that all of them
eventually went home.  That's good.

>What do many educaters and sociologist attribute cause of these
>abnomalities?   Answer : Education System.  It is not uncommon
>to hear about the suicides of teenagers who have failed the expectations
>of their parents/themselves in getting into the 'right' institution.
>It seems that almost every ill that was reported last year
>involving teenagers were attributed to the education system,
>including the chaos and masss hysteria from New Kids on the Block.

Nothing is perfect.  All these pressures on the kids were done with good
intentions.  In fact they are beaten out of good intentions, so being
pressured is kinda minor issue.  Who cares where it leads to, make sure to
pave the way with good intentions.  Besides, it is changing rapidly.

Therefore, Korea is the paradise on earth.  QED.

P.S. QED stands for "so what?" in Latin.

>Andrew Sung Hyun Kim

James Choi
Organization: Masters student, Civil Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA