From: seo@capone.ccsm.uiuc.edu (Jong-Wook Seo)
Subject: Don't Preach! (I : "Orange-Jok" Economy)
Organization: Microelectronics Lab - Univ. of Illinios
Distribution: soc.culture.korean
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 17:34:56 GMT

I have tried to stay away from the "Orange-Jok" argument.
Mostly because I don't have enough time to talk about something going on 
in a society which I am not directly participated in at this moment, and 
partly because I don't have enough information about the issue.
(Actually, when I was in Korea, there was no such a thing.
The only information I have gotten is from limited source.)
But, I think the story has gone too far. 
They even called the reaction of the Korean public to the so-called 
"Orange-Jok" to be "Sa-Chon-I  DDang-Ul-Sa-Myun  Bae-Ga-A-Pu-Da" sort of 
thing.
What the hell!

They even tried to brought examples such as Beverly Hills - South Central 
LA and Fifth Ave. - East Harlem.
The same person even continues to say "Urban problems are everywhere".
So, what?
Do you know anything about what the real nature of the Korean urban 
problem is?
Even if you don't care much about it, any problem America has can be in 
other society?

Another person asked "If they made their money legally, what's the 
problem?".
I was amazed by this easy spoken story.
Anyway, who are 'THEY?
Are the guys claimed to be "Orange-Jok" 'THEY'?
Let me tell you the real story.

The main reason why Korean public has criticized the "Orange-Jok" is NOT 
because they are too stupid to know about such a simple story.
It is because of the so-called economy driving policy in Korea.
The Korean government has used a low-tax-to-rich policy to boost the 
economic development. (I hope you have heard about this. I also hope you 
don't start to talk about the validity or effectiveness or even morality 
of this policy. From any of your previous postings, I haven't seen any 
implications about this.)

No matter whether the policy is the right one or not, riches make more 
money and easily under this policy.
And, this encourages Korean riches to reinvest their money into Korean 
economy again.
That's the one of the main reasons why riches in Korea do really invest 
back to Korean economy.
(Of course, some 'smart' garbage took money away, mostly to America.
And, we thank America for taking those garbage.
But, we are so sorry about not being able to stop them to the hard working 
Korean-Americans.)

Now, under this circumstance, the money made under unfair tax policy 
should be 'persuaded' to reinvest in reproduction, NOT to 'buy whatever 
they want'.
How?
The only way is just by publicizing their wrong lifestyle whenever they 
forget this.
This is how your 'motherland' is doing to rebuild her economy.
This is how the country with full of 'stupid' people who don't even know 
how the f*** important the cultural diversity is has increased its 
national economic size by 98 times last three decades.
They, our people, are not stupid like you dare to insult to be so.
They have been living really hard time to develop national economy, not to 
learn what the individualism is about.

SO, your simple story doesn't apply in Korea.
No way!
The money they have is not only theirs, but also people's.
That is what the social contract is all about.
That is the blood and tears of our people, forty million Korean people.
They don't deserve spending they money in Chicago to trickle down to a 
person who later claimed that he 'hasn't walked on Korean street since 
long time ago'.
There will never been trans-Pacific tour to Chicago in near future until 
our society finishes the establishment and the redistribution of our 
wealth among our people in reasonable extent.
No way!

I don't care how much 'individualistic' you are.
Who cares?
BUT, I care about the same thing in Korea for the guys who shouldn't 
forget they are NOT individuals.

One more thing.
Let me talk about 'they' in "If they made their money legally, what's the 
problem?".
As far as I think, the guys named to be "Orange-Jok" are not the guys who 
made the money they are spending even if we accept the story.
Their parents made it.
I was really amazed by the inconsistency the person has shown to us.
He has tried to apply American ethics to Korea directly and indirectly.
But, why not here?

By telling you an episode I was involved in, I am going to ask about this.
Once, one of my American friends asked about a Korean man who he knows 
somehow.
He asked how rich he is.
(The Korean man gave him an impression to be rich, I guess.)
I said he is very rich.
He asked how can a student be that rich.
I answered that his farther is rich.
My wonderful friend, however, did not understand the concept.
Within my understanding, that is the typical American ethics.
(As long as in public.
The reason why I put this 'redundant' stuff is what has been said by you 
is about ethics, not the personal reality.)

Anyway, the people in Korea are NOT that stupid.
Folks do not preach.
And finally,

   "IF ANY WOULD NOT WORK, NEITHER SHALL HE EAT"

at least in Korea.




Jong-Wook Seo


p.s. : ... to be continued
         ... Any comment will be welcomed.
         ... No guarantee for timely response.