Why Korea is a Third World Country: Reason No. 354

To tell whether a country is in the third world (as various global organisations must) you should follow a predetermined set of criteria.

I think it's a more personal approach, however, that truly decides whether a country is part of the 'civilised,' world.

In my case, I have found both sides of this particular coin to be true.  The telecommunications network is the most advanced in the world.  The road network is sublime (especially considering the terrain they must traverse) and buildings are demolished and erected in days - not months as is the case in England.

Problems arise when you look at the people however.  Disease and illness are exceedingly high, because the quality of life for working people is poor.  Everyone works far too hard for relatively little pay.  The upshot is stress-related illness.

There are an increasing number of elderly out of work, relying on picking up garbage to sell to scrap dealers.  The fact that dozens of carts (cobbled together from scrap wood, metal and tyres - immediately recognisable as transport for recyclable goods) are parked along our road suggests this is a common activity.

Complaints are rife that England is a 'booze nation,' because every Friday signals the beginning of a weekend bender.

Every day is a booze fest here, with people drinking and passing out on a regular basis.  The town is relatively small, but there are around one hundred bars (a rough estimate) in this area alone.

Then we come to the people.  Using the Korean teachers as an example: they are beyond stupid.  They are so dense you could use them as paper weights.

The Korean teachers complain every day about us receiving over-time.  (Which is paid at 3 pounds an hour, by the way)  Their argument is that we use overtime to complete lesson plans, which they manage to do without overtime.

This sounds reasonable, except that they get over 12 hours a week (during school) without students, with which they can do their lesson plans.

We get zero hours a week.

This comes about because their kids are sent to music classes, English classes, art classes, gym classes and so-on.

They also complain that we get free apartments.

Again, a reasonable concern.

Except that they earn four times more than we do.  An entire nation of lobotomised individuals?  Incredible.

Then they complain that we get a free bus in the morning; they have to pay for it.

Another valid concern.

Except they all drive cars.


Christ almighty, these people are so moronic they make americans look like Nobel Prize candidates.

And they smell of cigarettes and alcohol.