TV, Newspapers & magazines
There are four major Korean TV networks broadcast nationwide - KBS, MBC & SBS and EBS, all
speaking in Korean only. EBS (Education Broadcasting Station) is a special channel devoted only to the
education of the people in speical courses, like college entrance examinations. AFKN, an English-language
station operated by the United States military in Korea, can be received in most areas. Also, Cable TV
services are available with a fair offering of programs from a lot of local services carriers, but not selected in
a certain area due to monopoly nature of the supply in a specific area. Many movies are shown in the
original language with Korean subtitles and others offer the original language on the second audio channel.
The Catch One movie channel offers premium movies for an additional monthly fee. Foreign program
channels, such as AFKN, CNN, Star World, Star Sports, and Channel V, and some Japanese channels, are
received via satellite that are operated by several local cable TV service carriers or directly through satellite
transmission device. Most of the major foreign programs channels are freely seen at international class
hotels.
Two English daily newspapers - The Korean Herald and The Korea Times, are available at most
newsstands in downtown in major cities in Korea and in most hotel gift shops. Most of the world major
newspaters and magazines are also avaiable from the local dealers, or in the international hotels in across
the nation.
There are many business-related English magazines available, but the most popular one, Business Korea,
is available from the bookstores or at the gift shops in major international hotels.
Seoul - the second priciest city in the world
Korean capital second only to Moscow
Seoul has been included in two top lists in separate global surveys conducted recently. First the bad
news - the Korean capital is reportedly the second most expensive city in the world after Moscow,
according to a survey by the Mercer Human Resource Consulting group. The property market played
a pivotal role in Seoul's inclusion into the list. In its survey for 2005, Seoul took the fifth place next
to Tokyo, Osaka, London and Moscow.
In Seoul, someone earning U$ 30,000 to U$ 40,000 a year can rent a two-bedroom apartment in a
middle class enclave near the city center for just U$400 a month. A two-bedroom unfurnished
apartment in Tokyo, however, costs U$ 2,352 a month, U$ 1,999 in New York and U$ 1,700 in London.
An otherwise decent income bracket - by global standards - can consign newly arrived migrants to
the periphery of the "Big Apple" in real estate terms, where, they are further taxed during the long
commutes to work. Seoul's excellent public transportation - interconnected within an encompassing
grid of subway and city bus routes - can cost less per month than a single cab fare from Manhattan
to a New York suburb.
When the aggregate cost of living in Seoul is juxtaposed vis-?-vis Korea's per capita income, Seoul
can indeed stretch one's wallet. Even then, comparisons have to account for the complexities
arising from Seoul's remarkable recovery from the East Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1997,
The chronic speculative investments in real states, which resulted in ever increasing prices as a
consequence has caught the Korean government and the citizens by surprise. There were social
tensions which made global headlines, which forced a multi-pronged restructuring in all tiers of
the economy and society. The delicate fiscal balancing acts that followed continue till this day.
However, Seoul fares better in terms of concomitant living costs. These can range from delicatessen
offerings to cigarettes to cab fares, despite coffee being used as another yardstick to name Seoul as
the second most expensive city in the world.
A cup of coffee plus service, according to the report, costs U$ 3.07 in Moscow and U$ 2.94 in Seoul,
compared to 1.90 in London. A music CD costs an average U$ 13.29 in Moscow, while in New York it
costs U$ 10.77.
Seoul's inclusion in this list points to contradictions that accompany Korea's stunning comeback
from the 1997 currency turmoil, and the appreciating won currency. On one hand, there are
immense pressures from the blue-color populace to level living
standards. This is the best epitomized by the annual summer labor strikes in Korea, and this year's
session has already kicked off. On the other hand, wealthier segments, especially the youngsters,
prefer a laissez-faire society to one anchored on social security. |
