Korea- Too boring

[Syt]

http://world.time.com/2013/03/25/filial-pity-is-south-korea-doing-enough-to-stop-elderly-suicides/

Filial Pity: Is South Korea Doing Enough to Stop Elderly Suicides?

The Korea Suicide Prevention Center has a message for the people of South Korea: "Life is precious! We can protect it." The slogan, displayed in pamphlets, placards and on its website, is meant to encourage people to seek help if they are feeling suicidal. All too often, it seems, that message is not getting through. An average of 43 people commit suicide on any given day, making South Korea the most suicide-prone country in the developed world. Unlike most rich countries, South Korea's suicide rate — nearly triple that of the U.S. — has been rising dramatically, jumping by 101.8% from 2000 to 2010. The rate is twice as high among the elderly.

(MORE: South Korea Rattled by Suicide of Bullied Teen)

Why are South Korean seniors so prone to suicide? Though researchers are still trying to understand the trend, they point to several overlapping factors. For one, there's history. Social workers say suicide among the elderly population is in some ways a by-product of the country's breakneck industrialization, an economic transformation that turned South Korea into one of the richest nations in the world. During this time especially, the whole country was so fixated on prosperity that people who were more economically productive were considered more valuable members of society. That perception still exists. Elderly citizens, who are generally perceived as less productive, are therefore seen as less valuable. "Our society has become extremely competitive in the past 30 to 40 years of economic development, and we have turned into a society that does not care for our weakest members," explains Kim Dong-hyun, who teaches social medicine at Hallym University.

The country's economic transformation has changed social relations too. Confucianism, which emphasizes filial piety, has been the bedrock of Korean society for hundreds of years and, historically, older citizens would rely on their children to take care of them. That is changing and has been compounded by high rates of migration. Today many older Koreans do not live under same roof as their children and grandchildren. "The collapse of communities and the collective ostracization of elderly citizens are driving them over the edge," says Kim.

When the elderly end up alone, they often have little in the way of a safety net. South Korea has one of the lowest rates of social spending among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the country's old-age poverty rate is the highest among rich nations. In 2005, more than 45% of Koreans aged 65 and above lived in relative poverty, according to the OECD. Seoul introduced a national pension service, but in 1988 — too late for many of today's elderly citizens. In 2008, the government started the Basic Old-Age Pension System for people who meet income and asset requirements; roughly 70% of the elderly receive benefits under this scheme. Even so, the amount they receive sometimes falls short of the elderly living costs recommended by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

(MORE: Seoul Launches Suicide Watchdog)

The government is starting to take some action. Two years ago, Seoul enacted a suicide-prevention law, but a meager budget constrains the effectiveness and scope of government policies. Last year, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), the government spent $3 million on suicide-prevention programs — a mere 0.5% of what Japan spent in 2010 for the same purpose. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare started a new suicide-prevention program called Look, Listen, Talk for caretakers and schoolteachers. And two weeks ago, the National Assembly launched a campaign to expand counseling services for suicide-prone citizens. Although such programs are necessary, critics say they focus on intervention rather than getting rid of conditions that push people over the edge. "For prevention projects we need budgetary support," says Chang Young-sik a researcher at KIHASA. "The government has tried to cope with the problem but it has not done enough yet."

On the policy front, the government needs to invest more money to promote the well-being of senior citizens. A bigger budget for the elderly means more jobs and community centers and higher basic pension benefits — all of which could help alleviate old-age poverty and loneliness. "We need to think about the fundamental problem of why so many elderly citizens are mired in poverty and driven to despair," says Ha Jung-hwa, a professor of social welfare at Seoul National University. "I wish Korean society would operate under the basic premise that elderly citizens also have a right to happiness and a right to end their lives with beauty."

I blame Tim.

[Josquius]

No plans.
Just looks seedy. In a dark alleyway , old an  messy and and the guy working there looks kinda....dodgy.

Price....eh.... can't recall. 3000 yen or so a night I guess

[jimmy olsen]

This is what you get for like $41

http://www.agoda.com/asia/south_korea/seoul/show_tel.html?asq=BNOmgoyPDC0QVEMNTwiltaI47qwGAZBNk1LrYbxuWFg%3d

[jimmy olsen]

So, how you doing? What have you visited so far?

Bought train tickets, will arrive at Seoul Station at 6:22 on Friday

[Josquius]

Saw most of the palaces yesterday. They're all rather samey but nice enough,  very Chinese styled.

I've been trying lots of American food which you can't get elsewhere. Tried taco bell for the first time, it was ok but small for the price. I note a lot of decently priced pizza about, I shall have to get that tonight. So much American stuff....
I did have some Korean food though. Kimchi and cheese ramen and Korean gyoza, which I didn't know they did here. It was good.

Pub wise I have not spotted much. Wednesday had a couple in two foreign pubs. One of which had a big beer pong setup, a few other bars I noticed advertised that too. Wonder if that is American too, I only know it from Sweden.
Yesterday went walking to what is meant to be the indie area. What few potentially likely places I saw were empty. Couldn't find the one I was looking for. Lots of shouty generic bars about. One, rather delightfully called club ho, is everywhere. I think Japan has aged me. I've never been big on clubs but the loud terrible music never repulsed me so much. This supposed Korean Camden seems more like roppongi than shimokita

Girls seem normal. More taller ones than Japan maybe, which is nice, but generally they're rather  the same. Not too many cases of overt plasticism have been noticed. Not that I have any hopes of anything, but it's nice to look.

Japanese seems much more widespread than English here. Japanese pubs are everywhere and lots of restaurants with japanese but not English menus.

Today suwon. At some point I've the royal temple, a final palace and the war museum to do. Maybe the big tower too.

[Eddie Teach]

Tried taco bell for the first time, it was ok but small for the price.

I suppose you're paying theme park Taco Bell prices and not regular Taco Bell prices there. It's one of the cheapest places to eat around in the US. But tourists will overpay.

[Tonitrus]

I went to a Korean BBQ last week. It was pretty good!

[Admiral Yi]

FYI Squeeze, cheese ramen is not a typically Korean dish.  Cheese is as alien to Korea as it is to anywhere else in East Asia.

[Razgovory]

http://world.time.com/2013/03/25/filial-pity-is-south-korea-doing-enough-to-stop-elderly-suicides/

Filial Pity: Is South Korea Doing Enough to Stop Elderly Suicides?

The Korea Suicide Prevention Center has a message for the people of South Korea: "Life is precious! We can protect it." The slogan, displayed in pamphlets, placards and on its website, is meant to encourage people to seek help if they are feeling suicidal. All too often, it seems, that message is not getting through. An average of 43 people commit suicide on any given day, making South Korea the most suicide-prone country in the developed world. Unlike most rich countries, South Korea's suicide rate — nearly triple that of the U.S. — has been rising dramatically, jumping by 101.8% from 2000 to 2010. The rate is twice as high among the elderly.

(MORE: South Korea Rattled by Suicide of Bullied Teen)

Why are South Korean seniors so prone to suicide? Though researchers are still trying to understand the trend, they point to several overlapping factors. For one, there's history. Social workers say suicide among the elderly population is in some ways a by-product of the country's breakneck industrialization, an economic transformation that turned South Korea into one of the richest nations in the world. During this time especially, the whole country was so fixated on prosperity that people who were more economically productive were considered more valuable members of society. That perception still exists. Elderly citizens, who are generally perceived as less productive, are therefore seen as less valuable. "Our society has become extremely competitive in the past 30 to 40 years of economic development, and we have turned into a society that does not care for our weakest members," explains Kim Dong-hyun, who teaches social medicine at Hallym University.

The country's economic transformation has changed social relations too. Confucianism, which emphasizes filial piety, has been the bedrock of Korean society for hundreds of years and, historically, older citizens would rely on their children to take care of them. That is changing and has been compounded by high rates of migration. Today many older Koreans do not live under same roof as their children and grandchildren. "The collapse of communities and the collective ostracization of elderly citizens are driving them over the edge," says Kim.

When the elderly end up alone, they often have little in the way of a safety net. South Korea has one of the lowest rates of social spending among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the country's old-age poverty rate is the highest among rich nations. In 2005, more than 45% of Koreans aged 65 and above lived in relative poverty, according to the OECD. Seoul introduced a national pension service, but in 1988 — too late for many of today's elderly citizens. In 2008, the government started the Basic Old-Age Pension System for people who meet income and asset requirements; roughly 70% of the elderly receive benefits under this scheme. Even so, the amount they receive sometimes falls short of the elderly living costs recommended by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

(MORE: Seoul Launches Suicide Watchdog)

The government is starting to take some action. Two years ago, Seoul enacted a suicide-prevention law, but a meager budget constrains the effectiveness and scope of government policies. Last year, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), the government spent $3 million on suicide-prevention programs — a mere 0.5% of what Japan spent in 2010 for the same purpose. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare started a new suicide-prevention program called Look, Listen, Talk for caretakers and schoolteachers. And two weeks ago, the National Assembly launched a campaign to expand counseling services for suicide-prone citizens. Although such programs are necessary, critics say they focus on intervention rather than getting rid of conditions that push people over the edge. "For prevention projects we need budgetary support," says Chang Young-sik a researcher at KIHASA. "The government has tried to cope with the problem but it has not done enough yet."

On the policy front, the government needs to invest more money to promote the well-being of senior citizens. A bigger budget for the elderly means more jobs and community centers and higher basic pension benefits — all of which could help alleviate old-age poverty and loneliness. "We need to think about the fundamental problem of why so many elderly citizens are mired in poverty and driven to despair," says Ha Jung-hwa, a professor of social welfare at Seoul National University. "I wish Korean society would operate under the basic premise that elderly citizens also have a right to happiness and a right to end their lives with beauty."

I blame Tim.

Don't kill your self Yi!  It'll get better!

[jimmy olsen]

Saw most of the palaces yesterday. They're all rather samey but nice enough,  very Chinese styled.

Changdeokgung palace is by far the superior one in my opinion.
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264348

I've been trying lots of American food which you can't get elsewhere. Tried taco bell for the first time, it was ok but small for the price. I note a lot of decently priced pizza about, I shall have to get that tonight. So much American stuff....
I did have some Korean food though. Kimchi and cheese ramen and Korean gyoza, which I didn't know they did here. It was good.

You gotta try Korean barbeque, it's the best thing they do.

Pub wise I have not spotted much. Wednesday had a couple in two foreign pubs. One of which had a big beer pong setup, a few other bars I noticed advertised that too. Wonder if that is American too, I only know it from Sweden.
Yesterday went walking to what is meant to be the indie area. What few potentially likely places I saw were empty. Couldn't find the one I was looking for. Lots of shouty generic bars about. One, rather delightfully called club ho, is everywhere. I think Japan has aged me. I've never been big on clubs but the loud terrible music never repulsed me so much. This supposed Korean Camden seems more like roppongi than shimokita

Hongdae has many more clubs than actual bars, and even most bars get so packed with people they might as well be. That's just how it is. I know a few places you might like. Club Ho is actual a place for couples to go on dates!

[jimmy olsen]

I'm pretty sure we've told you this before, but yes, Beer Pong is American.

[Josquius]

Suwon is awesome. shits on any of the seoul attractions



club ho is for dates? lol. i got the opposite impression, that it was aimed at men. what with the name, loud music andgeneral aura.
why so many of them?

[jimmy olsen]

Suwon is awesome. shits on any of the seoul attractions

I love Suwon but that's straight up crazy talk.

Have you been to the Memorial Museum in Yongsan? Have you been to the National Museum? Changdeokgung Palace? Namsan Tower?

[Josquius]

Palace- yes. Others not yet.

One annoying/weird thing about Korea...the money. Feels so weird for 10000 to be 10 dollars and to spend two notes for buying a drink. Guess Americans are used to it with the paper dollar stuff. Doesn't feel right though. Notes are meant to be worth significant money dammit

[jimmy olsen]

The Memorial Museum is incredible. For a Languishite I'd rank it the #1 attraction in Korea. The Nationalist Museum in Cheonan is also pretty high on the list. I could take you to it if you come down here on Sunday. The National  Museum in Seoul (traditional art) is pretty good too.