Korea vs. South Africa!

[asth77.livejournal.com]

[Hancinema's Korea Diary] Korea vs. South Africa!



It's been four years since I've been back in my home country of South Africa. Now, after being home for a week, I thought it would be a good time, while thoughts of Korean life was still fresh, to put these two countries head-to-head in a number of different areas to see who trumps who! Before I came back home I anticipated some of the changes I would have to tackle as I re-immersed myself back into South African culture. This is what most foreigners will have to face when they eventually leave Korea and settling in back home. So here it is, Korea Vs. South Africa going at it for 8 rounds for the crown!

ROUND 1: Transportation - KOREA

Korea has an amazing public transportation system. From their reliable and extensive bus system, to their convenient subways and affordable cabs, Korea is an absolute pleasure to get around! Not owning a car in their big cities is not a problem at all, and it was actually quite refreshing to know that I could get by without having to brave their roads in car. Their "T-Money" card system will let you pay for all forms of transport, adding to the convenience factor and making travel all the more enjoyable.

In South Africa, owning a car is pretty much a must. Our public transport is seriously underdeveloped and most of the middle-class is left with no other choice than to purchase one. Cabs are slowly becoming more visible, but the cost of jumping in one is exorbitant, and a robust railway system just isn't in place to challenge Korea's metro system. That said, despite the need to own a car, being able to drive again brings a great amount of personal freedom. Peak traffic times aside, driving in South Africa is a pleasurable experience. The open roads, fresh air, and the big open sky make it really. In fact, it's pretty much one of the first things I do every time I come back here.

ROUND 2: Health Care – Korea

It is required in Korea to register for their public health care service. If I remember correctly, my boss was taking out around $40 for this a month, an incredibly low amount consider how efficient and convenient it is to go to a doctor in Korea. You are attended to in no time at all, and, by in large, their service delivery is top notch. However, many doctors in Korea tend over-react and under medicate at times. Relatively small health issues are sometimes approached with a hyper-cautiousness and they after care will have most foreigners scratching their heads. Medication, especially painkillers, is weak and doctors are reluctant to prescribe anything that might actually be strong enough to help with any pain you might be experiencing.

Just today I had a representative from Discovery Health come by to my house to show me some private health care packages. Although the national health system in South Africa, I am told, is getting better, it is still not good enough to inspire confidence. Hence, I will be forking out the extra cash to be apart of the private health care system. Korea is head and shoulders above SA in this department.

ROUND 3: Food – South Africa

One of Korea's biggest attractions is its food culture. Compared to most Western countries, Korea offers travelers a wide variety of unique local flavors and treats that are as delicious as they are alien. That is, if you are willing to dive in and embrace all that Korea cuisine has to offer. For those who are less adventurous, the lack of variety and choice will cause some tension and even be a deal breaker. Korean food is initially exciting and new, but it won't take long for you to reminisce about some of the flavors back home.

South Africa is a very diverse nation, and with that comes a good choice of food. Indian, Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, European, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, they're all there along with some of South Africa's own specialties. It's not even just the restaurants that please, grocery stores are packed with an abundance of choice that, when compared to grocery shopping in Korea, makes us look like an international buffet!

ROUND 4: Friends – Tie

It's hard leaving behind all your friends and family to go live halfway round the world. The memories, experiences, and the love you have for them is put under pressure as your lives fork and you grow as a person in the process. Just as tough is making great friends in Korea and seeing them come and go like the season. If your lucky to have made a few friends here that are not on their way out in a couple months, it makes the whole process of saying good-bye all the more difficult. Many people struggle with this, and some even take personal measures to protect themselves from getting too close to people. So this one has to be a tie for me; as friends, both past and present, are still friends and saying good-bye or farewell to any of them is tough ask.

ROUND 5: Banking/Service Delivery –Korea

Although my final experience with Korea's banks was not a pleasant one, banking in Korea was excellent. Going into a branch and getting sometime sorted was generally hassle free – that is if you are able to bridge the language barrier if your Korean isn't strong enough. I recently walked into a bank in South Africa and saw everyone standing in a long line waiting to see the teller. Everyone was annoyed that they had to wait so long and the experience just isn't a pleasurable one. In Korea, instead of everyone standing in a line, you walk up and take a number and then sit and wait for it to be called. People are seated and relaxed, reading the news paper or buried in their phones – it's a much calmer atmosphere and much more efficient. Well done Korea!

ROUND 6: Housing – South Africa

My housing situation got better and better in Korea as the years rolled on. From my tiny first year apartment where I could almost touch all four walls at once, to an office-tell with a spacious loft, and then a comfortable three-room apartment. But despite my final dwelling be a godsend for my sanity, nothing can compare to the space you will find in South Africa. Having a garden and a swimming pool would blow most Korean's minds, but here it is quite common. Family members can have their own rooms, and there area enough bathrooms for all! I have seen a number of Korean apartments and I've see how families live in them. I feel almost guilty, and at the same time extremely grateful, for having the upbringing I did in comparison. This area is one-side bloodbath as Korea, even with some its most luxurious apartments, cannot compete with SA.

ROUND 7: Safety & Crime Rates – Korea

South Africa is famous for many things; unfortunately one of those things is crime. While my own personal experience in South Africa has yielded only but a few incidences of crime, it exists and is definitely something to be aware of while living here. My time in Korea has left me soft, as worry about things like theft and violent crime was almost completely off my radar. In Korea, I once heard a story through the grape vine of someone accidently leaving their bag on the subway, only to find it sitting on the vary seat they left it on while everyone stood around it – amazing. Petty and violent crime in Korea is nowhere near what South African's experiences, and while there is a fair amount of corporate crime in Korea, one's day-to-day existence in rarely affect by issues of personal safety and theft.

ROUND 8: The People – South Africa

I have often seen it be said that Koreans are an incredible polite and well-mannered bunch. Now, I am not saying that isn't the case, just that as a whole I found Koreans to handle foreigners, such as myself, will either kiddy-gloves or bear-knuckles. I have met many individuals in Korea that were nothing but a pleasure to be around, as well as the odd stranger who blew me away by their kindness and consideration. However, overall in my fours years I found them to be not as honestly welcoming as I had thought or as well mannered. While interacting with the average Korean, I found things to be a bit...artificial. There was the ever-present fact that I was not from here, and it dictated more interactions than I can say. There were also the small things like being bullied around the subway, having to put up with constant spitting, the stares because I was a foreigner, and a few other insulting experiences that where hard to swallow.

South African is a double-edge sword in this regard. Our cultural diversity makes daily life almost an adventure as I get to interact with so many different groups and races. I love having something to say to the petrol attendant, throwing a funny comment to the women in the bank lines, chatting to my neighbor, and even merging bar tables with strangers when I'm out for a drink. Of course, like most countries really, there are those groups of people whom I would rather not have to interact with, but I can't let a few bad apples stunt my general enthusiasm for wanting to interact with South Africa's diverse and, more often than not, friendly populace.

VERDICT...

Well there you have it! It looks like for now Korea has South Africa beat. It's only been a week since I've been back, but the memories of Korea are still fresh and seemingly in their favor. There are a number of other categories (such as sport, entertainment, life style, traveling, shopping, the environment, pollution) that may or may not have brought South Africa back into the fight, but for now it looks like Korea has a lot going for it as takes this narrow victory. Come on South Africa FIGHTING!!!

- C.J Wheeler (chriscjw@gmail.com)

Source : Hancinema

Comments

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

If they won't give you legitimate painkillers for pain then I'd give Korea a zero. Good healthcare isn't good healthcare if you have needs that aren't attended to because of fear from able doctors. And people spitting at you? wtf??? That's gross.

[lygiamy.livejournal.com]

But this comparison is between advanced economy nation and an underdeveloped one. It's not a surprise that services such as transportation and health services would be in the favour of South Korea.

I'd understand if it was a comparison based entirely on subjective opinion, but aside from the subjective aspects, this comparison is pretty much stating the obvious.

[asth77.livejournal.com]

why's that so wrong she's comparing two countries she's lived in?
I don't get your criticism.

[lygiamy.livejournal.com]

It's basically stating the obvious. That's all I mean.

[msdaccxx.livejournal.com]

I don't think most South Africans get to live in big houses with pools and huge gardens. They might get to work in one.

[4minutesluts.livejournal.com]

lol well said

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

I lived in P.Elizabeth for a few months in a middle/upper-middle class suburb and I don't remember any of my friends or neighbors having a pool and huge gardens lol.

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

Really? Half my family is from there and a huge house is dirt cheap there.
Furthermore, no matter how poor people are, they always have maids etc. It's just how it is there...for the most part.
I'm not gonna deny it has it's fair share of poverty

[msdaccxx.livejournal.com]

Yes, really. Most of South Africa's population of over 48 million people do not live in a house with a pool, huge garden and multiple bathrooms. Most will only enter such a house as employees. It is not, as is stated in the article and notwithstanding the experience of your relatives, quite common to have these things. It is, income wise, one of the most unequal societies in the world and a quarter of the population lives on approximately one US dollar a day. Roughly half live below the national poverty line. The article quoted is comparing a standard city apartment in Korea with a house that is beyond the reach of most South Africans. Indoor plumbing is beyond the reach of millions of South Africans. She's not comparing like with like.

As for "no matter how poor people are, they always have maids etc.", what?? Obviously, this is not the case, unless you are being selective in your definition of what constitutes a person. Are the maids not people?

[asth77.livejournal.com]

Do you live in South Africa?

[msdaccxx.livejournal.com]

No, but I can read and do basic research. I also work with several South Africans who visit the country regularly and are familiar with areas outside of swimming pool land - rural areas where water is still carried quite long distances and urban areas where taps and toilets are shared amongst multiple households and where the houses are one or two room cement block and tin constructions. People who have large houses with pools and multiple bathrooms and household staff are privileged and are living a lifestyle is not available to most South Africans.

[msdaccxx.livejournal.com]

Try South Africa's own official statistics site for recent information on living conditions and see if the housing situation she describes is typical

http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/statsabout.asp?PPN=P0310&SCH=5017

[asth77.livejournal.com]

thank you! I will look into that.

[msdaccxx.livejournal.com]

Pretty much, whoever wrote this article, when she says that big houses and pools etc are pretty common, she forgot to add "for people within in the same class and income bracket as me" ;)

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

I was not implying anything about maids, of course they are people.
What I was trying to say and obviously not well at all, was that even with the poverty that it has, you can get more in South Africa than you can in places like England for example with much less.

Let me reiterate, I don't deny that there is extreme poverty and I have seen first hand the gargantuan gap between classes. Half my family is from there, I'm from Zimbabwe, I know how much poverty can devastate.

What I'm trying to say is that the way the country is constructed is so different in that you can be 'poor' and still have a bigger house than one would expect. Will it be fancy with multiple bathrooms and exceptional furnishing? No but especially for foreigners, it doesn't require the millions you would have to pay here to actually attain a nice house there.

I can't really express my point very well. In a nutshell I'm just trying to say it's more accessible than in other countries.

[msdaccxx.livejournal.com]

I daresay you get more bang for your buck that you do in the UK or South Korea, but the type of housing described is still only enjoyed by a minority. That some of those people may be "poor" in comparison with inhabitants of other developed nations is neither here nor there. The housing she describes in South Korea is comparable to what the majority of South Koreans live in - small urban apartments. The housing she describes in South Africa is not comparable to what the majority of South Africans live in. So, it's not a like for like comparison.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Okay that was nice to know..

[annhh.livejournal.com]

don't get too carried away, korea isn't that different from japan

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

Having a garden and a swimming pool would blow most Korean's minds, but here it is quite common

I lived in Port Elizabeth for about 6 months in the western suburbs and I don't remember any of my friends and neighbors having a pool in their backyard. Is not common for the average middle/upper-middle class citizen imo.

Healthcare in SK is amazingly efficient but the doctors can be quite a headache if you are not used to their style, but I believe it really depends. The clinic I used to visit had great doctors and my experiences were pretty pleasant. It took me 4 months to get my migraine prescriptions in the country though, SK is extremely strict about medications and drugs for medic purposes.

I lived in Korea for about 20 months and still would choose Port Elizabeth over Seoul, but it's very relative, it all depends on your own experience.

It was an interesting read.

[ifuckingluvya.livejournal.com]

what a superficial review