Comments on: Further reflections on Seoul

By: tewkewl

tewkewl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:24:23 +0000

where were you staying… jesus, you make seoul sound like manilla. rural poverty? what the fuck are you talking about? i was an xpat in seoul last year for a year and in japan two years before that… with a stint down under in between (work for an international company … have to travel a lot). Korea is definitely grittier than japan, but there aren’t any signs of poverty on a daily basis. on the contrary, seoul was a hustling bustling metropolis. ever been to new york or rome? you telling me you don’t see horrendous driving in those cities? you don’t see street vendors there. In my opinion, of the cleanest cities i’ve been to in asia (and I’ve been to all the big ones)… it’s easily
1. singapore
2. tokyo
3. seoul

where the fuck have you been in china? i’ve been to the major cities on business, and shang hai, beijing, or qingdao (or any of the industrial centers) is as clean as seoul.

Also, the nightlife in japan is okay, but it’s NOTHING like it is in seoul. Seoul is definitely the place to party in Asia. There are some neighborhoods in hong kong that rock as well… but it’s mostly white folks partying at those places and not asians.

I am utterly shocked by your unflattering portrayal. After having lived all over, i can’t understand how a person who has traveled anywhere can say the things you have said.

By: LeMartian

LeMartian — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:54:59 +0000

I was in Korea in October and agree to your description of Seoul to a great deal. Tokyo is surely more developed and ‘Western’ like. But the city has that
old rustiness and taste that Tokyo just does not have, something closer to Asia, something close to nature. I feel that over-organization has diminished the charm of Tokyo, just like here in Australia. I mean every patch of grass, monument (historic or otherwise), artifacts, natural sites seem to be over polished in Tokyo ( like in Melbourne), I would have preferred them to grow a little bit with time and kina ‘old’ – if that is the right word.

You should visit China, its a much better place to see what Asia has to offer, than either Korea or Japan.

By: Johan

Johan — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:47:17 +0000

Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion I guess. I base my thoughts on Korea on a couple of months’ stay in Seoul and 10 years in Japan; and I guess your views are based on an opposite situation.

I am not saying that what I found in my visit to Korea be the final and ultimate truth, it’s still just one man’s opinion.

I do find it strange to judge a whole country by what a few fisherman do, though. Further, as you might know there is a movement going on within Japan to reduce and ultimately abolish dolphin fishing.

By: Dean

Dean — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:02:46 +0000

I found your report to be extremely one sided

I Have been both to Korea and Japan – at the moment I live in Korea and London while spending a few weeks of the year working in Tokyo.

One thing that really struck me about Japan is their absolute obsession with sex and pornography which i found foul and sickening, but I think that this is a Japenese charachter trait – but then again we are talking about a country that only prohibited child porn in 1989 – (and even then not really) – they have booths for businessmen in Japan where schoolgirls flash/strip – oh and yes they are actually school girls!! the age of consent in Japin is 13 years of age dont forget. (same as Korea – but this type of activity is obviously illegal here – but not in Japan apparently):

Follow this link:
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200012/27/eng20001227_58927.html

I find Koreans are more natuaral and friendly than Japenese – they tend to be chaotic and charismatic – charisma is not something that Japenese people could be ever accused of – they tend to do things with passon and because they want to rather than because they have to or it is expected of them.

Dont get me wrong I dont hate Japan – I just think that as a race somewhere along the lines their morals have become a little twisted – well seriously twisted to be honest. I mean who hunts dolphins FFS – I know Koreans eat dogs – less and less these days – but dolphins – check out you tube

Think that I would take Korea anyday over Japan – Like the people more -

By: Johan

Johan — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:22:32 +0000

Yeah, the markets in Korea are like a cross of Ame-Yoko and the Tsukiji fish market, but a lot messier and chaotic it seems….

By: macky

macky — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 04:43:43 +0000

I have not been in Korea, but I suppose Korea look like Tsukiji Market and the outside of the market. Both seems to be full of energy.

By the way, your blog is very interesting and could you exchange the link? I have added your blog to my links at TokyoDailyPhoto, http://artofjpn3.blogspot.com/

Have a nice weekend:-))

macky

By: Johan

Johan — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:19:56 +0000

Glad to hear I’m not imagining things or being some kind of “Tokyo elitist” or anything.

It’s defintely a city with a quite different vibe.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:08:30 +0000

Even after spending only a few days in Seoul I had very similar impressions, especially in regards to Japan being “less Asian” as well as Seoul lacking in the “aesthetics” department.

I arrived thinking it was going to “Tokyo but everybody speaking Korean.” Three days later I’d had enough experiences with dirtiness and blatant poverty to realize that the two are very distinct.