후니의 이야기 공장-Hoony's Story Factory

Not openly spoken truth in Korea Part 1

 : Today, I want to talk about taking the credit(borrowing money with interest) not from Bank but from a private sector. And also about Dabang... slightly... And then later, I will write about Sex Industry in Korea.

 The following business card sized ads are on the money loan from a private sector including small companies and persons. The interest rate is so high such as more than 15% to 40%. You can see these kinds of Ads so many times in Korea. This is a kind of last resort to a cornered person who desperately seeks money for an urgent need.

Usual Ads on the street

  Dabang(다방, 茶房) means "Tea Room" in Korean. Originally it was place for chatting and meeting for people in Korea. What we expect from the place is a pretty waitress serving a cup of coffee. That time we used 'instant coffee' with Cream and sugar, we called it 'Dabang Coffee'.

 But we have another kind of Dabang, which is called 'Ticket Dabang'. It's a nominally coffee delivery service by a woman. Actually it's a kind of prostitution. When you want to do it, you say, 'I want to buy a ticket'. Therefore we call it 'ticket dabang'. You can see how it works by seeing the movie. You can meet those Dabangs even now.

A movie on a love between a man and a waitress of Dabang

1,500 won Americano Coffee at Yeonsan Subway Station in Busan - Found a good price coffee

 : Wow, it's just amazing... I've never seen like this in Korea. The price and the size they offer may be usual in other countries... But it's not in Korea. 1,500 won is about 1.2 dollars. But noticeable thing is the size itself, not the price...

 I think it is a proper price for a cup of americano coffee. As you know, the price of Americano coffee in other Major coffee franchises such as Starbucks, Angel in Us, Toms and Toms and so on is from 3,500 to 5,500 won. Furthermore, the price of it sold in Starbucks is the highest in Korea among other countries including, France, China, Japan, Netherland, USA and so on according to an article(Etoday). I think the major franchises should choose an option among many to overcome this threat. Lowering the price, adding a new service, a new taste? Which would be their choice.

 Previous postings

1. 2015.12.24 Gorokke(Croquette) at Daehakro and 1,000 Americano Coffee in Ansan
2. 2015.11.07 Dec. 13, 2014. From Hoedongdong Reservoir to Dongrae Geumgan Park, Part 5 - 500 won americano at Busan National University

Location

 I didn't expect that big size... It's just like the size of the Color Cup at a McDonald. I guess it's the size of Grand Toll of Starbucks.

 This is the true coffee for ordinary people like me. In a cold winter, after buying this here I go to the station and talk with a friend at the station. And it will be warm winter... to me.

 Previous postings

1. 2015.12.24 Gorokke(Croquette) at Daehakro and 1,000 Americano Coffee in Ansan
2. 2015.11.07 Dec. 13, 2014. From Hoedongdong Reservoir to Dongrae Geumgan Park, Part 5 - 500 won americano at Busan National University

Can you guess how big it is?

Just to me it was a big size?

Small and tiny things to know about Korea. Part 3

 : Some documents are made with no use like the following the Health Insurance Certificate.... If you live in Korea or employed in Korea, there are many things you are going to see. But just tourist wouldn't. This is one of reasons why I want to live for more than a month when I travel abroad... This way I would be able to understand somewhat how they think and behavior like that...

Health Insurance

 : If you are insured by the Korean National Health Insurance, you are going to receive the above certificate. But you don't need to have it all the time or never... because you can get medical treatment with the insurance covered without the certificate. All information is computerized... therefore what you have to do is just to show your ID card or say to them your name and citizen registration number. 

 Dozens years ago, we were supposed to bring the certificate to get the insurance benefit... and you are going to get some records on the paper.... But it's almost no use. And I don't know why they issue it even now.

 FYI, the insurance is obligatory to all people who live in Korea.

Traffic Citation Fine Notice

 : This is what you get when you are caught by a cop on your violating any traffic law. The ticket machine is connected to Internet and issue fine automatically. And at the back side, all information you need to know on the regulation are specified... Don't get caught... even there is an apps for this...