South Korean Expat’s “10 Things I Don’t Like About China” – Part 1

South Korean Expat’s “10 Things I Don’t Like About China” – Part 1
Jan 08, 2013 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s note: the following article was translated from a blog post on ifeng.com. In the post, the author, Jin Zaixian (金宰贤), a South Korean man, discusses ten things he doesn’t like about China, taken from his recently published book on living in China for the last decade. Below is part one of this blog post.

; ccwb.yunnan.cn

In 2012, I wrote and published a book in China entitled "China, Can I Say No to You?". The book depicts a South Korean's perspective on living in China. I published this book in Chinese with the hopes that it could provide Chinese audiences with fresh insights on problems in their country. To date, I've lived in China for about nine years. As time has passed by, I’ve gradually grown accustom to life here, although there are still certain things that drive me crazy. What follows is my personal list of “Ten Things I Don't Like about China”.

1) Insanely slow Internet speeds
Recently, a professor at Peking University was quoted as saying: "China's Internet connection speed is half of the world's average and one ninth of South Korea’s." He continued that information technology is the foundation of today's knowledge-based economy, and that fast Internet speeds are fundamental to it. I completely agree with this point of view, and I oftentimes find myself relishing the memories of South Korea's blazing fast network. By my rough estimate, it's taken me (at the very least) one extra hour every single day to use the Internet the same way I would back home. That is to say, in the nine years that I've lived here, I've likely lost 1,642 hours of my life to China's crippled network. Just for the sake of comparison, the average German works 1,419 hours per year…

2) What's left to eat?
As someone living alone in a foreign country, I tend to eat out quite often, so food problems are something I worry about constantly. Previously, I was most concerned about how much MSG or salt was being added to my food. But the longer I've lived here, the more I've grown to worry about the more sinister issues. When the "melamine incident" broke out in 2008, it completely destroyed my trust in the Chinese food industry. It made me realize that in China, for some people, common sense just isn't going to work. Prior to 2008, the Chinese brands' share of the domestic milk powder market was greater than 60%. By 2011, it had dropped below 50%, overtaken by foreign brands. I find it kind of ironic that the milk power market in the world’s second largest economy is now being dominated by foreign brands. After all, it’s not like this is some high-tech product. And in the past few years, "gutter oil" has become a major issue. Although I still believe that most restaurants would not do such a thing, I've recently found myself thinking about this problem more and more. Actually, all of these issues with food safety not only reflect a lack of supervision in the industry, they're also indicative of much greater structural problems facing Chinese society today.

3) Why is it so hard to simply cross the road?
My biggest worry in China is that I'm going to be hit by a car. Every time I attempt to cross the road here, I feel like China is a world apart from South Korea. After first coming to Beijing in 1998, I was very unfamiliar with China's strange traffic system. And although one would think that this kind of thing would gradually improve after a decade, unfortunately it's shown no signs of changing. More worrisome is that it seems like a lot of drivers today simply don't watch out for pedestrians. I really don't understand why they act like this—when they're not driving, aren't they pedestrians as well? Even if pedestrians don't always obey the traffic rules, when you compare them to an oncoming car, they’re obviously the weaker party, more likely to get seriously hurt in an accident. Drivers should be more aware of them. That being said, I've recently come to believe that e-bikes are perhaps more dangerous than motor vehicles. I frequently find that they basically don't pay attention to traffic signals. If there's no car in front of them, there's nothing to stop them from running a red light or blowing through a stop sign. And don't get me started on them driving on the wrong side of the street into oncoming traffic! I think that China's roadways are a microcosm for modern Chinese society: there are no rules (or everyone ignores them) and everyone is only concerned with their own immediate interests, paying no attention to long-term common interests.

4) Why can't I watch "3D Sex and Zen" at the local movie theater?
A few months after screenings of the world's first 3D adult film "3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy" started showing in South Korea, I managed to get my hands on a pirated DVD copy here in China. To tell you the truth, I'm still kind of curious to see what all of the 3D fuss was about, but good luck finding it in a theater here. As I see it, the reason why China won't screen this film in theaters is because the country still hasn't implemented a film rating system. Although I see no problem with family-friendly films, it must be recognized that some content simply won’t be suitable for all ages. Several years ago, I went to the movie theater to watch "Lust, Caution", and was surprised later on to find that the film I was watching had been edited for content, effectively making it “family friendly”. When I was reading reviews of the film online later, I stumbled upon an article by a middle school student entitled "I finally saw 'Lust, Caution'". Edited or not, this is not a movie suitable for children! Why hasn't China implemented a film rating system? In 2010, Zhao Shi, the Deputy Secretary of the State Committee on Films and Broadcasting Media (SARFT) stated at a news conference: "It's not yet appropriate to introduce a film rating system in China." He also said that the relevant departments had carried out an extensive investigation into film rating systems used in other countries and had reached the conclusion that: "In practice, there weren’t any incredibly successful experiences for us to draw from". I quite beg to differ; moreover, I have a hard time imagining the kind of films South Korea would be able to release if it didn't have a film rating system.

5) Why are entrance tickets to scenic areas so expensive?
In 1999, I went to see the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an. At the time, an entrance ticket cost 60 RMB; a price certainly well worth paying to see such an incredible historic site. Yet, over the last decade, as commodity prices across China have increased, entrance ticket prices at many scenic sites have skyrocketed. Today, it often costs several hundred RMB to get in to a single National 5A scenic area! At these prices, many of China's top attractions are not just more expensive than South Korean attractions; they're more expensive than European attractions (an entrance ticket for the Louvre Museum in Paris cost about 12 euros, or 87 RMB). And let us not forget that the average Chinese person's income is far lower than someone from one of these countries. Nowadays, the entrance tickets for many of these scenic areas are more expensive than most Chinese can afford, especially for local residents. This just goes to show that they’re more interested in profitability than they are in providing an affordable access to the public—and isn’t that supposed to be the point of a scenic area?

Source: blog.ifeng.com

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Keywords: things I don’t like about China South Korean perspective of China

11 Comments

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Amazingchina

It is truth and these are where China should improve to be better country to live for everybody. Well, I don't feel bad to hear all this as the way he described seemed no defense for me,that is different from someone just releases his emotional which is not easy to accept even it is a suggestion, no matter what country you are living. Well the point is, how can you enjoy life in China but just for money? I am just wondering what make the guy still hanging in China even worring about food or hit by car on the road daily...? Due to my experience to live abroad, my suggestion is we always need to adopt to new enviroment and discover the new culture and interesting people,enjoy new things in life.

Jan 13, 2013 13:25 Report Abuse

FountainBlue

These 5 things are also why I'm here in China, because it's so different, it's not just another USA, England, Japan, Germany, or Korea. It's CHINA, get it? Love it or leave it.

Jan 11, 2013 12:07 Report Abuse

giadrosich

Love it or leave it, lol. So, you have to like absolutely everything, or nothing at all?

Jan 15, 2013 22:55 Report Abuse

bill8899

These issues have been beaten to death and then some. Is this article different because the author is Korean?

Jan 08, 2013 20:45 Report Abuse

Kris5150

Hardly issues... Internet? You can pay for fast internet, it's available. Eat? Buy imported goods, organic food if you want, it's also available. Make your own food, local fruits and veg are fine, don't contain anymore pesticide than the rest of the word, just make sure you clean it. The excessive use of growth hormones may be an issues especially in poultry, but there's not much data in the harm it causes. Crossing the road? Be extra careful. Porn Not in theaters is one of your biggest issues?? Sorry buddy, just stick with your internet porn or illegal dvds, which are everywhere. Scenic areas expensive? Try comparing prices to Europe or US. My main problem with China is Pollution, Cleanness, Etiquette, Restaurant food safety, and other stuff related to employee rights..

Jan 08, 2013 15:05 Report Abuse

mjr862000

not all the places tourist areas cost alot of money infact some of the museums i have been to are free

Jan 08, 2013 15:03 Report Abuse

Ginaxiao

Wow i agree with this guy. Especially about the scenic areas that the entrance ticket is tos expensive to visit,from time to time i planned to go to somewhere beautiful for escaping from the hectic life in modern city, cosidering all the fees i had to drop my plans. What a shame!

Jan 08, 2013 11:40 Report Abuse

DaqingDevil

Oh I love this guy! He has nailed 5 things he dislikes and you can't help but agree with all of them. I await the next 5 and although I doubt I will be surprised it's somewhat refreshing to get this perspective from another Asian neighbour. Was his book a best seller in China? Has he been blacklisted? It would be interesting to see what feedback he got from the Chinese readers.

Jan 08, 2013 10:43 Report Abuse

Jeaniacob

Prior to the coming up 5 issues the writer doesn't like, I wonder what those would be? I bet 2 of them are the rude behavior and spitting in everywhere. Anyone willing to add more to this possible 5 dislikes list?

Jan 08, 2013 10:29 Report Abuse

jonuk

I think it is great someone tells the Chinese where they can improve. The problem will be that it will probably hurt their subtle egos. Nobody likes to be told that they need to improve especially when they come from China and they think they are so great and the way they do things should be accepted and if you do not like then get out. I can hear it already , the automatic self defending, patriotic nonsense. Good article and Id love to read the other 5 do not likes....!!

Jan 08, 2013 03:59 Report Abuse

jonuk

Sure if you pay me !!

Jan 09, 2013 15:05 Report Abuse