It seems to me that an app developer is well within their rights to charge a commission based on what the market demands. No one is forcing these restaurant owners to use their app service. The owners could always take the time to learn app development themselves:
Kim Seong-ah, a 27-year-old fashion designer, loved the idea of ordering food through an app without having to leave her couch.
But she had an unsatisfactory experience with one service six months ago. Her meal from the franchise Nene Chicken, one of the choices on the app she was using, was late and the portion was smaller than what she gets when she orders from the company directly by phone.
When Kim spoke to her friends and her brother, she discovered that they had had similar experiences. She found clues on why from various news articles, which reported that some merchants deliberately provide a poorer service for app users in order to make up for the losses incurred by the fees the platforms levy.
The country’s top three food-delivery apps – Baedal Minjok, Yogiyo and Baedaltong – charge restaurant owners between 2.5 percent to 12.5 percent of commission per order.
The flare-up over the app-based delivery system is the latest testament to the fact that advanced technology meant to increase convenience can cause unexpected consequences for different parties.
In this case, the controversy stems from the fact that the apps have come up with their own charges without seeking a fair agreement with users and restaurants, critics say. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
You can read the rest at the link, but restaurant owners now want the Korean government to get involved to force a fair fee for the app developers’ services. If the customers keep getting poor products from app ordering then they will go back to using the telephone thus decreasing the demand for the app. This is what would naturally force the app developers to drop their prices without government intervention.
So does anyone disagree with the rankings on this list?:
Honey Lee
Playboy has picked 11 hottest Korean women, with Miss Korea-turned-actress Lee Ha-nui topping the list.
Social consumer website Ranker listed the 11 Korean celebrities based on 1,300 online votes.
Lee, better known as Honey Lee, made her debut when she won the 2006 Miss Korea beauty contest. She has since been regarded in the nation’s sexiest icon.
Lee has also starred in several movies, including “Tazza: The Hidden Card,” which was released last year.
Sexy diva Lee Hyo-ri took second place. Since debuting as a member of pop girl group Fin. K.L. in 1998, she has gained nationwide popularity as one of the hottest singers. But she has kept a low profile after marrying in 2013.
Actress Kim Sa-rang third. She is famous for starring in the drama “Secret Garden.” [Korea Times]
Here is another example of South Korea becoming more like the US where despite smoking less the population is becoming increasingly unhealthy:
More Koreans are smoking less but also exercising less, recent government data showed Tuesday.
According to the Health Ministry, the smoking rate among Korean men dropped from 49.2 percent in 2008 to 45.3 percent last year. Yet the number of Korean men who regularly exercise by walking also dropped from 50.6 percent in 2008 to 37.5 in 2014.
Meanwhile, Korean men who considered themselves to be obese increased from 21.6 percent in 2008 to 25.3 percent. The number of heavy drinkers stayed about the same from 2008 to 2014 at around 18 percent.
Data also showed that only one-third of Korean men don’t smoke, avoid heavy drinking and exercise regularly all at the same time. Seoul, Daejeon and Incheon had the highest number of people who regularly exercise and avoid smoking and drinking. [Korea Herald]
This number has got to be deflated because it seems pretty low to me:
Six out of every 10 women in their 20s living in Seoul drink alcohol and 10 percent of them are heavy drinkers, according to a recent survey.
The survey, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and released Tuesday, showed 64.8 percent of women said they drank alcohol more than once a month in the past year, up from 57.7 percent in 2008.
Among them, 9.7 percent said they drank more than five glasses of soju, which contains between 17 and 20 percent alcohol, more than twice a week.
Drinking is not just a habit for young women, however. A total of 45.1 percent of all female respondents said they drink, up from 40.8 percent in 2008; the drinking rate for men in the city increased by 1.8 percentage points during the same period. [Korea Times]
This group does make a good point in regards to heterosexual relationships allowed to have kissing in the Korean dramas, but this drama is being investigated for allowing homosexual kissing:
Rainbow Action against Sexual Minority Discrimination, a group that works to raise awareness about sexual minorities and their rights, held a press conference Tuesday to request the KCSC end discussions for disciplinary measures against JTBC drama “Seonam Girls High School Investigators.”
The drama, which tells the story of five students who, as members of a private investigator club, go up against private education, abortion, bullying and suicide, aired kiss scenes between two schoolgirls on Feb. 25 and March 4.
When a complaint was filed with the KCSC, the communications regulator convened a meeting March 18 to deliberate the matter. The drama is rated for viewing by those 15 and older.
“‘Seonam Girls’ is a rare drama that accurately depicts the lives of sexual minorities in a society that pretends people with such preferences don’t exist,” members of Rainbow Action said. “Deliberators at a meeting on Feb. 25 said the drama may encourage homosexuality and went as far as to make inappropriate comments, claiming they believe sexual minorities suffer from a mental disability.”
It continued, “The people who need to be deliberated are the deliberators. Other dramas that have dealt with teens and their sexual relationships were aired with no problems, so to discipline Seonam Girls is discrimination against sexual minorities.” [Korea Times]
Along with the recent purchase of 40 F-35’s from Lockheed the Koreans are also partnering with them to develop their own domestic fighter:
South Korea on Monday selected Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and partner Lockheed Martin for a multi-billion-dollar contract to develop 120 “indigenous” fighter jets to replace Seoul’s ageing fleet.
The bid from KAI and the US aerospace giant, which is subject to a screening process before being officially approved, was always seen as the favourite for the 8.6 trillion won ($7.8 billion) deal over a rival bid by civilian carrier Korean Air (KAL) teamed with Airbus.
The Defence Ministry also approved a separate $1.28 billion deal to buy Patriot PAC-3 missiles and upgrade its air defence system aimed at intercepting North Korean ballistic missiles.
The KF-X fighter project is designed to develop and produce 120 fighter jets of a new, indigenous type to replace South Korea’s ageing fleet of F-4s and F-5s. [AFP]
Swedish royalty is is town giving Welfare advice to President Park:
The heir to the Swedish throne kicked off her official visit to Korea with a meeting with President Park Geun-hye Tuesday, with a focus on sharing knowledge about her country’s welfare policies.
The heir apparent discussed the low birth rate and aging Korean society with the President.
“Sweden set a good example in policies in childcare and balancing between work and family,” Park said.
President Park also paid tribute to Sweden’s participation in the 1950-1953 Korean War.
“The Korean public remembers Sweden played an important role as an ally when security in Korea was at risk,” she said, citing Sweden having been a member of Neutral Nations Supervisory Nations for the past 60 years after the Korean War. [Korea Times]
You can read the rest at the link, but I wonder if the Princess mentioned anything in regards to it being impossible to have a Welfare state and lax immigration policies which is currently straining Sweden’s social harmony.
