We had a good laugh the other day over an article in Wednesday’s Korea Herald (“Welcome to the 22nd century!”, mirrored here because their site is dangerous, and yes, that’s really the headline). It’s an op-ed where they author lays out the case that Korean society has advanced beyond other developed nations.

Is it delivery or DiLaundry?
He’s enamored with home-delivery, this one:

The most outstanding [modern convenience] is our excellent delivery service system. For example, many supermarkets deliver groceries to your home free of charge regardless of the amount you purchase…Not only groceries, but virtually anything can be delivered to you in Korea. Every morning, for example, a laundryman comes to my apartment complex to pick up clothes for dry cleaning and delivers them back the next day.

Back up a second; you can pay someone to, um, do your laundry!? Far out! Also: no mention that although you can have that single can of tuna delivered for free, it’ll cost you four bucks to buy it in the first place. Milk: about 10 bucks per gallon. (By “bucks” I mean “thousand won”; Something that costs a dollar in the US runs about 1000 won here.)

Plastic makes it possible.
Credit cards are a very new, cutting edge technology:

Another convenience is the extensive use of credit cards. At McDonald’s or Burger King, young people buy hamburger meals for 4,000 won and pay by credit card. In most countries, people won’t use or accept a credit card for just $3. But in Korea amazingly, even delivery boys accept credit cards. When the delivery boy from Papa John’s brings a pizza to my home, my daughter just hands over her credit card to have it swiped.

Imagine the convenience! I like the use of “young people” there, too. You won’t catch any ajimas pulling this stunt. Or eating at McDonald’s. Note that it’s his daughter—not him—who knows how to swipe the darn thing.

Speak no evil.
He has a couple mentions of political improvement scattered herein:

…South Korea has transformed into an entirely different nation. For example, one can enjoy freedom of speech and press and does not have to worry about political oppression or surveillance anymore.

Tell that to the blogger who was arrested for predicting—and writing about—the current financial crisis. Nice work.

We fly the friendlier skies.
But really, it’s the Korean flight attendants who put this country over the top:

Fly Asiana or Korean Air, and you will have a pleasant trip thanks to the friendly and attentive flight attendants.

I hope he doesn’t mean “friendly and attentive” in the same “I’m a store clerk and would like to hover over your shoulder and speak through a megaphone” kind of way.

Room for improvement
Now, that’s all well and good, but when will there be a bank that’s open past 4:30 pm? And why do I have to wear three different pairs of shoes when I go to the gym?

Also, the largest denomination of currency is the equivalent of a ten-dollar bill (It’s all about the Hamiltons baby!). If you go to the ATM to get cash for groceries, you’ve got a stack of bills an inch thick. It’s no wonder they like credit cards!

“Welcome to the 22nd century!”