Student Ordinances

      From this presentation, the presenter let me know that there are many noticeable ordinances these days. There are hair and uniform ordinance, examining belongings, free lunch, prohibiting next curriculum, prohibit discrimination of sexual orientation etc. And these are both same and different from my school periods. As far as I know, I have the idea that my school life was fully controlled and guided by the teachers and school policies.

      Through this presentation, I got some interesting information but doubtful ordinances as well. The one that caught my eyes were the no punishment for the students at all. Any punishment would be against the rule in the school. I got this rule information from the news in the past and I felt that it was very ridiculous ordinance that could ruin student’s life. Of course it does not just have bad effect when prohibit punishment, however, without certain and right ways to teach and guide the students, I strongly felt that this is unready for any other school. And as a result from this rule, the teacher’s authority is actually going down and for the worst one; some of the female teachers get hurts from big rude male students or gets sexual harassment.

     Is this the only way to respect the students right now? I don’t think so. There’s got to be some respectful but strongly strict rule for the students so that they can notice the rule and understand it that it is for them not the adults. Some of previous severe physical punishment was also the issue in the past. I think this is a good intend to forbidden physical punishment to students but respect. But as this policy goes, some of the result goes very unhealthy way. It could lead to the bad cycle between students and the teachers.

Monopoly

  From this presentation, I have learned that the problems of monopoly in markets of Korea. In the past, I knew they merge companies many times and they do such a thing for their expanding to make their shops and increasing their sales rate. And I thought that it is a natural situation that they make their company bigger than before to pursue for their better service and products.


  But as the presenter gave us many problems, I've noticed some examples of the monopoly problems and bad side effects through the monopoly. I believe it is not good for the long-term economy and for the consumers right when they have a choice to choose what they want to buy.


  Merging companies could be the one of the major problems for the economy. I think this could be good effect that they can launch their products better than ever for consumer. However, eventually this could lead to the bad effects that could get rid of consumer's choices and finally the consumers cannot help themselves but buy big companies' products even though the price is not worth to buy those or there will be not much of designs that would satisfy them. It is actually happening in Korea right now.


  Another example of the monopoly is in Bakery business. You will see many big franchise bakeries while you walk along the street. It is true that small private bakeries are disappearing these days. Small bakery owners are having trouble running their own store without changed into one of big franchise company. It is true that if we buy breads from big franchise bakery, we can get discounts. But this could also lead to buy only limited type of breads eventually. We also cannot avoid expensive breads after all.


  It is a consumer's choice to what to buy and evaluate the product. However, time after time, we actually losing our spot and rights from the big companies who destroy business moral and have their company get everything they want.

Hybrid Efficiency

   Today,I have heard that improved hybrid cars coming out these days and the effciency of those cars. Actually, I heard few new facts about the hybrid cars and the problems that came out which occured when it really used for the public. And it really had many problems like engine weight, the price of car and also there will be not enough station where they can get their car battery charged.


   Until today, I've never heard any new informations about all new hybrid cars and I was surprised that the car companies kept trying to upgrade their cars for the public. I thought it would never be commercialized. It seemed very unrealistic. And I also thought that it's only for showing people they're doing something more innovative things. But, now I think that it could be realistic cars for normal people.


   However, I think that there are still few problems when we get hybrid cars. Even though it is said that hybrid cars are much efficient than the normal ones, I think that the price of the car is still too expensive and we have to replace new batteries which costs us lots of money for these. And I also concern about the material that company use for the hybrid cars. The presenter said it is much lighter than the normal one, so, I dout the safety of cars whether it is going to be alright when accidents happens. And the hybrid cars does not have enough power for high speed. Isn't this going to spend much energy when the cars spending much more time on the street? I'm not really sure how the hybrid cars actually works. So, it raised my doubts.


   To sum up, I guess it is still not the right time that hybrid cars are appropriate for commercialized. And I belive that if the technology for the engine is developed, it would be perfect car which cost less money and also good for the earth.

Redevelopment

   Actually, I’ve just heard from morning news about the problems about this topic in Seoul, and never thought about it seriously, or any kind of thought that some people should be sacrificed by other people or the government when there are any kind of redevelopment. So, when I looked for the information or references about the illegal houses, the problem was really serious that could affect to the people who are living in the redevelopment area. And the most severe thing is that there is no solution for both sides. And even if there is, these solutions are not satisfying everyone.

   As I read the newspaper during preparing for the presentation, I was surprised by the government officials who did not give hand for the Guryong Village residents when they had damages from flood disaster. I understood why they could not help them because of the idea that helping illegal residential area is literally illegal, but they are also people who have rights. And I still can’t come up with my own opinion which is right or wrong. And the problem was much more complicated than I thought when I just picked the topic.

   When I and my presentation partner asked discussion questions like ‘Does a few people should sacrifice for the redevelopment?’ question, I got the impression that most of them agree that few sacrifices are needed for the bigger effects for the city. And for most of poor people who can’t afford their houses, several groups of the class thought that the government should give jobs for them so that they can afford to their monthly rental fee.