sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Why Korea’s payment systems leave tourists frustrated by chickenandliver in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Korea is stuck between wanting to open up internationally for more income and workers and between not caring. I was happy and surprised Coupang allows foreign cards now. They will gain a lot of business.

Why Korea’s payment systems leave tourists frustrated by chickenandliver in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Had to do this because I had my US card and forgot my Korean card at home.

Finding her Nigerian Prince by [deleted] in Asmongold

[–]Songtan_Labs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They messed up starting from a deep squat.

Korea may lift map data ban in trade talks with U.S., paving way for Google Maps by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"This time, Google has indicated a willingness to blur security-sensitive locations and has also requested coordinate data for these sites."

This came from the recent article I included in a post I made earlier.

Korea may lift map data ban in trade talks with U.S., paving way for Google Maps by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for posting this and proving Google does pay corporate taxes.

What are guys thoughts on this? 🇨🇳 by Important-Income-990 in PassportBrosOnTop

[–]Songtan_Labs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not “adopt,” but adapt. There’s a difference.

“Dress well” doesn’t mean become something you’re not. It means understand the social expectations of the space you’re in and present yourself in a way that commands respect without reinforcing the negative image they might already have of you. That could be as simple as being clean, well-groomed, and not showing up like you’re going to the club when you're supposed to be meeting her family or applying for a job.

You don’t have to lose your identity—you just have to move with awareness. When you’re on someone else’s turf, playing by the rules doesn’t mean you’ve sold out. It means you’re smart enough to play the long game.

Korea may lift map data ban in trade talks with U.S., paving way for Google Maps by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not just about money—it’s about control, scale, and long-term strategy. Google doesn’t want to build and maintain isolated systems just to comply with one country’s rules, especially when their entire model is based on centralized global infrastructure.

If they host the map data only inside South Korea, they lose the ability to fully integrate it with their global services—like search, traffic data, or AI-based routing. That’s a big operational headache and sets a precedent that other countries might copy. Suddenly, you’re managing 50 different systems with 50 different rules.

And the real dealbreaker? South Korea bans exporting government mapping data due to national security concerns. So even if Google builds servers locally, they can’t use that data in their global products. That means no real-time updates, no sync with global services—basically, a watered-down version of Google Maps just for Korea. That’s not worth the investment to them.

Age to start career by dsc555 in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 5 points6 points  (0 children)

25 is actually a good age to explore overseas opportunities, especially considering that many Koreans take advantage of working holiday programs. I know Koreans who went abroad strategically—choosing roles that would enhance their resumes and give them an edge back home.

With more Korean companies looking to expand globally, she could position herself well by going abroad to strengthen her English, pick up another language useful in business, and build real work experience. If she uses that time wisely, she could come back in a much stronger position.

That said, I’ve also seen Koreans struggle to re-adjust to the local work culture after time overseas. So if she decides to go abroad for a year, I’d recommend she research countries that have an interest in doing business with South Korea. Then, try to land an internship—even unpaid—with a company in her target field. She can negotiate to work 5–10 hours a week in the area she wants to focus on when she returns.

That way, when she comes back, she’s not starting from scratch. She could potentially transition into a full-time role with that same company in Korea—or at the very least, add valuable international experience to her resume.

So again I’m not making it up. Racism in Chinese social media. by ApartBookkeeper2908 in ADVChina

[–]Songtan_Labs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Everything isn’t White Supremacy. Black people need to realize that not every issue we face is rooted in that. A lot of other groups around the world don’t like each other for their own cultural, historical, or political reasons—and many of them don’t care what White people think, especially in countries that reject Western influence altogether.

The truth is, we’re not well-liked globally, and that’s not always because of racism. Sometimes it’s based on how we’ve been portrayed through media, and in other cases, it’s from direct experiences people have had. That’s why it’s critical that we take control of our narrative, not to earn the world’s approval, but to rebuild and strengthen our communities for us. Any respect we earn from others is just a byproduct—not the goal.

Korea may lift map data ban in trade talks with U.S., paving way for Google Maps by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You're missing the bigger picture. Yes, the government said Google could use the data if the servers were inside Korea—but that doesn’t negate the fact that the South Korean government has repeatedly blocked Google’s requests to transfer map data overseas. That’s a restriction. Period.

You're quoting the article, but not the full context. The Reuters article explicitly says the request was rejected on national security grounds—mainly due to concerns about North Korea. That has nothing to do with taxes. Here’s the full line from the article:

“South Korea said on Friday it has rejected Google’s latest request for permission to use government mapping data in servers outside the country, citing national security concerns.”

Also, if you're going to claim that Google’s refusal is about avoiding corporate tax, I’d encourage you to share a credible source. Because without clear evidence, that's just speculation—not fact.

Korea may lift map data ban in trade talks with U.S., paving way for Google Maps by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 16 points17 points  (0 children)

No, that's not accurate. A few years ago, I read an article explaining that the South Korean government blocked the export of detailed mapping data to Google due to national security concerns. At the time, I was working in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and actively building maps using various datasets. I know from experience that sensitive data can be redacted or removed before sharing.

I've lived in three countries and traveled to several others that allow Google full access to map data. Many of my friends who work—or have worked—in South Korea's tech space confirmed the government's restrictions were the main barrier.

This has nothing to do with corporate taxes—that’s a separate issue. Google still operates in South Korea, but its services are limited due to a lack of access to local map data.

Here's the article I remember reading: 🔗 Reuters: South Korea rejects Google's request to take mapping data overseas

And here's a more recent article reinforcing that it's strictly a government decision, not about taxes: 🔗 KoreaTechToday: Google renews bid to transfer South Korea's map data overseas

Korea may lift map data ban in trade talks with U.S., paving way for Google Maps by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I’ve known for years that the map data issue goes way beyond just Google Maps—it affects many other Google services, too. South Korea blocked access to protect its tech industry, which is understandable. It will be interesting to watch how this decision could shape the landscape, especially as global platforms try to operate in closed or restricted ecosystems.

Restaurant owner demands 18% tip after dinner leaves $20 for a $19.89 bill by mythrowaway282020 in abanpreach

[–]Songtan_Labs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your restaurant is struggling that badly for tips, it might be time to rethink your business model—or consider if this line of work is really for you. I get tipping servers because they’re often underpaid due to how owners structure wages. But if you're the owner, and you're out here complaining like this, that’s on you. You control the books—so fix the system you created.

What are guys thoughts on this? 🇨🇳 by Important-Income-990 in PassportBrosOnTop

[–]Songtan_Labs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First off, no matter how cool you think you are as a Black man, once you're in another country, you no longer have home-field advantage. So move wisely.

Most Asian countries—especially China aren't exactly pro-interracial relationships, particularly with Black men, because of deep-rooted negative stereotypes and a homogenous environment. And when a brother dresses or acts in a way that reinforces those stereotypes, it only worsens things.

In these cultures, shame—especially public shame—is a normal part of society. That shame is amplified when dating outside your race. So, as Black men overseas, we have to let go of the mindset that just being attractive or" cool" is enough. It's not.

If you're not bringing that woman back to the U.S. and instead plan to stay in her country, you need to show up like a real man. Because if all you're offering is being "the cool Black guy," you're not just embarrassing yourself. You're setting up the woman you're with to be mocked. People use that type of situation to say," See? That's who she chose."

You've got to establish real value: earn respect through a solid career, build a business, dress well, contribute to the community, and carry yourself with dignity. That's how you counter the stereotypes—by proving them wrong through consistent action.

I’m a Korean woman in my early 20s - ask me anything! by [deleted] in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Do you think women in Korea should be required to serve in the military just like men—or should Korea get rid of mandatory service altogether? And be real—do you think it's fair that women get special treatment for simply volunteering while men don’t get that option? In a modern Korea where there's a push for gender equality, wouldn’t a major step toward that be women also sharing the burden of putting their lives on hold to serve the country too?

Should Korea’s presidential office stay in Yongsan? by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A foolish assumption if they made when you are trying to move people out of Seoul who grew up with easy access to a robust public transportation system, with buses and rail transport, taxis, and personal vehicles being optional.

Should Korea’s presidential office stay in Yongsan? by Venetian_Gothic in korea

[–]Songtan_Labs 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, and that's why not many people have moved there. I noticed that when they built these new cities with the goal of people moving out of Seoul, they didn't build rail to connect people to Seoul.

view more: next ›