[KS] Disparities of wealth

[Brother Anthony]

Returning to a theme discussed a couple of months back, the Korea 
Times dated Oct 3 had an item of some interest on the growing 
difference between rich and poor. It is visible at 
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200610/kt2006100218544711990.htm
  
and the key phrases are: 


 


The wealthiest 1 percent of Koreans, about 500,000 people, controlled about 
57 percent of privately owned land at the end of last year, the Ministry of 
Government Administration and Home Affairs said yesterday.  


 


According to the ministry, the richest one million Korean taxpayers, or 2.1 
percent of the total population, owned more than 35,000 square kilometers of 
land, which is about 72 percent of the country's individual properties measured 
at 56,457 square kilometers...


 


Only 27% of the total population own any land at all. Landowners from (ie 
resident in) Seoul, Inchon and other cities in the metropolitan area owned 35.2 
percent of the country's total private land.


 


For comparison, at the end of 2004, the top 1 percent of property owners 
(480,000) owned 51.5 percent of private land. 


 


And 300,000 Koreans are flying to destinations abroad to celebrate Chusok 
this week. Only a minority of Koreans plan to visit their family's tombs.


 


Happy Hangawi, anybody?


 


Brother Anthony


Sogang University, Seoul


http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/


 


 





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