ConstipatedWatson

Thanks for the clarification!

I didn't know Re:Zero. I'll check it out!

That wouldn't happen to be Edge of Tomorrow which then was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise, right?

(Well, there you go, I had to spoil the joke)

I have very limited, but non-zero knowledge of Korean society and I agree with what you say at the higher echelon of the most ambitious students (of which I actually met several and fit your remark perfectly), I guess when I wrote I had in mind the various ones I met who just weren't chasing the same goals and were content (or not fussed) to study elsewhere.

Rethinking the article though, I'm in agreement with you that the percentages mentioned are not really surprising (especially the second one)

I understand that prestige is super important, especially for those who want high achieving careers, so it makes sense kids decide to hold off one year if they can get in a school that will greatly improve or maintain the type of life they're used to, but I'm still a bit surprised to hear that so many kids do that.

The other universities are good too! A friend of mine graduated from one in Daegu and now has a good job in Seoul living well and supporting his family.

Sure, I suppose if they'd graduated from Seoul university, they might be doing even better, but I wonder if going to Seoul university and ending up being average is considered better than someone graduating with flying colors from a "less important" university. Hell, I've seen tons of people graduating from "less important" US institutions and now doing as well than peers from top institutions

Anyhow, it's complicated: ambition is important, but if kids don't get in they might feel like their life is over, when there are plenty of other good options

That's true and it's heartbreaking: when they realize they've screwed up their finances and that they should have had better sense, they're far too gone. Families or school don't teach this hard enough, if the phenomenon is so widespread.

You're right. I do understand why people end up choosing to do that, but it feels like there's been a "training" to spend a lot to show your status or simply "because you deserve it" and instead (just like mentioned in an answer above), school or family has not taught any financial sense and people jump on purchasing without a real clue (even though they think they do)

This is great! Thanks for the explanation!

I should have thought about it, because it's happened in regular life too: just like regular purpose cars on the street, even Formula One cars have become a lot more efficient and so they can run a lot more with a smaller tank.

It's amazing how much they've improved cars and how it makes cars from the 1990's appear clunkier (even if they did appear sleek at the time)

Thanks! That makes sense!

Thanks! That makes sense!

That's something I could never understand: how do people sign up for as many as 10 credit cards and then buy stuff with money that isn't really there, then dealing with debt collectors?

It doesn't make sense to me, but I've met people who are OK with living like that

Wow, so now I'm curious why they didn't do it in the previous years. I'm sure they refueled cars regularly during pitstops in the 1990's

Wait, so now they never refuel them during pitstops?

They do the whole race just by filling the tank before the beginning of the race!?!