Dear editor,
The mayor of Seoul's recent decision to crack down on illegal street vendors is economically controversial, but it seems that this decision was not motivated by economics but by cosmetics: namely, the mayor wants to improve Seoul's image in light of the world design capital event.
I find this puzzling, because I do not see how the street vendors tarnish Seoul's aesthetic appeal in light of much more odious blemishes such as the cookie-cutter apartment buildings so loved by Koreans and criticized by international architects.
If it weren't for the enormous logos on the sides of these buildings, these edifices would look like imports from Pyongyang.
Of course, removing these enormous ugly buildings would be impossible, but consciousness should be raised about how these mar the Korean landscape.
There is, however, a much easier way to improve Korea's image without robbing anyone of their apartment or the street vendors of their livelihood.
Firstly, there must be a campaign against spitting. The Korean propensity to spit and spit often is embarrassing and disgusting, and makes Korea look like a third-world country in the eyes of foreigners, as well as being dirty, disgusting and unsanitary.
Secondly, there must be a campaign against littering. Likewise, the amount of trash I see on the streets and the countryside in Korea disappoints me greatly. The government should increase public awareness of this problem.
I do not understand ― I thought Koreans are proud of their country, so why do they constantly make it dirty with their spit and garbage?
If the mayor truly wants to make Seoul a better place to live, he could start with these two issues. By doing so, he would be setting a fine example for the rest of the country to follow.
Michael Foster