Sejong is still a new city to be fair. Also, there is not much jobs there so far, except for civil servants. But the worst crime of all in creating that new city is that public transport is lacking! How could city planners have that oversight! There is more info from Caspian Report about the Sejong city.

I've never been to South Korea, but Seoul metropolitan area is said to be a hypercapitalistic hell-hole. The major employers are the chaebols, or the family-owned corporations including Samsung, Hyundai and LG. They have toxic work cultures but is tolerated because they are major employers in the country, especially in Seoul, where half of South Koreans live. Nearly everyone is overworked for little pay resulting in poor birth rate because everyone have little time to spend with partners and families (the South Korean government actually created a new administrative capital city, Sejong, as an experiment to address the declining birth rate, and it worked by and large experiencing probably the only and highest population growth in the country).

Moreover, many North Korean defectors are still seen with suspicion and discriminated. So they feel alienated like the man in the article. I guess the best bet for defectors is to work in Sejong as a government clerk, where they could get generous welfare and employment benefits and protections, unlike corporate-employed workers.

Edit: autocowreck

I wonder if Putin's plan to ban talking about childless lifestyle and saying this will work? Russias are not as traditional as people make it out to be, especially those in the cities. He will just rile up many folks.

I'd cheer on if Elon Musk becomes a pauper. $9 billion is still worth a lot. It's still, as the article says, billions.

Actually, Battle Royale is more like a dark comedy. The acting during violent and action scenes is way too wacky. People get shot and killed but overreact. One could argue that the movie is a satire because of its social commentary. Maybe the death scenes are wacky so that it is easily more palatable to address some of the more serious undertones about the relationship between adults and adolescents.

Still worth billions though.

Didn't this happen before Costa Rica abolished their army though?

The notion of a "promised land" is a lie humans tell to themselves to monopolise the resources we all share with all living things.

People just report whatever they disagree with, I guess.

K 'Murican

Typical American think their experience is the only universal truth and their group only matters in any discussion.

American exceptionalism never fails; as if Americans are the only ones getting the same problem.

I have to say, I have a huge respect for ProPublica. They are one of the few credible journalists left who writes in-depth (although too in-depth, because they write too flowery).

"Most Americans Don't Understand Nuance."

Most people, regardless of nationality, don't understand nuance. That's why Winston Churchill once said that the biggest argument against democracy is talking to an average person for five minutes.

So, the parents who bring children to hazbin conventions know what they're doing.

I was on the side of Houthis after being oppressed by American-backed, Saudi-led military forces. But now it became clear they are lackeys of Iran who attack innocent sailors, who have no dog in the geopolitical dick measuring contest.

Adele isn't that good looking as well, but she is well loved as a singer.

giving in to populist demands that are of little use to livestock farmers,’’

Why am I not surprised. There was definitely pressure from farmers, and they can be powerful political lobby groups.

Personally, I would not care if my partner had slept with many other men before settling down with me, as long as she had clearly chagee. But there are definitely others who would judge the past for one reason or another.

Definitely there is double standards when it comes to "body count". When a man sleeps with as many women as possible, he's the man. But when a woman sleeps around with others, then she is branded a slut and her past is scrutinised.

It's interesting to hear the pov of an Australian. From the outsider's perspective, I think you love rules given Australia's outside reputation as a nanny state.

And reported for racism.