Quotations of the day

Doctors are leaving hospitals, farmers are deserting their paddies and Korea Electric Power Corp. unionists are threatening to cut off power supplies; why are we housewives not donning headbands with slogans to protest against rising prices? (A donga.com netizen on Thursday, pointing to the nation¡¯s turbulent state these days.)

It is open to question why the scores on scholastic aptitude tests for college-bound students have gone up in spite of the prevailing view that their ability has dropped more than 10 points over the past ten years. (A donga.com netizen observing that the scholastic aptitude test questions were too easy this year.)

As highly educated people find it more difficult to land a job, many of my fellow students are seeking to get a job first of all and at any cost in this economic slump. (A Mr. Kim working on a master's degree at Seoul National University's Humanities College on Thursday, commenting on the number of applicants for graduate schools dropping below the number of openings.)

It is regrettable that a foreign investor secured a majority stake in Haan Soft, Inc., which had been regarded as the forerunner of local venture businesses and a citizens' enterprise. (A venture businessman on Thursday reacting to the news that Haan Soft, Inc. was sold to overseas investors.)

In order to win confidence abroad, we should adopt policies meeting the standard of advanced nations instead of those suiting our own tastes. (Shin Kook-Hwan, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy on Thursday in an address to a working breakfast sponsored by the Korea Employers Federation.)