Korean Job Discussion Forums

[le-paul]

ive noticed it seems to happen less when i glare/look at people directly in the eyes. They move their bodies slightly so as to give us both room. i then respond accordingly. I think the eye contact gives people a chance to be aware of you/your intentions (ie im going to walk by you now...).
The opposite is when im carrying bags/shopping. For some reason people, (mostly women) smash into me constantly like seagulls off a propeller or dogs to bike wheels. They seem to be drawn to them as if they are challenging the bags to bend to their will. They always come off worse.

i whole heartedly agree with fermentation - interesting read

[Swampfox10mm]

[Dodge7]

I just can't understand the passive aggressive seating arrangement on the buses here. People intentionally sit on the outside so as to make it difficult for you to try and squeeze past them to get to the window seat. Just scoot over and let the person sit down. And in turn, when people have to get off at their stop, why should they have to squeeze past you again? Stand up and let the person comfortably get out of their seat!! I always stand up and let the window seat person get out easily, hopefully Koreans will see this and start a trend in my area.

[Scorpion]

I've learned to enjoy the stupidity of people blocking my path, or bumping into me. Shoulder checking idiots out of my path is a great means of stress relief. If I'm waiting to exit a subway car or an elevator, and people start pushing in they get to meet my shoulder. Same with people who step into my path when I'm walking, idiots glued to their cell phones, and clowns going down the subway steps in the wrong direction. Korean walking habits used to drive me nuts, now I look forward to the fools. If I've had a rough day and I'm walking home I secretly hope that as many idiots as possible bump into me because they inevitably get the worst of it. And I get a small sense of satisfaction. For me, walking down a street in Korea now is akin to going bowling.

[Captain Corea]

I was talking with one of my students about this a while back (40yr male), and he laughed. He said that when he and his friends get together, they often walk 4-5 abreast. He said they felt like they controlled the street. It was his way if feeling tough/powerful.


When possible, I try to sidestep these types. But I'm not going to walk in the gutter for them. I have no qualms bumping back if need - especially leaving a subway it elevator.

[Mr. BlackCat]

"A Korean man's world ends at the tip of his nose."

-Ancient Chinese proverb

[Seoulman69]

[Smithington]

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I used to hate it. Now I enjoy it, because when I'm in a bad mood I can smash into people. Stress relief.

Eye contract will get them to stop bumping into you. Glare or smile. Depends on the mood, I guess.

[Savant]

It's a mystery when Koreans stroll into your path when there's no need to.
Now, I just stop immediately in front of them and force them try to navigate around me.

I think a lot of it is a combination of things: power-tripping, general ignorance and lack of spatial awareness.

I have noticed the cart wars have gotten less intense. Less of a need to push away shopping carts that Koreans just leave in the middle of aisles.

[Zyzyfer]

I hate chiming in on whine about Korea threads but this one always drags me out...

[dairyairy]

[KimchiNinja]

[JustinC]

I've found this bumping a lot, but have two good techniques for avoiding it.

They can be yours for 3 small paym...

Ah heck, for free;

1) Walk around looking to your left or right and not ahead. People see you're not capable of avoiding them so avoid you.
2) Walk slowly, just amble, no bumps at all.

Actually, thinking about it, I probably do 2 as a consequence of 1, ha ha.

Back in London I would stride purposely everywhere, and people would be constantly crossing my path, especially in major train/tube stations, and were also purposely striding but I'd navigate through without a single bump. The same happens in many European cities and (especially) Hong Kong.

Here people seem to amble in wiggly lines, slow, reverse and stop and my speed/inertia were too much to avoid collisions, so I've learnt to slow down in crowds.

[KimchiNinja]