Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kermo]

I had a disgusting experience today in Suwon, at 9:00 am. I wasn't dressed up like a tart, had no skin showing other then neck, head, and hands, wasn't overly friendly, and yet I was treated like a prostitute. I've met taxi drivers who've taken the flirting a bit too far, and I've heard some pretty outrageous proposals, but this guy took it to a level I wasn't expecting.

We haven't had a taxi-safety thread in a while, and I'm sure there are some people new enough to the boards that they've never seen one, so here we go again. This is just to remind people (the ladies, especially) to be a bit wary, and to have a plan just in case a taxi driver takes liberties. When you're in the moment, frozen in horror and confusion, you're not always going to think straight. I know I panicked a little today. Suggestions and anecdotes are welcomed.

Here's what happened (this chat takes place in Korean):

Him: (Staring steadily at me, head fully cranked to the right.)
Me: Why are you looking at me?
Him: You're pretty.
Me: No, no. (laughing)
Him: Where're you from?
Me: Canada.
Him: Bride? Married?
Me: No, not married.
Him: Girlfriend?
Me: I have a boyfriend.
Him: (Thoughtful silence.) (Makes a fist with one hand, and slaps it with the other, looking at me expectantly.)
Me: I have no idea what that is.
Him: (Holds his arms in an imaginary embrace.) I love you?
Me: (whimpering a little) Noooooo....
Him: (Repeats)
Me: (sounding more disgusted) No, no, no. (I'm no longer wearing my "friendly face" and am starting pointedly out the window.)
Him: (curls his fingers and pokes the hole in an unmistakeable gesture.)
Me: STOP THAT.
Him: Stop that?
Me: (I'm suddenly wondering if he's going to let me out of the taxi at all. I look at the dashboard for his ID card, and realize there's nothing there. The door is unlocked, thankfully, so I get out at the next possible intersection, dropping a fistful of change in his hands, and slam the door.)

I was surprised at how it affected me: my heart was pounding and I was a bit shaken. I have no idea what his intentions were, or what he expected me to do, but it made me feel awful. Later in the day, I phoned a good friend who's a captain in the Korean army and loves me ferociously. I asked if I could ring him up so he could tear a strip off the next adjosshi who tries that kind of nonsense, and he agreed, saying "He will be shocked." This friend also advised me to take down the license plate of the taxi, as he seemed to think something could be done about it (it was an independent taxi, so I had assumed there was no recourse.) I'm also wondering-- is it safer to sit in the back seat? I always sit in the front, so I can easily give directions, point, etc.

Jongnoguru, once upon a time, you posted a very useful list of things you do to make sure your gullflends are safe and sound. What could guys do to help? What do you advise for the gals? Ta.

[poet13]

I'm really sorry that happened to you.

As far as a list of safety do's and don't for ladies in taxis, I absolutely would never sit in the front. I'm a guy, and I do it sometimes, but a girl in the front? I wouldn't if I were.

[Corporal]

That sucks Kermo. I agree, definitely sit in the back. It's easier to maintain the disinterested look from there, and there's less opportunity for him to touch you. I once sat in front and the driver patted my leg.

[eamo]

Girls. Don't sit in the front seat. Korean taxi drivers will likely see it as a cue that you want to interact with him.

I only sit in the front when I'm drunk and I want to talk gibberish to the driver and get him to play his trot-uh music loudly. But, of course, I'm a bloke, and I haven't ran into an aggresively gay taxi driver yet!!

[seoulkitchen]

Never ever sit in the front!!!
Not even the K-gals that know do that. Are you crazy?

I'm a dude and I don;t sit in the front. Hell, even if you are with other people, don't sit in the front.

Front person always has to pay!
(in some way or another)

[JongnoGuru]

Damn it. I feel rotten for you, Kermo. I opened the thread, glanced over the responding posts first because they're short. So I was already dreading what I might see in the OP.

My reaction... *beep*!! Anger, sadness. But then, as horrible as it was, you know it could have been worse. And so I'm glad you're alright for the most part. Just please sit in the back seat now.

When I read this I wonder how many "positive" responses these dirty men get... 1 in 100 tries? Or zero and they're just going on stories they've heard? Anyway, stay OUT of the front seat anymore.

What tips did I post.... Well, these are from the pre-mobile phone era, and before gulflends had their own cars. But still useful today whenever any young women, not just a gulflend, need to hire a cab at night. (though this wouldn't have prevented what happened to you in the morning rush-hour commute... )


Step 1: Walk out in front of the cab and linger there a moment, making a big obvious deal of noting their licence number. Many drivers hate this, and why not? Some big, snoopy, distrustful waygook dude standing in your headlamps, blocking your way, and scribbling down your number. (sometimes it was just "magic finger pen" on "magic palm pad" ) For added effect, mouth the numbers as you "write" them down.

Step 2: Walk over to the girl's rolled-down window and tell her in loud Korean, as you cast a suspicious glance at the driver: "You're going to call me as soon as you get home, right?" (again, this was pre-mobile phone, but it still has the desired effect)


All of this was only at night, though. I never felt worried about girls taking cabs in daylight. But obviously this is not the case for young foreign women. (9.00 in Suwon??) Not these days, anyway. Most of these dirty dogs who pull this *beep* today would have thought twice were this 10+ years ago. What's changed? Far, far more single, unchaperoned Western women tootling about the country today, so there are more "targets". And we cannot discount the effect of an influx of Russian/Eastern European prostitutes. However many or few of them there may be, it's clear that a lot of Korean men are on the constant prowl for them. And lastly, I do believe that physical assaults on Westerners and Western women in particular would have provoked a much more serious reaction from the police, media, government and public in Roh Tae-woo's Korea than it would in Roh Moo-hyun's Korea.

[dogbert]

[jjurabong]

Kermo,

That sucks - I'm so sorry to hear that.

I ( female) always sit in the back, and "dumb down" my Korean so that I don't have to engage in conversation. I also take out my cell and pretend to be sending messages, so that I can make a quick call if things get out of hand.
However, the most important tip I got from my K-girl friends was to only take "Private" ( Gae -in?) taxis. These are only given to experienced drivers with clean records , and the taxi is esentially their own business, so they are easy to track down, and hold accountable. The company taxis hire all kinds of different drivers, and you never quite know who is driving you. If there was no Id displayed in the front, it was probably a company taxi.

[kermo]

[cj1976]

The driver sounds like he models himself on Borat. That's sh1tty luck getting in his cab!

[mikowee]

From the stories I hear from my sister that lives here and Korean friends who are girls, taxis are definitely not safe for girls travelling alone. Try to avoid it altogether at night. The back seats don't really make a difference when they decide to lock them on you.

For girls that must travel alone at night, pick up some mace if you can find any. Korea's crawling with pervs.

[poet13]

"However, the most important tip I got from my K-girl friends was to only take "Private" ( Gae -in?) taxis."

So how do you tell a Gae-in from any other taxi? I mean, for people who can't read Hangul, is there a sign, a symbol, a color?

[regicide]

[ajgeddes]

Just never sit in the front seat. Even if you have to get into a fight in the cab, you would have a much easier time defending the back seat.

I never sit in the front seat. My very first time riding in a cab in Seoul, I got into the front seat and as we were driving the driver put his hand on my leg and told me I was handsome. I am pretty sure I could have kicked his ass, so it doesn't matter too much, but it was still weird. And that was before I realized that you could be the most hideous person in the world and still everybody will call you handsome here.

[thebum]