Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PimpofKorea]

A lot of the hippy types around here have been saying that one of the main reasons they are in Korea is because they LOVE not owning a car...just like they love being broke too. Anywho, I'm here to tell ya why its a good azz idea to own a car in Korea.

1. Advantages:
A lot of your woes would be eliminated by having your own private vehicle. How many motherloving posts do I have to see about people shoving you on the subway, ajummas bumping you to get the last available seat, feeling isolated because no one will sit next to your white butt...and even old Korean guys jacking off next to you on the bus. Having your own car eliminates all these problems in one fell swoop.
I hardly ever deal with Korean people in public...mostly in business situations. I took buses/subways during my first 2 months in country...and that really sucks...and it really doesn't save you as much money as you think (more on this later).

Its faster to get to your jobs with a car. Its a pain in the balls to take buses/change subways all day long just to get where you want to go.

It looks more respectable. You complain about how Korean dudes have little/no respect for you. But look at you....your riding around in a stinky azz bus all day long and he's chilling in an air-conditioned car. Back home...if some 30 something year old guy told me that he has no car and no driver's license...I automatically think "what a bum." So..imagine how the average Korean adult in his 30's thinks about you.

It's more comfortable. I get up...scratch my nuts..walk down the road..jump in the car..put on the AC...crank up the music..and off I go. No walking to the goddamn bus-stop and waiting next to some old lady with her vegetable cart in the cold or heat. You say sitting in traffic sucks??? Well yeah it does...but you can perfect your air guitar and drum solos while waiting for those lights to change. Roll your windows down...stare down that old taxi driver to your right or left..and play the loudest metal you own while giving him the metal face.

Disadvantages:
So you complain that a car is too expensive to maintain and having a responsibility like that will cut into your life of leisure at age 35?? Well..lets just break down how expensive it is.
A decent well running car (96-99) model will cost you between 800000-2.0mil give or take. I paid 1.2mil for a 96 model and its lasted me over 2 years...never died on me once. Insurance will run you about 300000-600000 which is still at least 1/2 the price in the states and canada. Car mechanics work for peanuts in this country. Case in point: 2 weeks ago I had an oil change, tire balance and rotation, brake check/adjustment, and the crankcase oil leak was repaired. (I know some of you artsy-fartsy types are shaking your heads) This would have cost at least 350-450 dollars in the states..Total price 30,000. (My wife's father was friend's with the shop owner..so he let me slide.) But without any kind of hookup..it would cost around 120,000 which is 1/3 the price back home.
Gas is expensive here...no denying that. But most of the cars here are 3-4 cylinder engines which have great gas mileage compared to the cars back home. It should only cost you between 100-200000 a month for gas. I drive alot because I have some jobs in the countryside...and it still only costs like 170-180 a month for gas.
No imported cars...only a handful of Korean made cars. Yeah..that sucks too...but if you buy used cars over 7 years old..they are completely devalued and your not contributing much to Korea's protectionist policies. All you need to do is throw a decent Japanese/American sound system in there and you're good to go. Don't bother with the gayazz HelloKitty seat covers or buying one of those cutesy stuffed animals with your cell-phone number embroidered into it on your dashboard.

Holy Christ that was a long post. Now I am going to go jump in my Air- Conditioned car...crank up the Slayer..and practice my air guitar soloing next to some random old Korean guys sitting in traffic.

[gsxr750r]

Last year, a coworker jumped on me for owning a car. He told me all about how you don't need a car, blah, blah...

Some time later, we went to Costco together.

This year, he's talking about buying a car.

You don't need one unless you plan to live here a while, IMHO.

[laogaiguk]

I have lived here a bit now, and will live here atleast 2 more years I am guessing. I don't need a car, but that is not to say others don't.

[happeningthang]

One of the first things I did in Korea was to buy a '94 Hyundai Excel, a plastic box that would have me laughed at in public back home. The car was a whopping $600, insurance was only $200, mechanics (infrequently needed for small things, oil change, tune up, inflating tyres) never cost me more than $30.

I was living in a small town, and the car was my salvation after the honeymoon period, because it took me and my friends all across the peninsula, able to see so much more than just the immediate area. Intercity buses are great in Korea, but even so they only get you so far.

I'm surprised more ESLers don't have cars in Korea. Cheap, easy and well worthwhile.

[SuperHero]

I have a car and live in an apartment with a parking garage so it's okay. But when we didn't have parking with the apartment it was a pain in the ass. Only get a car if you have somewhere to park it. getting towed and tickets are not fun.

[DCJames]

[leebumlik69]

I think it's worth having one if you can. I might get one at the end of the Summer I hope. I have to assume that it's possible I could spend a lot of time in Korea, so I should get familiar with the roads and road etiquette as soon as possible. It's like learning Korean. Why bother learning it? Because you need to keep an open mind that you may stay longer than planned...

[Canuck Teacher]

It's worth having a car if only to avoid the cramped public transit and the coughs, spit, and all the associated colds, viruses and communicable diseases that come with them free of charge. About that TB outbreak in Daegu...

[Riddzy]

"Anybody seen in a bus over the age of 30 has been a failure in life".

Brian Howard

[butlerian]

[Milwaukiedave]

I agree, if your going to be here awhile a car would be a nice thing.

On the other hand, with the way people drive in this country, you'd have to have a death wish to actually get in a car and drive anywhere.

[JongnoGuru]

When I first looked at this thread on the list, Superhero was the last poster, but for some reason I got it into my head that Superhero was the OP. (SH also recently changed avatars, which contributed to my confusion.)

So I'm bopping along reading the OP, thinking "hmm... that SH sure is getting kind'a slangy, kind'a ghetto, kind'a in-yo-face-ish these days..." Until I got to this next bit, and then I was like, "whaaaaa?? "

[gsxr750r]

I heard somewhere that SuperHero scratches his nuts in his car, too.

I didn't really care to hear that, but I heard it anyway.

I think some halmony mentioned it on the subway.

My girlfriend would be glad I'm putting my Korean to good use.

[eamo]

Sure. I have a car and I live in Seoul. But it's a 1.5 liter Daewoo lanos. And I only use it when stuff needs to be carried or I'm going where public transport doesn't go. I buy about 40,000 won of gas per month unless I'm doin a rare long trip into Korean boondocks.

It's the arses who buy 6 liter pick-ups and SUV's to drive themselves around town who need to shake themselves.

[MikeNelson]

I drive a scooter to work and back. It's much faster than a car and costs almost nothing, W4,000 a week in gas. When I need a car for special weekend trips to Costco, I just rent a car for the day or two days. Renting a car costs from W60,000 to W100,000 a day.
Traffic is just too much and drivers are breaking every traffic law they can to save 2 seconds. Too much stress.
Just my 2 cents