Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blaseblasphemener]

I went to Seoul today, and I was very surprised at how mannerly people were. I took the subway, and everyone waited for people to get off before coming in. At Namdaemun, no one pushed me, even though it was packed with people. People waited patiently while navigating between stalls, and on the escalators in the subways, everyone was waiting in line. No one budded in line at the ticket counters. I also noticed on the KTX that they are showing a public announcement about manners on the KTX. The little vignettes include suggestions to hold your child's hand on the train platform, to not be noisy ajumas on the train, to not use your cell phone, to not smoke, to hold the car doors open for people following, and to tidy your area when leaving the train. Koreans get a bad rap on manners, but considering the multitudes of people I saw in the subway stations, the KTX, and Namdaemun, I think Korea is perhaps improving in this regard.

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

I've noticed that manners do seem to be steadily improving especially over the past week with more attention being paid to have good manners.

I wonder if this at all has anything to do with China's etiquette campaign leading into the 2008 Olympics. Perhaps the Korean Government took a leap from China and realized that tourists take note and are offended by bad manners and are less incline to return if they encounter bad manners.

[kimchi story]

[in_seoul_2003]

...

[caniff]

I sometimes wish a had a telescoping stick that I could carry around in my pocket (insert *beep* joke here).

It would be useful when an addjoshi comes running into the store to buy his cigarettes while I am transacting with the clerk. He jumps in to the side of me waving his money, and I crack him on the knuckles with the thing.

[DCJames]

Nope, I haven't noticed.

In fact, I was in a long line to buy some takeout food a couple of days ago and some old lady from behind me took my food when it came out. The clerk yelled at the lady and the old lady gave the food back then acted like she didn't know anything.

Just horrible manners.

Some Koreans have a hard time waiting in line.

[seoulsucker]

There is sort of a "grin and bear it" thing going on here.

When Koreans get burned on something, instead of making a stink I feel they tend to just roll with the punches. The low chance of confrontation emboldens some folks (especially older women) to just walk all over people.

Confronting folks on their puckups over time may start to have an effect. I'm not talking about cultural stuff here, just general social courtesies.

I've put the fear of God into a few ajummas in public, and the shame they display is a sight to behold. I let loose on an old woman after tried to squeeze through the turnstyle at a subway station to jack a free ride off my T-money card. By the end of my tirade, she was covering her face and hunched in a corner. Will she try it again? Who knows...

[pest2]

no, they havent.

[pest2]

no, they havent.

[pest2]

no, they havent.

[twg]

Are you sure of your convictions, pest2?

[Dev]

No, Koreans never consider the strangers around them.

Yesterday I rode two subway trains. I tried to kill the time by quietly reading a book, but my concentration was constantly challenged by Koreans talking very loudly close to me.

Next time I ride the subway here, I'm wearing earplugs.

[kurva anjad]

In the outer reaches of Seoul along almost every flow and river, they have two paths--a red bike path (the old ones just blacktop), and a green walk path.

I just bought my Alton bike, and what do I encounter? A bike path that is mostly occupied by 1-3 year old tikes playing on, and ajummas walking on, and the green walk path virtually empty. After almost decapitating several children, I thought it best just to use the green walking lane to ride my bike. Works fine. I just can't understand why all the old people and children use the bike path, and leave the new, cushioned walk path abandoned. But I still had a wonderful day biking all around Seoul.

[iain77]

why? maybe spatial retardation and a general lack of social graces. wtf is with this country? honestly, if i had acted that retarded as a child my mum would have smacked me. staring at foreigners like its not the year 2007, give me a fucking break. could you try and be any more pissant korea?

[pest2]