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seoul_nhl
Joined: 18 Mar 2006
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 Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:32 am Post subject: Why no balconies? |
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| Why aren't there any balconies in Korea? |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:36 am Post subject: |
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Are you crazy?
Where the heck are ya? |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| There are covered balconies. Exposed balconies don't appear to be popular. Space is expensive. Why waste it on something you can only reasonably use part of the year? |
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Natalie
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:51 am Post subject: Re: Why no balconies? |
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| seoul_nhl wrote: |
| Why aren't there any balconies in Korea? |
I totally agree..although most apartment have covered 'balcanies' they are basically just used for storage/drying washing. It amazes me that more effort isnt made to sit out there. I mean, Koreans in general don't seem to appreciate the wonder of outside living - I mean restaurants, cafes and homes don't utalize space well, don't use many big windows etc.. Every apart. I've lived in I've tried to arrange something out of the nothing! Even if you only have a brick wall, still nice to have a 'space' for reading, napping, with pot plants, some chairs,...somewhere to have a beer.....sigh |
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wo buxihuan hanguoren
Joined: 18 Apr 2007
Location: Suyuskis
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:59 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
Are you crazy?
Where the heck are ya? |
You have an open balcony in Now-Whereville? How quaint. Can you buy Skittles there, too? Really? Wow! So surprise! Just like the Bangkok! |
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newton kabiddles
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 5:18 am Post subject: |
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What they should do in the typical apartus is set the main living room windows on four tracks across the entire width of the apartment so you can slide the living room windows all away across in front of the adjacent bedroom and open up the entire living room balcony in summer.
That would be groovy. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 5:35 am Post subject: |
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ah, now some posters have introduced the distinction between covered vs. open balconies. there are a lot of balconies in korea but most of them are covered, true.
i immediately think of several korean friends' places with balconies: one has a bunch of plants on it, another a dog's house, another a washing machine and clothes line, another a sofa for summer lounging, another just storage stuff.
i have joked with them about getting a b.b.q. out there or some patio furniture, but they much prefer going to restaurants with outdoor sections during the summers
| Natalie wrote: |
| Koreans in general don't seem to appreciate the wonder of outside living |
*shakes head* I keep hearing patent nonsense around here. I have to put on my b.s. filter to get to the kernel of truth trying to be expressed in sweeping overgeneralizations, something university grads should be over with.
Lots of restaurants have outdoor sections in the summers down here in coastal communities, hiking is virtually congested on the weekends, beaches on Saturdays are pretty crowded, and there's no shortage of early morning walkers in local parks. |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:49 am Post subject: |
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Not sure.
Another thing that astounds me is the lack of rooftop use here. Take a ride on line 2 through the east side of Seoul and check out all the awesome rooftop spaces. Laundry lines and trash for the most part. Such a shame. |
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Natalie
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
i have joked with them about getting a b.b.q. out there or some patio furniture, but they much prefer going to restaurants with outdoor sections during the summers |
exactly. you said it.
| VanIslander wrote: |
| Natalie wrote: |
| Koreans in general don't seem to appreciate the wonder of outside living |
*shakes head* I keep hearing patent nonsense around here. I have to put on my b.s. filter to get to the kernel of truth trying to be expressed in sweeping overgeneralizations, something university grads should be over with.
Lots of restaurants have outdoor sections in the summers down here in coastal communities, hiking is virtually congested on the weekends, beaches on Saturdays are pretty crowded, and there's no shortage of early morning walkers in local parks. |
ok you pompous twit: I see MORE of the 4 million people in New Zealand OUTSIDE, than I do the 44 MILLION living in Korea 
Generally speaking, there is often some truth to generalizations.
I come from a country where people love to camp, picnics, ANYTHING outdoors. For beep sake, whenever I can, Im outside. I even try and teach outside, my coworkers and students think its cazy!
SO, for me, KOreans are very much (generally speaking) inside people.
The lack of balcanys here is just one aspect of that, but one that I've definitely noticed. I drink my morning coffee on my balcany here in Korea, even in winter if it means wrapping up in 5 layers. Its just something I do. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulsucker wrote: |
Not sure.
Another thing that astounds me is the lack of rooftop use here. Take a ride on line 2 through the east side of Seoul and check out all the awesome rooftop spaces. Laundry lines and trash for the most part. Such a shame. |
I've always thought that too. Very few rooftops seem to be used at all. Maybe it's because the short Spring and short Fall would be the only pleasant time to sit outside so they don't bother fixing up the roof for a couple of months per year........but I don't think so.
It's probably just because Seoulites fear pollution and simply because they never used to do it so they won't do it now. |
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Ryst Helmut
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Location: In search of the elusive signature...
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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My take on this is that they do not have/utilise what they already have well enough because they (in general) have not thought of their balconies in that way. I mean, only a few of the homes (apts) that I've visited have really done much with their balconies. Most just see it as an extension of the room adjacent, but I've seen some real beauts!
Mine? Well, we're still furbishing them, but one of ours is merely an extension on our kitchen (oven, kimchi fridge, washer/dryer, appliances), the other is just shelves and decor (an extension of my office). So, for the most part, we've done something practical...aka, what most Korean families have to do due to lack of space.
Fortunately for my wife and I we live alone in a 47~49 (can never remember) pyeong flat so our largest balcony is (which runs the length of our flat) becoming our playground (dartboard, garden, grilling area, dog run, and soon-to-be foosball). Whenever Koreans come over they are floored at such a novel idea and several have followed suit. A Korean friend has even ordered a grill like ours to do cookouts.
In time they'll use it more, but I have to almost ask "why?" as we've ample parks and paths in our area.
Stuck in the office and wishing I were outside....
!shoosh,
Ryst |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Natalie wrote: |
ok you pompous twit: I see MORE of the 4 million people in New Zealand OUTSIDE, than I do the 44 MILLION living in Korea
Generally speaking, there is often some truth to generalizations.
I come from a country where people love to camp, picnics, ANYTHING outdoors. ... SO, for me, KOreans are very much (generally speaking) inside people. |
Oh I see now. Though I thought you were being pompous like the typical attitude of malcontents on dave's.  Your generalization met my assumption and it wasn't pretty.
I have been impressed by the outdoor focus of many relatively-rural Koreans I know (I've never lived in a very urban Korean city), the locals I know always wanting to go on a picnic, go hiking, go for a walk by the beach, go shopping on the streets, go to the park, go fishing etc. But I am from a small city/big town in Canada where most people drive around in cars and hide in their homes and backyards, with a lot less sense of public space filled with people outdoors. |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't forget Suicide is a national past time in this country as well. Ever notice how a 16th story apartment has bars on windows.. Its not to keep people out but rather to keep people in. |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Wrench wrote: |
| Don't forget Suicide is a national past time in this country as well. Ever notice how a 16th story apartment has bars on windows.. Its not to keep people out but rather to keep people in. |
Not true. The bars usually only go up to waist height. I fact, I've never seen bars going up the whole way on a window above the third floor.
On the balconies thing, in Seoul I think it's a combination of pollution and winter. During the cold season you couldn't use an open balcony, making it wasted space. Year round the pollution means that after a day or two anything you had out there would become covered with dust and dirt, again making it impractical.
Busan seemed to have more balconies in new apartments, maybe due to the warmer weather, and cleaner air.
The enclosed balconies, or "windows" as they're called are pretty good, and the big windows usually open all the way. A good space for plants, or to dry washing, and in winter they provide a buffer against the cold. |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Natalie wrote: |
I come from a country where people love to camp, picnics, ANYTHING outdoors. For beep sake, whenever I can, Im outside. I even try and teach outside, my coworkers and students think its cazy!
SO, for me, KOreans are very much (generally speaking) inside people.
The lack of balcanys here is just one aspect of that, but one that I've definitely noticed. I drink my morning coffee on my balcany here in Korea, even in winter if it means wrapping up in 5 layers. Its just something I do. |
OK, most ppl in NZ live in houses, not apts, but apartment living is becoming more and more popular in NZ cities, but here's the rub: How many kiwi apartments have any kind of balcony, let alone outside ones? |
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