Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Marlboro]

I have seen this so many times, but more towards south asian guys, its disgusting,and some make a point of not standing/sitting next to them. i can understand how you are made to feel inferior, Hope things get better for you,

PS: I would have no problem sitting next to you

[Seoul_Star]

I love how Koreans do this! What's even better is when they walk onto the train and the only seat empty is the one next to you... with some Koreans, you can actually look into their eyes and see that they are debating it (hmmmm hmmmmm, sit next to a foriegner or stand, hmmm hmmmmm) and then they look at you closer and debate it over a little more before they apprehensively sit down. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is how progress begins.

One Korean person sits down next to you apprehensively, and before you know it, they pass the story along to their friends about how they sat next to a foreigner and didn't die or catch AIDS, and soon after their friend sits down next to a foreigner and reports a similar result.

Whenever I take a vacation back to civilization (or Thailand) I always do a little social experiment on the airport bus. I wait for the bus to fill up (seat next to me is always the last one taken despite my dashing good looks and above-average hygiene) and then when the seat next to me is the only one left, I put my carry on bag on the seat, thus blocking all potential Korean seat-mates. I then refuse to remove the bag until someone musters up the courage to ASK me to remove it so that they may sit. Awkward situation, but I feel that as Seoul's most eligible bachelor, the seat next to me should only be reserved for Korean Airline stewardesses; the lower orders can stand for all I care.

If it makes you feel any better, I never sit next to Koreans on the train or bus unless I absolutely have to. I heard that you can catch SARS if they cough on you, so if on occasion I do partake in the sitting, a mask is always donned to reduce the risk. Sit safely!

[Tony_Balony]

Q) What did the leper say to the prostitute?
A) I left you a tip!

[JMO]

[dogshed]

[Doogie]

[browneyedgirl]

Wow, I think I'm going to like Korea...people always want to sit next to me even if the city bus is almost empty.

[darkhorse_NZ]

[SuperFly]

I've noticed it too. I dress well (Suits on most days) and I use plenty of deodorant. It wasn't this bad 11 years ago when I first came to Korea...things have changed. I'm not dark, I don't smell bad (My k-wife says I don't have any body odor smell at all) and yet, the seat next to me is almost always taken last at least 80% of the time I ride the subway. As another poster stated, I've learned to embrace it, and now welcome the open space next to me because it gives me more room.


For the poster that complained about cologne / perfume ... about half the engineers that I work with use polo and armani cologne on a daily basis, one guy even uses a patchouli fragrance if you can believe that.

[Atavistic]

[tiger fancini]

While riding the bus and subway, I've noticed that many Koreans don't like to sit next to anybody. For example, on the subway, if a seat with a free seat on either side (ie a row of three seats) becomes available, someone who is sitting directly next to someone will usually try and jump into it. Same on the bus. If 2 seats become available, somebody will move from their seat sitting next to somebody and go there. I've seen this so many times, and most times they are sitting next to other Koreans (as we foreigners are a small minority here). It bothered me at first, but I do the same now too. If I'm sat next to somebody on the subway, then a chance arises to have a free seat either side of me, I'll be straight in there. The golden prize is the seat at the end of the row, with nobody sitting next to you.

[OiGirl]

When the milk and cheese smell gets a bit strong, I eat some raw garlic to even out the effect.

(Never take the subway in Gwangju, and most of the busses don't have two seats next to each other, so don't notice an effect on the leprosy treatment.)

[Doogie]

[Atavistic]

[VanIslander]

maybe the Korean was trying to talk about the smell of whomever cut the cheese