Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jambonsambo]

My director asked me to take a call from a girl who will be taking my place after my contract is up .

She asked my if korea was a safe place and if it would be safe for her to walk home alone after work .I need help with this question .

As a guy I find korea much safer then back home (Ireland). Im completely paranoia free in korea and would walk anywhere anytime , the only hassle i get is the odd soju drunk looking for english conversation . I know one girl here in Ulsan who was groped by an old korean guy when she was walking home for work , but girls get attacked in ireland and everywhere else a lot also .

So id like to hear what peoples opinions on this are . Is it as safe here for girls as in any other country ?

[endofthewor1d]

i'd say it's at least as safe. granted, i'm a dude, and i'm looking at it from the same point of view as you are.

[PeteJB]

Probably safer than where shes from when thinking about the type of crime.

[Zutronius]

I just met for coffee with a girl who spent the last three years teaching in Korea (Seoul). She said that she could walk down her street late at night and was never bothered. It could also really depend on what part of the country you live in as well possibly. I'm not in SK yet but I have heard that it's relatively safe. I lived by Jane and Finch in Toronto, Ontario. I heard it's safer than there (good sign).

[peppermint]

Yes and no. Less random crime, far far more sexual harassment and unwanted groping is pretty commonplace. Men get drunks looking for English conversation, we get drunks asking "how muchee?" Shirts cut lower than the collarbone are seen as an invitation all too often

It's safe for the most part, but not always comfortable for women there

Zutronius, just about anywhere in Canada will be safer than Jane and Finch, from what I'm told.

[maeil]

Well put, Pep...

In general, I feel safer walking around late at night or in dark empty subway stations here than I do at home. However, in my 3 years here, I've been attacked twice by drunk men confused about my blond hair and what it meant they could get away with. That sort of thing never happened back home.

A large part of it is that as foreign women, we stand out more. I think that there are some people (not all) who, if they are going to attack a woman, will choose the woman that catches their eye the most.

What I found, though, is that the attackers don't expect you to fight back.





Anyway, yeah, it's generally safe. I've recently been warned by a police sergeant friend not to take taxis alone from Hongdae, but I've done it many times and probably won't stop anytime soon.

[Draz]

[Vancouver]

if a 5 year old can walk around at night, then how bad can it be for a woman?

[Matilda]

Am into my second year here and feel pretty safe overall. I think you should still have your wits about you and be aware when walking in any city/country at night!

I myself have experienced a 'peeping tom' and have heard from several other women about similar experiences. One was followed home by a guy w@nking.

I think the weirdos here may take a 'passive aggressive' approach... which is still equally disturbing.

These things can happen in any country. You will be fine! Enjoy your time here!

[Natalia]

It kind of depends on how Russian you look......

Really. I am, (but not of the prostitute variety), and I've had problems.

Yes, five year olds can walk around on their own, but the five year olds in Korea don't have big eyes and blonde hair.

But it's certainly not a frightening and dangerous place, and there's absolutely no reason why a woman shouldn't go to Korea on their own.

Generally if you fight back - or use a few choice words - the Korean men will look a bit shocked and then disappear pretty quickly.

[GoldMember]

Is the place safe?
Hell no!
You have to look at the big picture. Getting hit by scooter, sideswiped by buses, knocked down by taxis. All of this while either walking on the pavement or on a pedestrian crossing.
Rapists and muggers may be few and far between, but idiotic and moronic motorists are an epedemic here.
I'd rather get punched in the head by a mugger, than hit by a bus.

Plus in general, lax safety standards, dodgy construction. Why do you think accident insurance is advertised on TV all the time.

[browneyedgirl]

[Atavistic]

I've been here over a year.

If I've been groped or fondled, I don't remember it, so obviously it didn't have a big impact on me if it happened. Actually, no, I had an ajumma unzip my jacket once to see if I was wearing a shirt. I have had Korean guys make comments on the size of my *beep*, but I was wearing a deep wrap dress that highlighted them quite well and the comments were more of the stupified 13 year old boy kind than the "I feel threatened" kind. I have brown/red hair. I also tend to stay out of bars, which avoids SOME of the drunks.

I feel very safe here.

Part of it will be attitude and awareness on her part, of course.

[Atavistic]

[GoldMember]

Girls walk on pavements, girls cross streets, girls live in dodgy firetraps.
Boys too!