Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bingo]

I walk to work each day and, looking down (as there's nothing worth looking at architecturally) I consistently notice two things. Spit. Here, there, everywhere. It's omnipresent. The other is the extremely poor quality of Korean sidewalks. How in heaven's name can they construct them so unevenly, with so many gaps, and with no consistency. It's like a bunch of drunks made them. If I'd a nickle for every time I twisted an ankle and fell because of the crooked sidewalks I'd have a lot of nickles.

For a country that claims it cherishes the elderly, you'd think they'd make sure the sidewalks were even, at least to prevent ajumma falling on her face.

I've never seen such poorly constructed sidewalks.

[xCustomx]

They designed them so foreigners would go on a message board and complain about how they were made

Sorry but I get a little tired of reading "why do koreans ________ (insert something negative)?"

[Cerriowen]

It's not a problem with the sidewalk, it's a problem with what they are used for.

They design side walks for WALKING and streets for DRIVING, and therefore are made out of different matterials with different strengths.

The sidewalks break up really quickly because they are being put under too much strain from motercycles, delivery vehicles, and people parking on them.

[bassexpander]

In the newer towns, you don't see that so much. You have to remember that Seoul was basically cobbled-on for a few decades after the war. Some areas are continually re-cobbled the cheapest way possible, until some big company like Prugio comes in, levels all buildings, and builds new. When they totall redo an area, they often follow more recent building practices, such as creating level paths for walking, etc.

[PeteJB]

Perhaps because most of them are built on mountainous terrain that is far from flat, no matter how flat your town looks from a distance.

[postfundie]

I've had a couple adult students tell me that they do not use plain only concrete here because it's not as healthy to walk on. They both said that 'ki' can come up through the spaces between the bricks whereas concrete seals off the ground. I don't know but I hear your gripe. I hate the sidewalks here...




(of course European cities with dog *beep* every ten feet is probably more annoying)

[reactionary]

i think because they like to dig them up and put them back in annually..especially during rainy season

[ulsanchris]

they don't properly compact the soil and put down a suitable layer of gravel. not too mention they drive on the sidewalks. brick sidewalks cannot support the weight of a vehicle.

[mithridates]

Yeah, they suck and the city knows about it:

http://koreabeat.com/?p=642

(don't know what other cities are like)

Girls in high heels and old people have the hardest time with them.

[caniff]

Mith, what are you doing slumming around on this thread? C'mon.

A person of your caliber should be over here:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=113303&start=15