Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mr. positive]

You know how back home, when you want to cross the street at crosswalk, you make eye contact with approaching drivers to let them know you want to cross and they stop? Well, I've found it works the opposite here. 95% of the time you could wait all day at a crosswalk waiting for drivers to stop for you.

So since I walk a lot, I tried employing the opposite approach - rather than making eye contact with drivers when I'm about to cross the street, I avoid eye contact, and wouldn't you know it works like a charm! I haven't had a single driver not stop for me since I started employing this technique. Of course I keep oncoming traffic in the corner of my eye in case this technique fails and I need to avoid being hit by a car. It seems the incentive to not hit a pedestrian is greater than that to let one cross at a crosswalk.

disclaimer: I live in Jeonga in Bundang, a place where the traffic isn't nearly as crazy as it is in Seoul, so I'm not sure how well this would work in other places, but do share if you've had similar/dissimilar experiences.

[Bibbitybop]

In Seoul, you wait for the light at a crosswalk, or if the crosswalk has no light, you wait for break in traffic. Crossing the street in Seoul with no crosswalk or light must be done very quickly.

[lastat06513]

Things to remember when crossing the street in Seoul
~ Look both ways and cross when no one is coming at you
~ NEVER cross are a turn, a car can come barrelling around the corner before you can think of what to do next....
~ Cross your fingers and hope for the best
~ Make sure you are wearing clean, unstained underwear if you do get hit.
~ Always cross at a street where there is a camera so if the car hits you, you can always try to have the tape summoned to court for your trial....

Best Advice~ Prey to God!

[postfundie]

traffic lights here bug the hell out of me....gotta wait ten thousand years for the left turn people to go..ahhhhhhhhh I love J-walking (carefully of course) Korean people always look at you like you're a crazy mofo for doing it...

[thiophene]

Here, most of the time, I walk without hesitating, although in the corner of my eyes, I'm aware of whether they're going to stop or not. Although sometimes, I let them go cause sometimes they get no break of pedestrians and I know as a driver it's annoying trying to drive through a 0.1 second break.

[Confused Canadian]

[mr. positive]

Sounds like crossing the street in Seoul is another story! I've only done this on smaller streets, two or four lanes, where the traffice isn't too nutty, so I can't vouch for how well it would work on the crazy streets of Seoul (sounds like not well).

[saw6436]

I just never cross the street. Problem solved.

[cbclark4]

I use an umbrella.

[Smee]

[Zyzyfer]

Walking in Bundang is piss easy compared to Seoul. But really, there are crosswalks everywhere here, whereas it's a tossup in parts of Bundang, so I always just make sure to let someone else lead before I cross a street.

[Privateer]

[TheUrbanMyth]

I wait for the traffic light to turn green and look both ways.

[Lekker]

I agree with the umbrella guy. If a car gets too close to you, smack it with the umbrella as hard as you can. Then run away. What are they going to do? Get out, leave their car running and chase you down?

[Kimchi Cowboy]