Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chamchiman]

Pretty typical of how it goes when I get into a taxi:

Me: Please take me to ����..
Him: You can speak Korean very well.
Me (looking distantly out the window while pulling my mobile out to start texting): I can�t speak it very well, but thanks.
Him: How long have you lived in Korea?
Me: Four years.
Him: Where are you from?
Me: I�m from �����..
Him: Are you married?

At this point I usually say no, but if I happen to say yes the next question is inevitably:

Him: To a Korean woman?

At this point I usually say no, but if I happen to say yes the next question is inevitably:

Him: Do you have children?

Many of us have had this exact conversation, and some of us have had it enough times to be tired of it all. It�s none of his goddamn business. So, what do YOU say to end the conversation?

�왜 물어보셨어요?�

�상관 없잖아요!!!� (I think I�ll try this one next time.)

While I have had many cab rides with nice old guys who were pleasant enough to talk to (Him: I know it�s a little rude so excuse me, but how old are you?) it seems like with increasing frequency I�m getting the nosy ajosshi with nothing better to do than pry. Ideally I�d like not to be rude, but jeez�

[Chicoloco]

Man, I think you need to chill out just a bit. Taxi drivers all over the world like to chat if you can speak their language. Next time take the bus - better aircon!

[Chamchiman]

[WoBW]

I get taxis every day and this never happens to me. Maybe you shouldn't let on that you can speak Korean other than to say the (memorized) name of the place you need to get to. Works for me, taxi drivers usually don't say a word to me.

[Coffeeprincess]

I don't mind chatty taxi drivers, even if they are being nosey...they're better than the ones who get visibly upset just because you don't fish out your money fast enough...or the ones who do nothing but grunt when you get in and out of their taxi.

Some of the most interesting conversations I've had have been with taxi drivers.

[crescent]

[sojourner1]

It's customery in Korea to be asked these questions that seem personal.

I always get asked by adults and kids things like if I'm married, if I like women, how old I am, where do I live, how long do I stay in Korea, and the list goes on.

I would think you're used to it after 4 years on the ROK. You've got 3 years on me, but I'm just used to all these prying questions as it's the Korean way of getting to know you. I say it's better to have open communication as to break down assumptions and stereotypes.

And then it's not going to matter in the long run, because you're going to quit this job someday and get a jet plane for home or it goes something like that.

[princess]

Usually I just tell taxi rivers in Korean that I don't want to talk with them, so they will leave me alone. I just want to be taken to where I want to go. I don't want to chitchat about useless drivel. My personal life is none of their business.

[IlIlNine]

몰라도되요... = It's none of your business...

[komtengi]

make a phone call...
that usually shuts them up

[ardis]

I took a lot of taxis in college and it was pretty customary for the drivers to engage in a bit of light conversation ("are you a student?" "are you from around here originally?" "what are you studying?" "do you like it here?" etc). In Korea, it's a mixed bag---some stay dead silent while others seem happy to have a foreigner and are keen to show off their English.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

Doesn't bother me in the least. I rather have a friendly taxi driver over an ass.

[PeteJB]

This is a cultural thing. It's customary to ask strangers if they married, what they do, etc. This is so to allow two things: To decide which level of speech to use with that person, and to allow a closer relationship and better understanding of one another without false pretenses and assumptions.

[Yaya]

If you simply answer yes or no, or act uninterested in answering him, perhaps that might get him off your case.

[Jandar]

If people being friendly piss you off, maybe you need to hang out with some pissy people.