Korean Job Discussion Forums

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: Standing on the road

Has anyone seen this phenomenon other than in Korea?

Today I approached an intersection and an ajumma was standing 3 feet into the crosswalk, pushing a stroller. I laid on the horn for about 20 seconds, and she slowly backed up to the sidewalk. Turns out she was using the stroller to carry her purse, no baby.

Yesterday I came around the corner on a temporary road, and there was a woman standing on the road, right around a blind corner. Do these people want to be killed to collect insurance money?

Baffling, irritating, sparkling.

The Hammer · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject:

And just what the hell were you doing driving on the road?

cheeseface · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Ssyangnyeon Shi

poet13 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject:

Duh! She was in the road to get away from the motorcycles on the sidewalk.

Wow, ya just gotta 'splain everthin' to some people.

KumaraKitty · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

The exact same thing happened as I was driving home this morning! An ajumma on her phone, standing in the middle of the lane as I came around the corner. She was about 5 feet behind the cross walk and I didn't see her until I was almost on her! Slammed on the brakes and honked and she looked at me like I was the crazy one and then slowly backed up to the curb. The ones that really bother me are the ajummas pushing strollers with a grandkid in them. I shudder to think how often the strollers get clipped!! I guess they are in such a hurry to get where they are going they just throw caution to the wind!

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

How many points is an ajumma?

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

This is unrelated, but during my first year here my boss's wife gave me a ride home from work because it was raining. She pulled up in front of my place and decided to get out for something.

She opened her door without checking first and a scooter driver immediately slammed it, fucking the thing all up. He was shaken up, although apparently not physically hurt, but her car door was all fucked up and wouldn't shut afterwards. He was pretty pissed off.

I couldn't stop laughing for about twenty minutes. This woman was nice, but a total dingbat.

Maybe you had to be there. It was classic.

Yesterday · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:26 am Post subject: Re: Standing on the road

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

I would not say it is a Korean thing. But Korea does have high amount of people who have death wishes or are just plain ignorant.

The one thing I learned from a young age was that you look both ways before crossing the street. Here I see a whole lotta of "blind crossing". People see green cross light and just walk. No little check to see if car comming or whipping around the corner. Just walk. Ok that is slightly understandable but the one that make me shiver is blind jaywalking. Ok am not talking a major road. But I have seen people walk out from between two cars in the middle of a raod and not glance - just walk - heck somtimes on a cell phone.

Also one excuse for standing in the road is simply put no sidewalks.

Let see hmmm what other stupid pedestrian stunts have I seen. I have witness about three times old old old adjuma waking slowly with old arthritic and osteoporosis ravaged backs crossing across major roads or highways.

Let see another frequent one I noticed is near where I stay is a major road and in the middle is a underpass for fast moving cars. It is near a sidealk exit where many people come out of a villa apartment area. To cross the road you have three choice one about one looong block to a major crosswalk. Two go the other direction for a shorter half block distance to a underpass walkway that is well lit and basically clean. And a little short cut is walk towards the major crosswalk half way there hop over waist high fence cross to middle of road which has area for people to do a uturn the run again and hope another fence. Now finally getting to the good part. Whoops I forgot option four. Which I see about twice a week. Go over fence. Run across road to underpass ledge. Jump or climb down ledge to fast traveling car lane road. Run across busy road, then climb other ledge, and run across road again. I mean I am all for short cuts but this one scares me. I think I saw somebody actually attempt to do that with a bicycle. I mean come on people walk that extra block.

I will have to think of some more....

Leslie Cheswyck · Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: University of Western Chile

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Yea and if you happen to hit one of these morons standing in the middle of the read, guess what? despite the damage caused to your car when their skull bounces of the front fender, you have to pay them money.

Moronic laws written by morons for the benefit of morons.

This is why its not a good idea to drive in Korea, or even ride a bicycle, actually walking is not a good idea either, best just to stay home all day.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

How to commit the perfect murder. (only in Korea)

Stand at a red light, down-traffic from, but not in front of, a crowd.
During a lull in traffic, before the light turns green, take two sudden, purposeful steps forward.

Then, stop.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

What, so all the people cross without looking as they are sheep.
It could work ...
Have you ever noticed at a dept store there are several doors yet everyone will be using the same door squeezing thru. So, go to the other door and freely use it, yet many behind you will suddenly gasp and follow your lead and all start to squeeze thru that one.