Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Driving here is great. Not only have I had no problems, I've seen only about 5 wrecks in all my excursions, which have been a lot over the past 18 months. But I've driven in places like NYC/Newark and Acapulco. If one can handle Acapulco without smashing a fender, he can drive anywhere. Driving here's a breeze compared to the 'Co.

Walking on the sidewalk is where people have problems. Sometimes crossing a street on the green signal means running for your life. Don't dream of jaywalking when traffic is anything other than ultralight. Also, minimize your lateral velocity. Motorcyclists and bikers love to ride fast on the sidewalks here.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: It is great

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Nope, can't say that I have.

But I wouldn't be afraid of it either. I'd drive in Cairo after the places I've driven. It can't be any worse that what I've seen elsewhere.

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

There's another side to this coin.

Some of us are joggers, pedestrians (actually one of the things I like about Korea and I down have to drive), and I truly despise the "road culture". I mean, essentially you're saying "Hey, here in Korea I can be a sh*tty driver! Awesome!"

I honestly live in an old, very cramped neighborhood with no sidewalks, so I get the worst of things. It's really my only complaint about Korea. Don't have any other real complaints about the place.

As a longtime jogger/cyclist, I used to complain about drivers a lot back home, so whatever. But I've seen too many accidents here.

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

I'll bite,

I do actually like driving here. I drive and ride a motorcycle and when I go home I feel incredibly frustrated with the extreme rules. Driving in Korea is fun....however their are a few too many folks who simply think they can do whatever they like even if the laws of probability or physics simply say it's the dumbest thing on earth to do.

However for the most part Korean drivers are really good. I ride a bicycle here too and Korean drivers are more than capable of handling a cyclist on the side of the road unlike grouchy bitchy drivers in my home town who feel the need to swear at every little thing that might force them to actually pay attention to the road. But as I said, due to the incredibly loose traffic laws here their are far too many idiots who think they can do whatever they want. Bus drivers, tow truck drivers and folks with expensive wheels seem to think they own the roads. Taxi driver, while they piss me off, seem to be able to break the rules with out being a hazard to themselves or others....don't know why this is.

So I think enjoying the driving here because it's fun also has it's hard nasty flip side. You can get into trouble real fast here.

I think something does need to be done. I would love to see cops dong there jobs more effectively. Hell the other day I got a 60,000 won ticket for talking on my phone......The police officer almost caused an accident just flagging me down, then not ten seconds later a bus went screaming through a red light......lawlessness as useal. I never enter an intersection without checking both ways, no matter the light.

seoulteacher · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: Seoul

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

As a pedestrian, who's 61 kilos, going against your vehicle, which weighs 2k kilos, I don't like my chances in a collision. So I'd really prefer you respect traffic safety laws; reaction time when driving fast is reduced, using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent to being drunk, and running red lights at 4am (and why the hell are you driving at 4am? you're either tired or drunk or both) may include slamming into an obscure pedestrian.

Traffic saftety is one of those things where I don't sanction garbage, because it's life or death. I've lost *several* good friends to traffic accidents and have seen way too many accidents here.

I really don't care what you enjoy. You're endangering the lives of other people.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

I used to take the train all the time, then I got a set of car keys. I began to prefer driving than taking the subway.

But, the traffic jams, the people parking in my car park and watching people do silly and illegal stuff, I sometimes prefer to slow down, so take the train again.

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

Driving in Korea is like Christmas if you lack impulse control and even a modicum of civic duty. It's like an orgasm wrapped in a delicious candy shell.

pidgin · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Location: Seoul

Of my overseas driving experiences,....Saudi-Thailand-Korea...(multipile years in each)...Korea is the easiest and safest by far!!

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

ellegarden · Joined: 01 Sep 2007

I think they don't teach people to do a shoulder check here. My girlfriend always freaked out on me when I tried to change lanes and I checked my blindspot. Finally I parked next to a car put her in the driver seat and showed her exactly what a blindspot was.

karri · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Location: south korea

I agree with the OP. Driving here rocks. There is something to be said for personal responsability. I like that I'm not policed at every turn. I run red lights at empty intersections aswell. I treat them like a 4 way stops.

I don't find that there are that many more crazy drivers here then there were back home. To be fair i live out in the country, I'm sure driving in Seoul is a whole other thing.