Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PigeonFart]

Do you find Koreans body language different when it comes to Elevators?

In most English speaking countries, everyone faces the door.

In Korea they often lean back against the side wall, therefore facing the center of the elevator. As i'm facing at the door, they are facing my shoulder. It makes me feel slightly uncomfortable.

[Chris_Dixon]

lol. ive lived in two apartments for over a year, big ones, and my school has an elevator, and everyone faces the door just like back home....

Why would that make you uncomfortable anyway haha??

[milspecs]

wow people will whine about anything these days huh

[pkang0202]

Funny thing happened in the elevator today in my officetel.

I'm going to the basement to take out some trash. A drunk ajoshi gets on the 1st floor. Well, he hesitates to get on the elevator and the doors close directly on him, pinning his shoulders. He cusses up a storm and the doors squeeze him out of the elevator into the lobby. As the doors are closing he sticks his arm through and the arm gets caught in the elevator door. He then starts kicking the shit out of the door from the outside.

After a couple moments, the doors open up fully and he gets in the elevator. He sees me with a stunned look on my face, and he does the "I'm embarrassed" bow and apologizes. I give him a nod.

Then the elevator starts to go down because I was headed for the basement. He gets real confused and keeps hitting the button for his floor, as if the elevator is just going to reverse instantaneously.

I get off and empty my trash. I go to the first floor and what you do know, the same ajosshi comes stumbling down the stairs. I guess he had enough of the elevator for the evening.

[Shauneyz]

[mee]

[EuroFunk]

I like to lean on walls too, but I don't think stare would make me uncomfortable though...

Unless they start to get closer, that is.

[Drew345]

It's the "who goes in the door first" etiquette that stumps me. I mean it seems to be like in America with Ladies and Senior first, but there is something else also going on too.
I saw a senior (Korean) teacher and the Manager getting onto the elevator after a dinner. Teacher motioned to the manager to get on first, manager refused and motioned to teacher to get on first. Teacher repeats the motion to manager and then manager grabs teacher (lightly) and starts to push. Now elevator door shuts and both reach for door and catch it and scramble inside.

So things seem to be the same, but with an added twist of "no you, no you, no you". In America, one polite "no you"is fine. I'm not sure how far to carry it on here. Until the door closes?

[dean_burrito]

Back in university we were given an assignment to do something socially awkward. One girl from the class decided to go elevator riding for the day. She would stand facing the other riders in the elevator, stand to the side of them, and also try to have conversations with strangers.
This was in America. Maybe other cultures are different, but in America you are pretty much expected to stand silently while facing the door. Any other behavior makes people uncomfortable.

[EzeWong]

Holy crap I noticed myself doing this too...

I found it very strange that I had started this behavior and I couldn't figure out why. I thought it had to do with the mirrors or the size of the elevator or maybe even the size of the door (it's kinda small over here so looking at the center prepares you for exit).

I mean, most of the time there's even a TV that should bring the focus to the front, but no, I like staring at the center.

[mee]

[pkang0202]

I look at the center so I can check out any hot girls that come on the elevator.

[blackjack]

[PeteJB]

They are all female and waiting for you to make the move on your selected target, that's why they back to the walls and face you like the beastly man thing you are.

[livinginkunsan]

I just wish people would wait till people get off before they push in.. pisses me off

(and makes me run into them)