Korean Job Discussion Forums

[legalquestions]

I know they've only had thermostats here in Korea for a few years now, but why can't they learn how to use them? It seems like they only know two settings: maximum and off.

It seems to me that on very cold OR very hot days the bus/subway/taxi/train/plane/classroom/store/apartment/house/etc. is always like a sauna OR it's freezing.

They don't seem to be aware that the thermostat can be moved up or down a bit to make the temperature somewhere near 70 degrees farenheit. Or maybe they know but refuse to do it just to make us uncomfortable?

Is this lack of "thermostatic usage ability" somehow related to their inability to think creatively in terms of temperature control? to think outside the box? to critically analyze the temperature problem?

Or is more of a "I am King/Little Emperor" control issue? "I am in control here and I want to drive that point home with you by making you miserable."

Of course, it could be related somehow to "cultural differences" I suppose. Maybe Korean culture has simply gotten accustomed to suffering through hardships over the millenia, so they prefer to be uncomfortably cold or hot, and never "just right" from a temperature standpoint ("we're all suffering together and it's our suffering" might go the Han way of thinking)

Or maybe it is dietary; maybe their diets and soju consumption have somehow genetically reprogrammed their bodys to remain comfortable regardless of these wild temperature swings.

Anyway, I have been intrigued by this inexplicable phenomenon for several years now and am curious as to what you think about it? How else can it possibly be explained? Your thoughts and comments, please.

[VanIslander]

read Korea Unmasked to learn that Koreans go to EXTREMES, it's a cultural trait

[diver]

It is not something that foreigners, with inferior IQs to Koreans, could understand (Koreans have the highest IQs in the world, except for Hong Kong which doesn't count because then Koreans wouldn't have the highest IQs in the world)

[CentralCali]

legalquestions: It's the same with driving and the accelerator. So many drivers here, especially taxi drivers, can only operate the vehicle by pushing the gas pedal all the way to the floor and then immediately letting it go all the way back up, repeating that action to such an extent that even Davy Jones would get motion sick.

[Return Jones]

Dang, I was gonna post a thread about the same thing but the OP beat me to it. It's that time of year again. Enjoy!

[Juregen]

[Underwaterbob]

Yeah, I love it when everyone is wearing a big winter coat, then they turn the heat on to "blasting" and complain they are hot so open the window.

Every problem requires a new solution, never mind just maybe turning the heat on a little bit in the first place, or taking off one's coat.

[chevro1et]

I remember last year in the daed of winter, my students wanted me to turn on the aircon because they were hot. I looked at them dead straight-faced, and told them that if they were hot, they should take off (or at least open) that ridiculously HUGE winter coat that was more suited for Alaska than Korea. They looked at me extremely puzzled and perplexed by the idea, but refused to act on my advice. They sweated, I laughed to myself all day long.

[Ilsanman]

My health club likes to turn on the heat then open the windows.

[exit86]

After having done a great deal of research on the subject, I've discovered
that King Sejong actually invented thermostats and regulated, comfortable
heating and cooling systems; but the Japanese stole this knowledge in the late 1590's then they stole it again during the Occupation, then they stole
it again in the 1980's.
So, in protest, it is the patriotic duty of every Korean-blooded Korean
to never learn how to properly use thermostats.
Blame it on those pesky Japanese.

I've heard similar stories in regard to the pedal to the metal (esp. in school zones) phenomenon.
To idle is to be idle in the ongoing campaign for Dokdo.

[eamo]

It's that time of year again, eh? Foreigners getting crazy over how Koreans use the heaters.

I perfectly understand. Koreans are useless at regulating temperature.


Every year, as Winter draws in, I try again to rationlize why they turn the heat up full, get too hot, then turn it off totally, then get cold, turn it on full, then get hot and turn it off totally....and so on............I'm stumped.

I suspect it has to do with a desire to 'beat' the Winter cold thoroughly. Because they can. With just a touch of a button. I think Koreans still get a kick out of being toasty warm in Winter. Maybe because in the past they couldn't.

Whacking it up to max is like a childish impatience. They think they'll be warmer quicker.

[santafly]

Based on my experience with overheated environments in various 3rd world countries/cultures/environments, I believe that it simply comes down to not understanding the concept of "heating". People from the 3rd world think that they must be at least mildly hot all the time in order to survive.

[Ultimo Hombre]

Any nation that believes that a fan can kill you isn't going to understand thermostats or combustion engines.

[Tommy]

[Ilsanman]

I am sick right now, maybe the flu. It just started.

I got on the subway at about 5 pm and it is fricking hot, as if the thermostat is on full blast.

It's maybe 4 degrees outside. Is this really necessary?