Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bibbitybop]

On a "I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself" note, Jongno is stopping and fining people who drop cigarette butts on the sidewalks.

I watched a man headed for the subway station get grabbed by the arm and stopped by a man wearing a "Jongno" emblem and holding a cigarette butt.

The Jongno employee was not a cop, but a regular guy with Jongno patch and a Jongno band around his upper arm.

Soon, 2 more Jongno guys were surrounding the citizen. They issued him a ticket for dropping a cigarette butt.


I thought it was awesome. The city of Seoul, at least in Jongno, is trying to clean up it's image.

But I also thought it was stupid. Earlier that day in Jongno, I watched cars run red lights, cars drive through crosswalks while pedestrians had the right of way and cars parked illegally on small streets (blocking major traffic flow).

[ChinaBoy]

you're right.. if they can't fix it all in one day, they shouldn't try to do anything

[Cheonmunka]

I bet there aren't any trash cans anywhere to be seen ...

[Ginormousaurus]

I'd like to see more of that. This city can be a dump in some places. But they need to be a little smarter about it.

One day at the park in Shinchon there was a large group of people handing out fines for littering. They were catching catching people as fast as they could write the tickets. I asked one of the them where people should put their garbage and he said in the garbage cans. I pointed out that there was not a single can in the park and he suggested using the garbage pile on the corner of the street. Oh, and it was a fairly windy day and much of the smaller pieces of garbage were just blowing away from the pile. Sparkling.

[Hanson]

[sojourner1]

Nope, of course there aren't trash cans and ash trays to be found anywhere. That's pretty everywhere, except some bus stops have a small receptical. I wonder what they're doing about that weird intersection about a block from the Jongno sam-ga station? Will have to check it out next time around.

[crescent]

[Captain Corea]

[Bibbitybop]

[Kenny Kimchee]

[supernaut]

They've been doin this at Beomgye Station in Anyang for a few months now as well as fining spitters.

[Captain Corea]

Actually, has anyone noticed a drastic increase (read: almost at a normal level now) of Cigarette/garbage containers at bus stops and such?

[itaewonguy]

make smoking illegal!! stop all manufacturing of tobacco, no imports!
prison for violators!


ohh and in return! legalize POT!!

[Jane]

has anyone ever seen a trashcan on fire in Seoul? I've seen plenty. Korean don't butt out their smokes by stepping on it or anything, they like to flick the 'heater'/'cherry' off the smoke and then through it in the trash, or on a pile of trash (whichever comes first).
I wonder if this initiative has anything to do with recent higher profile fires in Korea??? Probably not, but it's a thought.

What they should be doing is going after spitters (to prevent contraction of hepatitis - which incidentally, 10% of the Korean population carries), and those men who think it's acceptable to touch women in inappropriate places while on the subway. THESE ISSUES, my friends, should be of priority.

[Guri Guy]