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wylies99

Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:43 am Post subject: Yongsan mourns American officer who was hit by Seoul bus |
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Yongsan mourns soldier who was hit by bus
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59922
By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, January 11, 2009
SEOUL � Friendly and self-sacrificing were how friends and co-workers described a soldier during a memorial service at Yongsan Garrison on Friday.
Lt. Col. David Frankenhauser, 8th U.S. Army Special Troops Battalion, was killed Monday when he was struck by a Seoul city bus while crossing the road near Yongsan Station.
Those close to him gathered at the Memorial Chapel to pay their respects.
�Today we are here to fulfill our part of the commitment we make as warriors,� said Special Troops Battalion commander Lt. Col. Kevin Colyer. �To honor Lt. Col. David Frankenhauser as a fallen comrade and to indelibly inscribe his mark on our heart and minds.�
Lt. Col. Maryann Otto, a close friend and co-worker described Frankenhauser as a devoted family man, a devout Christian and a generous friend.
�He was a servant to his colleagues and neighbors,� she said. �Some of our fondest thoughts of David are how friendly and outgoing he was. He always had kind words and a positive manner for each of us.
�He was the kind of person that would give the shirt off his back to someone in need.�
Frankenhauser, who served as the chief of transformation for 8th Army�s Future Operations Division, Operational Maneuver Directorate, Operational Command Post Korea, had served in the military more than 32 years in both the active and reserve components. He is survived by his wife, Marian, and four children. |
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wylies99

Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:44 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Lt. Col. David Frankenhauser, 8th U.S. Army Special Troops Battalion, was killed Monday when he was struck by a Seoul city bus while crossing the road near Yongsan Station.
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Did anyone see anything about this in the Korean media? |
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Guri Guy

Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:20 am Post subject: |
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Bus drivers in Korea are menaces. Another tragic accident because South Koreans can't comprehend traffic safety or have their keystone cops enforce it.
I haven't seen or heard anything in the media about it. Just imagine if it had been an American that killed a Korean like that. Oh wait...I can.  |
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Css
Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Location: South of the river
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:22 am Post subject: |
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Id imagine it hasnt been in the news much(if that is indeed the case. I dont have a TV) because one dude dying in a traffic accident is not really very news worthy. |
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T-J

Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:34 am Post subject: |
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Guri Guy wrote: |
Bus drivers in Korea are menaces. Another tragic accident because South Koreans can't comprehend traffic safety or have their keystone cops enforce it.
I haven't seen or heard anything in the media about it. Just imagine if it had been an American that killed a Korean like that. Oh wait...I can.  |
Not arguing that Koreans are good drivers or that traffic enforcement doesn't leave much to be desired.
But can you really jump to the conclusion that it was the drivers fault in this particular instance? |
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Xuanzang

Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:37 am Post subject: |
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T-J wrote: |
Guri Guy wrote: |
Bus drivers in Korea are menaces. Another tragic accident because South Koreans can't comprehend traffic safety or have their keystone cops enforce it.
I haven't seen or heard anything in the media about it. Just imagine if it had been an American that killed a Korean like that. Oh wait...I can.  |
Not arguing that Koreans are good drivers or that traffic enforcement leaves much to be desired.
But can you really jump to the conclusion that it was the drivers fault in this particular instance? |
Well they do accelerate quite quickly, cut into oncoming traffic and keep braking to the absolute last minute. I dont have access to the police report or forensics stuff but all signs point to yes. |
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aka Dave
Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:37 am Post subject: |
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The more I meet Koreans, ride in their cars as they drive, frankly insanely, without any regard for basic common sense, the more I despair... I was in a cab where the cabbie was watching a drama on the tv on his dashboard.
I'm sorry. That's bat crap crazy, because it KILLS people . I was on a date with a woman (whom I liked), she drove like a maniac because she was following this gps thing in the middle of Seoul, but there were abrupt turns in the middle of traffic she did following that gadget. She clipped two sedans and there was no stops.
I'm a long time jogger/biker. I just don't buy this crap. Traffic safety is my main pet peeve about Korea. |
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T-J

Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:49 am Post subject: |
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Xuanzang wrote: |
T-J wrote: |
Guri Guy wrote: |
Bus drivers in Korea are menaces. Another tragic accident because South Koreans can't comprehend traffic safety or have their keystone cops enforce it.
I haven't seen or heard anything in the media about it. Just imagine if it had been an American that killed a Korean like that. Oh wait...I can.  |
Not arguing that Koreans are good drivers or that traffic enforcement leaves much to be desired.
But can you really jump to the conclusion that it was the drivers fault in this particular instance? |
Well they do accelerate quite quickly, cut into oncoming traffic and keep braking to the absolute last minute. I dont have access to the police report or forensics stuff but all signs point to yes. |
What "signs"
Traffic accident, pedestrian killed. Period.
Those are the only facts that I read in the article.
If I had to make a bet one way or the other I too would bet on it being the driver's fault. However I'm not going to make that assumption.
Xuanzang did make that assumption and you are pointing to facts don't exist. |
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Scotticus
Joined: 18 Mar 2007
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:37 am Post subject: |
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T-J wrote: |
If I had to make a bet one way or the other I too would bet on it being the driver's fault. However I'm not going to make that assumption.
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So you're saying you agree with him, but you just feel like arguing?  |
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sojourner1

Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
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Since stepping foot on Asia, I always thought they'd kill me if I don't move and get out of the way. My notions are confirmed. They will kill you if you're in the way or simply absently mindlessly miss seeing something coming your way. You gotta to always be vigilant about things coming your way or they'll clobber you. In Asia, the BIG buses are easy to see, but motorcycles are a bitch. Apparently, this guy didn't see a big bus coming... |
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GwangjuParents
Joined: 31 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: |
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People think Koreans are such bad drivers...
Well, I drive everyday, and I've driven all over Korea.
The driving here isn't as bad as people make it out to be. You just need to be sharp.
As for driving, I have seen a lot worse than Korea. Amman, Jordan, now that's scary. |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:58 am Post subject: |
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Try driving some more in Seoul, and not Gwangju. |
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Konglishman

Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:24 am Post subject: |
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GwangjuParents wrote: |
People think Koreans are such bad drivers...
Well, I drive everyday, and I've driven all over Korea.
The driving here isn't as bad as people make it out to be. You just need to be sharp.
As for driving, I have seen a lot worse than Korea. Amman, Jordan, now that's scary. |
Well, I think we should compare apples to apples and not to oranges, so to speak. In other words, lets make a comparison of Korea with other economically developed nations. In fact, I recall reading not too long ago that among the 30 countries that belong to the OECD, Korea has the highest death rate due to traffic accidents. |
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sjrm
Joined: 27 Jul 2005
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:31 am Post subject: |
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Css wrote: |
Id imagine it hasnt been in the news much(if that is indeed the case. I dont have a TV) because one dude dying in a traffic accident is not really very news worthy. |
But you know if it was the other way around, i.e. korean being killed by a foreigner, it would be on the news for weeks. |
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Hyeon Een

Joined: 24 Jun 2005
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:41 am Post subject: |
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bassexpander wrote: |
Try driving some more in Seoul, and not Gwangju. |
I drive in Seoul everyday and it isn't as bad as people make it out. Compared to South-East Asia the driving is wonderful in fact.
This isn't to say it's good; it's not. However it's nowhere near as terrifying as a lot of people make it out to be. If one obeys the rules of the road, and understands a bit of Korean driving culture (Hazards = there's a problem ahead OR "I'm gonna do something dumb so watch out" and hand out the window means "I'm going to turn into your lane so watch-the-f-out") it's really not that bad. In fact it reminds me of being in New jersey haha. The driving there sucked as well.
Before I actually drove in Seoul I thought it was going to be a massive cluster-fu**, but after a couple of years I've come to the conclusion that it's really not that bad. I've seen a fair number of accidents, but mostly they were caused by idiots and usually both parties were at least somewhat at fault. If one is a chilled relaxed driver who lets people into the lane, doesn't cut across three lanes at once and doesn't accelerate or brake wildly driving in Seoul is a breeze.
I'd also argue that driving in Seoul is BETTER than in Gwangju, Daegu, Daejon, Busan and other country cities due to more years of practice and a better driving culture. Driving 'started' in Seoul, and it's got a lot better here.. the knowledge of how to drive is slowly spreading outwards from Seoul. |
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