Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bollocks]

The process for getting a motorcycle license in Korea is straightforward and simple. The bureaucratic part isn't troublesome for me, but I am having trouble with the test itself.

The first thing needed is a valid Korean drivers license, which I have. Also, you need 6,000원, which I have. You have to get there on a Monday or Tuesday morning, which I did, and then you have to navigate some course. Which I didn't.

It seems that navigating the course is a matter of knowing your bikes turning radius and being familiar with the position/feel of the brakes and clutch as well as the overall handling of your bike, and planning your turns in advance so as to not cut the corners too tightly or wide.

This is a problem.

I feel that I could probably pass the course on MY bike easily enough, or on their bike if they gave me a practice run or two. But they don't. Not that I can figure out, anyway. But I don't speak Korean, so maybe you can advise me.

Is there any way that I could run the course a few times in a row without having to wait a week between each trial, or handing over another $6? I know from my students that there's hagwons that offer special courses specifically to pass one and only one toefl test. They do nothing to bolster English competence other than that which is precisely covered by that and only that one test. So I am wondering if there are similar hagwons for the motorcycle license. It seems to me that this would be the korean way of doing things.

Failing that, do they bar the gates at the Nowon licensing center at night and/or weekends? If yes, are the bars locked? What kind of trouble would I be in if I were seen and/or caught running the course on a non-test day on my motorcycle?

It seems silly to me that I should need to wait a week between testing simply because I was 6 inches outside the specified turning radius. Especially since I could see I was going to miss the turn 3 feet in advance and under normal circumstances, would have hit the brakes, backed up, and made it a 3 pointer. But one isn't allowed to touch their feet to the ground in a motorbike test, so that option is out. I'm certain it's merely a matter of practice.

But taking the test for the first time on an unfamiliar bike and being expected to run the course perfectly on the first try seems a bit silly to me. Surely there must be a system in place to make the process easier. Right?


On a completely unrelated note: What's the best way to meet korean women? I rather like Hongdae, but Tin Pan is rather too crowded and noisy to strike up a decent conversation. One of my co-workers, (who is married to a Korean woman), recommended internet dating. Sites light koreanfriendfinder and koreancupid.com. But he met his wife through teaching private lessons. So his advice seems a little contradictory.

So, motorcycle license and korean women. How do I work them?

[seoulsucker]

[Bollocks]

Unfortunately, none of my friends know anything about motorcycles, and have no interest, or already have a license from the U.S.A. and thus have no inclination to look into hagwons in Seoul. None of my friends are really the "do things for you" sort. They're great for drinking with, and that's great. But no good for motorcycle licensing.

My co-workers are all of the Korean female variety, and consequently know nothing of motorcycling and/or refuse to help me get a faster bike on the grounds that they "be very worrying you get die. It very dangerous to ride."

Therefore, I don't particularly care about location of the hagwon, just that it preferably be on the north side of the river, and employ someone who speaks at least rudimentary english. So if you or anyone knows of anywhere to train, it would be extremely helpful. Else I shall have to sneak into the Nowon licensing bureau and practice on my own after dark. (Which I suspect is frowned upon).

I actually met some girl in tin pan last saturday. Before making this post I sent her a text message asking her out this weekend. She has accepted. Should I feign illness? The message was sent at approximately 4:00am, she replied a little after 5, implying she is either:
a)a morning person, b) really into me, c)still out drinking at 5am on a Wednesday, or d)somewhat skanky.

Based on your opinion of tin pan, I suspect you're leaning towards option D. So I ask you, what kind of diseases am I looking at here? When you say burned, I assume you mean STDs. At present, I am clean. I would like to remain so.

As for my game plan. I generally wander around street drinking and keeping an eye on the ground level bar/restaurants. If I see 2 women drinking together, I note the bar. If they're still there in a on my next circuit, I enter the premises and buy them a bottle of soju, or beer. Whatever they're having. There was a line that went something like, "Dela-yo?" which I have forgotten. I don't know what it means but it seemed to work. I think it means something like, "may I join you?" or "do you drink?"

In either case, if they don't leave, I commence conversation. If one of them is good at English, I usually get a phone number. If not, they get a free soju and I return to the street.

Obviously fat chicks are a no-go, but korean women generally have great bodies, so it all comes down to the face. If she's got all her teeth and they're reasonably straight, I'm probably interested.

I am terrible at dancing, and am slightly deaf in one ear. (Long story). Clubs are not my fort�. I do much better in places which are conducive to conversation. Unfortunately for me, most korean bar/restaurants are very boothed off and segregated. I would try monkey beach, but it's Thai food and I have nut allergies. It sounds like fun, but it would likely kill me.

Where can I go that's good for approaching random korean women that speak English, and then converse with them until they decide they would like to sleep with me? Serious companionship would be nice, but I am not opposed to meeting anyone interested only in sex.

Unless they have aids.

[coralreefer_1]

[Bollocks]

I was up all night drinking. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

What's your point?

[seoulsucker]

Just a tip, but trying to join established groups of people, especially in restaurants, is considered kind of "weird" here. You might actually strike up a conversation, make some single-serving friends, but chances are they're going to be talking about how strange it was that you jumped in like that once you've left.

Are you making these rounds by yourself? If so, that's going to seem even more strange. With a wingman, it's not so bad. Grab a table next to the ladies, check out the menu, ask the ladies what they're eating, if its any good, and then maybe later offer to buy them a round of whatever they're having to say thanks.

The whole "cold call" thing doesn't go over here as well as it does in western cultures, but then again if you kept at it night in and night out you might get lucky.

As far as solo cruising goes, you can't go wrong with the English section of any major bookstore.

This is also kind of lame, but a tried and true approach. Get an "intro to Korean" textbook and hang at a coffee shop. If there's anyone you're attracted to sitting nearby, ask them to explain something to you from the book and see where it goes.

In terms of meeting people more open to cold introductions, Itaewon is probably one of the only areas where girls expect it/are used to it. There are plenty of dive bars full of skanks that you're better off avoiding there, but there are also some gems when it comes to having fun, meeting/picking up.

Good luck.

[Bollocks]

You're way more helpful than the other guy.

I don't suppose you know anything about motorcycle hagwons? They're kinda my priority right now.

I mean, women are nice. But motorcycles. A man needs priorities. Know of anything?

At any rate, I've already been to kyobo, and have several "learn to speak korean" books. It'd not be hard to take them into a coffee shop, I suppose, as I am genuinely trying to learn to speak korean. But... Wouldn't they be sober? I mean.. Does that happen hear? I can't really come to terms with the idea of approaching someone sober. That just seems odd. I thought koreans liked drinking.

But as far as priorities go, hookers are literally everywhere. I'm not far from girum, and itaewon isn't far either. If I were genuinely desperate, there's always the "pay for sex" option. BUT, I need a license in order to get a 250. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my magma. But it seriously lacks the mid-speed acceleration that I need in order to fully enjoy my driving experience. Having to ask myself, "Have I got the power to make it in front of that bus before it closes with the pickup in front?" is seriously ruining my driving time. I NEED a 250.

edit: I have got a wingman most nights. But my guy works at a public school and I'm at a hagwon. He's in China or something right now. So I'm out cold and not planning to stop. At the moment I am flying solo. It's not so bad. You just need to be drunker.

Anyway. Do you know any any bars that are sort of like Tin pan but more conducive to 1-on-1 conversation? I mean, it could be good, but just needs to have about 40% less people inside. Then it would be perfect.

[Underwaterbob]

You'll have more luck posting here:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=82911

Or PM Bibbitybop, he probably knows best.

[coralreefer_1]

Sorry guy, I wasn't trying to be an ass or anything, just curious about the concept I mentioned above.

As far as a motorcycle, I'm sure you know that you only need the special motorcycle license if you want a bike over 125cc. Now I know that is not a powerful bike, and if you like big power and high acceleration a 125 just wont cut it. However at a certain point, that power is meaningless when you consider the traffic conditions and such.

On that note, I bought a 125cc 3 years ago. I then had the engine upgraded to 150cc a few months later for only $100. With that, the bike will easily do 140-145kph and that is plenty fast. Since the bike is registered as a 125cc, there is no need for the special license. I suppose technically the mechanic should refuse to do the service, but he was more happy to take the money and keep it quiet.

I understand that 150cc is really not much power at all, but it might be an alternative to having to go back and forth to the place each week to do a test, in order to buy a bike with more power than you will likely never be able to enjoy very often.

Good luck-

[TheChickenLover]

[tatu]

What i did was go to the elementary school grounds near my house and i drew the 90 degree turn part in the dirt with a stick and practiced until i could do it every time. I had a 125cc bike and i didn't find it to be any different than the test bike. The course is 90cm wide for this part.

The key i found was to hold the foot brake down while accelerating at the same time and slowly release the brake as i went through the turns.

[talltony4]

I failed that test 4 times then passed on the 5th go.

I practised a bit with chalk lines on concrete, which helped a little.

Hagwon is possibly an option, but I think it's better to just keep doing the test. At 6000 won it's pretty cheap, if you have the time that is.

And don't get my started on why they use such a fiendishly difficult test to assess your on-road riding ability. Maybe it makes you value your licence more if you failed the test 4 times.