Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gibberish]

So I was watching that "We Got Married" show that the girl from SNSD, Seohyun, is on and I noticed they made a gag about how she was wearing a seat belt in the backseat of a van that she was in. I mean, I know that wearing seat belts and general driving etiquette in Korea is a joke, but I always buckle up no matter where I am in the car.

Do people here really laugh at the idea of buckling up in the back seats? I've honestly never noticed. What do they think the seat belts back there are for?

Tell me some of your Korean seat belt stories or shed some light on this for me if you can, I want to know more.

[andrewchon]

In Korea, front passengers belt-up. Back passengers don't have to.

[Senior]

In Korea physics don't apply in the back seat. It's infuriating how many taxi drivers disable the belts in the back.

[Sector7G]

I don't know about Korea but back in Florida everyone is required to wear a seat belt in the front seat, but only kids are required to wear them in the back. Though I agree that it is probably a good idea to wear them at all times, I generally do not when I ride in the back seat.

I was urged to buckle up even on the bus that my school was taking on an outing to the coast, so I guess not all Koreans scoff at using seat belts.

[CentralCali]

[Murakano]

[wesharris]

What about the popular child standing up through the sunroof method of safety? I find it very peculiar. But hey, this is Korea.

[Bloopity Bloop]

My co-teacher lets her 6 year old girl walk around the back seat while she's driving. She honestly believes that it's 100% safe back there. Mind blown.

[Smee]

I'm sure this is something that'll get better over time.

A few times when I buckled up---in the front and the back---people made jokes about how I'm scared of the driver, and assured me that he or she is a good driver. Reaching for the seat belt is just a habit I've had all my life, and it's one to keep up when in Korea.

I'm most worried about the lack of awareness of pedestrian safety. But, for this topic, my "favorite" example was when a friend's sister told me to hold her 10-month-old kid in my arms in the front seat because he wanted to be near his father (not me, the driver).

[ticktocktocktick]

My Korean ex absolutely refuses to wear a seatbelt in the front or back. She says it's too constraining. When I took her to England, I had to tell her the fine for not wearing one was $1000 each for her and the driver, because she wouldn't buy the 'you won't get killed to bits' line.

[mayorgc]

It's old school asian thinking. The Chinese also don't believe in back seat restraints.

But it's changing though, Taxis in Hong Kong and Macau will actually ask everyone to buckle up

[CentralCali]

[CentralCali]

[jonpurdy]

I'm a bit scared whenever I get into a taxi where the rear belts are covered or missing. Considering the way they drive, especially.

[Italy37612]

It's just natural selection for the 21st century.