Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Skippy]

Just had a scare. In the process of moving house = one room. So I am relaxing and a packing and then all of a sudden DING-DONG and somebody trying to open the door. "Crap" I go as I am sitting in my underwear and am not presentable. I quickly rush around finding some clothes while yelling out in Korean "one minute". I am thinking "who is it?" Maybe it's my gf maybe she forgot her key but why is she not responding to my yell. OK I continue in my mind as I quickly put on my pants. Maybe its the landlord/building owner we are moving maybe that why they tested to see if the door is open/unlocked. Now, I am dressed and open the door to see some young Korean lady who has the look of a missionary (thru she was not in a typical missionary pair or grouping). She says hi and me I slam the door shut annoyed as hell as somebody bothering me.

Now I have no problem that she is a god squad person on a mission to convert people. It does annoy me at times I open the door and even wake up to find some Jehovah Witness or whatever trying to hand me a Watch Tower. This behavior I can understand, don't like, but understand. WHAT I AM PISSED OFF AT is that she tried the doorknob 3 times. SHE DOES NOT get that right to try and OPEN MY DOOR. I live in a small one room so the excuse to open the door and call out like back home with someone that has a big house - not acceptable. Zilch on that small community town feeling - everyone keeps their doors unlocked shucks schmaltz too. I live a city amongst hundred other villas and small one room apartments and I keep my door locked! Yes I do understand Korea is overall safe. I lock my door so I can relax in my underwear.

This is not the first time this has happened to me. About every few months I am at home and somebody tries the door then knocking. What the hell! Why does this happen. Why do some Koreans have the right or urge or whatever to invade my privacy. Being snoopy yaaaa ok but trying to open my door. I wait for that day when I break open some Koreans head because the caught me by surprise.

Well people tell me about your experiences!

[ticktocktocktick]

Two words of advice:

Never ever answer your door unless you're expecting someone. Nine times out of ten it's the God Squad, and the other time, it's someone who doesn't speak a lick of English anyway.

Also, get a door chain.

[thegadfly]

I was JUST reading in "Culture Shock: A Guide to Korea" that that exact behavior is commonplace and is not considered rude. I am not saying that I like it or that it doesn't bother me (it does), but I don't think the behavior is quite as rude as it may seem to a foreigner....

Of course, I just answer the door in my skivvies to discourage folks from knocking (trust me, NO ONE wants to see thegadfly in boxers!). I think my pasty-white belly can actually sear the retinas if one looks directly at my navel....

[DeMayonnaise]

That happened to me the other day... I was sleeping off my jetleg at 11am, and the guy working next door just barged into my room. Sure is annoying. Remember...personal space doesn't exist in Korea.

[NYC_Gal]

Say this or hand them a slip of paper with this written on it:

나는 유태인 입니다. 내 종교가 더 우월합니다

(Translation: I'm Jewish. My religion is superior.)

It doesn't matter if you're atheist (as I am) or any other religion. It will annoy the crap out of them, and you're still using formal speech.

[red_devil]

Thankfully i have one of those video intercom/doorbell things. One look through the cam and don't answer.

[AsiaESLbound]

I learned to always lock the door when entering. I can't count how many times people try my door without knocking or while knocking. I get quiet and ignore them while looking through the video phone cam. If they are picking at my lock, then I yell and open the door as they dart off like leopard. I too see it as extremely rude and confrontational for someone to just try to enter by force without being welcome. This is why Korea has steel doors with dead bolt locking, video cams, and hotel style inner locks.

[Skippy]

It's not the knocking or the religious stuff it's the trying to open the door!

The new place has a securty door at the front and a intercom system now.

Joy less bothersome knocking.

[goingtothecountry]

They try to open the door? Now that's straight up creepy. I've been in Korea for around 4 months and have never witnessed this however. Does your apartment have an odor by any chance?

[mm]

In my old apartment I use to get bothered all the time. If I opened the door they would jam their foot in so I wouldn't be able to close the door. They would struggle trying to open the door even when it was locked. My barking dogs did not stop them from trying to tell me about the word of god. The worse was when two young girls (twenties maybe?) followed me around for about a month. They learned my schedule, followed me to work and left more than ten notes on my door begging for my "friendship." Ugh, annoying. Luckily, I now live in an apartment with a courtyard, no doorbell and the only way you can knock on my door is if you have a key to the courtyard.

[Skippy]

Does my apartment have an odor? NO! That still does not excuse anybody for opening the door. Oh wait you think the neighbors are just checking to make sure that I am not dead! You thinking my corpse was stinking up the place?!

I wonder how some of the woman here would feel about such occurrences. That might give them a bigger fright.

[akcrono]

[schlotzy]

Back in '06 when I had my first gig in Korea, I was totally unaware of this "It's totally okay to enter your apartment whenever" phenomenon. I was using the washroom with the door wide open (lived alone) when suddenly I heard a noise. I realized someone was in my apartment and whipped up my pants like a half second before the seriously 90 year old halaboji landlord was standing in front of me. WTF! He didn't even have a reason to be in my apartment. Ever since then, chain and/or latch across the door at all times.

[Junior]

[Vix]

Yeah the god squad is the worst. I would never go up to a stranger and tell them (without any bloody proof!) what they believe is wrong. It's just rude!