Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mikejelai]

My wife and some of her Filipina friends were coming home from church today when suddenly a young man on the subway had some type of seizure (foaming at the mouth, etc.). People sitting near him just got up and moved away and others simply continued their texting, watching videos, playing games on their phones, etc.

Fortunately for the man, my wife and her friends were able to aid him and call for help (two subway employees were waiting when the doors opened a few stops down the line). The employees assisted the man and took him off the train. My wife was pretty shaken by the whole thing (presumably an epeleptic seizure) but even more so by the lack of assistance she and her friends received from the other people on the train.

Personally, I have witnessed two similar incidents. In one, a very gnarled elderly man fell (in the process of sitting down) when the train suddenly lurched forward. No one went to his aid so I instinctively walked over and picked him up and put him in the seat. I could see when I lifted him that he had gauze bandages all over both legs (the lower parts anyway).

In order to allow him to save face, I was trying to pretend that the whole thing hadn't happened when I suddently spotted one of those little Korean-American flag war verterans pins stuck on his cap. He was mumbling what sounded like "thank you, thank you" and big tears were welling up in his eyes.

The other incident I witnessed on the subway involved one of the blind singer/beggars. He was operating solo and was in the process of taking a step (he had one of those blind man canes) when the train started rather suddenly. He fell backward and landed flat on his back. Coins went everywhere, and the batteries flew out of the little cassette player he had around his neck. Again, no one helped him so I instinctively went over and lifted him up and then gathered up the batteries and coins I could find.

I don't consider myself especially religious (or even a good Samaritan) but where I grew up you helped people if you could, even if they were strangers. I just don't understand how some people can be so cold and uncaring. What causes such selfish, uncaring behavior?

[sesyeux]

maybe the concept of 'face' and the saving and losing of it is the cornerstone of what you've experienced. by simply pretending that nothing is happening, you allow the unfortunate individual to regain composure without public humiliation and undue attention
i'm not sure the concepts of 'good' and 'bad' automatically apply, and if they do, how can you determine which is which? perhaps it is the outright dismissal of the situation, whatever it might be, is what can be deemed the 'good' mentality here.
but, i don't know. i would do exactly the same as the OP.
and although not the same, but in similar-ish situations when i have helped, the individual was extremely surprised.
i hope not offended.

[Troglodyte]

Good on you for helping out those people. I agree that too many people these days would just continue on about their business and not get involved.

So that you don't lose too much faith in people, here are a few video clips showing that there are also other good people who ride the subway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wKZHxiqiKI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V_TCgxN11w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tEvzn9Dia0

[T-J]

Welcome to life in a large city.

Don't confuse this with it happens everywhere, so it's alright. The attitude toward helping strangers in a large urban environment sucks. Thank you OP for being the exception to the rule. I try to be as well.

I just don't think Korean think has anything to do with it.

[sojusucks]

Good job, OP. Way to show kindness and character. Not everyone has those in them.

[Illysook]

If I assume that you were an adequate first responder and that you didn't hesitate to help these people, I can feel okay about this. In this culture, there is a certain kindness in looking the other way as someone else experiences a difficulty that one cannot really help them with. It may be different from our culture of rubberneckers who tie up traffic and get in the way of things, but it is no less kind.

[BoholDiver]

I have seen some disabled panhandlers who are so physically, shall I say, messed up that they can't pick up a dropped paper or open the subway doors. If I notce it, I will help.

I can believe the excuse of 'I didn't notice' but on a crowded train car, many people are liars.

Just like whenpsycho grandma assaulted that minor, no one did anything.

[superNET]

Not to take away anything from the OP or his wife's good deeds but remember there is no 'Good Samaritan' Law here and if anything went wrong, the man who had a seizure would be able to sue your wife and her friends.

I have not heard of one being implemented yet either. I wouldn't be quick to condemn or judge the Korean people for you do not know how they were raised and they may not have been taught to handle seizures

[Steelrails]

Weird stuff happening on a subway? Get out of here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLtF_PxbYw

[littlelisa]

I've actually noticed an increase of people helping others on the subway lately. I remember a couple of incidents, one was a woman who had a seizure while standing on the subway and knocked her head on the way down, started shaking, etc, most people in the area went to help her. Another was one of those disabled men giving out papers who fell several times and again several people got up to help. I always get up to help if I can (ie, if other people don't get up first. Sometimes if a lot of people closer to the person already get up to help, there's nothing I can really do).

[Kimchifart]

[mattdemers]

[Steelrails]

Here's another famous Korean subway rescue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr2mL7lHR_g&feature=related

[Junior]

[nomad-ish]