Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brucefox]

I've been to many developed countries and I thought Europeans were chain smokers, but here in Korea I can see the mentality: 'If you are a male past the age 15, then you start smoking'
This is very, very frustrating for non smokers because they just puff away anywhere anytime and we can barely avoid them.
On top of that, they always do it with alcohol and sugar. I mean do they not know it's.. well.. killing them? NO WONDER they are always coughing up phlegm!!
I got nothing against smokers as long as they do it where it doesn't affect non smokers. This country really needs some strongly enforced laws to prevent second hand smoking. But I can see this is going to be a wishful thinking because of the sheer number of people that smoke.

I just feel really bad for the kids here who have to put up with their teachers puffing smoke right into their face all day.

That makes me wonder though.. Are you all bothered by smoking in Korea? Or are the most of you yourselves smokers and are enjoying the liberal smoking in Korea?

[dethe]

Well you can always wear a mask.

[MacLean]

Yes, the smoking in Korea, and the general disregard for the rights of non-smokers, is very, very annoying. I've been in PC bangs and, despising second-hand smoke as I do, I habitually sit in the non-smoking area. Little good that does. Ajoshi walks in, sits down directly under the non-smoking sign, and lights up. What is the pc bang owner's response to this infraction of the rules? Why to walk directly over and ....... hand him an ashtray, of course. Seen it a hundred times.

[Rutherford]

Bill Hicks has some interesting observations on this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9ySCcnoo3c

[Kaypea]

I don't like the smoking either, but students don't get smoke blown at them (that I'm aware of). There's no smoking allowed in schools, although the men teachers at my school smoke in the adjossi room... uh, the photocopy dungeon.

I've been tempted to join them on occasion, just for the shock value (I'm female).

[s10czar]

" I like to see a man of advancing years throwing caution to the wind... It's inspiring in a way."

[brucefox]

you live in a better area then Kaypea.
My school teachers regularly light up on the playground and on the roofs.
Yes.. officially the school is a smoke free zone.
Then they come into class and exhale all that tar into the students' faces.
Cool mixture that.. The smell of ripe tobacco with yellowed out saliva and putrid phlegm particles coming out here and there as they talk. You non smokers know what I am talking about.
I have no idea why they want to get that close to them when they talk.
The students are so used to them smoking away that when I reached into my pocket in my seat (IN CLASS!) They instantly say, "teacher want smoke!!" Very sad. i think my next English Spec class will deal with this issue.
Anyway, I am sure this is something I am gonna have to deal with long-term, so I am brain storming to come up with some good ways to avoid/prevent them.

[Rutherford]

[oldtrafford]

Second hand smoke is the least of my worries, I'm more concerned what's going into food and the water, and other SOFT drinks!!

[brento1138]

You wouldn't believe the advances I've seen in the last 5 years here. It's amazing to me that some restaurants are now smoke free! A friend of mine witnessed an adjuma give a ticket to a man smoking where he shouldn't have... Also heard cigarette pack prices are going up considerably.

So, things are a changing. They have a long ways to go though.

I am helping contribute. I pulled a kid out of the bathroom at my school today who was secretly smoking a cigarette. Took him to my office, and he got a good yelling at by the Korean teachers PLUS penalty points, which gets him expelled from the school to learn about the ill effects of smoking. Apparently this kid has 60 / 90 of the needed points.

I was unfortunately a smoker in high school, but I'm happy to stop these kids from doing it, as I really regret that I ever smoked. It was the worst decision I had ever made... and I'm so happy I quit back in 2004. I still feel my lungs are not what they could be. It messes you up for life. Seriously.

Yeah, smoking, who needs it.

[alwaysbeclosing100]

It is the #1 thing I hate about living in Korea. It is repulsive, uneducated, selfish and a long list of other negative things.

I dread school norebang trips because of the smoke. I dont go into PC bangs or pool halls at all. There are a few nonsmoking bars in itaewon. There is one nonsmoking hotel in songdo. There might be a couple of others in korea but they are extremely rare.

[oldtrafford]

UNEDUCATED!!! Lots of educated people smoke for goodness sake!!

[Hyeon Een]

[Radius]

Yeah, smoking is a rite of passage in Korea. It's gotten to the point that if I DON'T see a cigarette in more than 50-60% of adjusshi's hands while walking down the street I'm shocked. I know the actual number is not this high, but to me, it seems about 75% of Korean men smoke.
I don't mind because I'm a smoker, and I LOVE the fact I can smoke most any place I go. But to none smokers I'm sure it must be annoying.
It also seems a disproportionate amount of waygookins smoke as compared to my home country, too. Maybe being around all the cigarettes makes them want to smoke?

[Hyeon Een]