Korean Job Discussion Forums

[just because]

So last weekend I got into a fight with a taxi driver(my first fight in 3 years) after he smacked me hard and tried to push me out of the taxi over some money he wouldn't give me.

Anyway as I was telling my mates over a beer this week they asked me how could he punch me???

I said I was sitting in the front seat as i always have since i've been here for 2 and a half years. They looked at me in shock and all of them said they sit in the back seat. I've never really thought about it.

I always like talking to the taxi drivers to practice my Korean so hence sit in the front but it appears everyone else sits in the back. Is it just my friends or am i different???

[waterbaby]

I always sit in the front seat because at least then you're guaranteed a seat belt.

PS Sorry to hear of your misfortune! Sheesh!

[phaedrus]

I like the front, but voted back. Usually I take taxis in the rain, and it is too difficult to get in with bag, and umbrella etc. if I use the front.

I think it is fairly mixed for myself overall.

[Corporal]

I don't like sitting in the front seat because they stare at my, er, glamour. And besides, that sucking teeth noise thing they do really gets on my nerves up close.

[Zyzyfer]

Back seat, because I'm an anti-social jackass.

[ryleeys]

[schwa]

Front seat unless I'm carrying stuff.

But what were you fighting about? What money wouldnt he give you?

[Homer]

It depends.

Mostly, front seat.

[Ilsanman]

Only if theres lots of us, the front. Me alone, or with my girlfriend, the back.

[HardyandTiny]

There are no taxis in Korea.
It's something else. It's not a taxi.
It's a guy driving you in a car and you pay him for it, but it's not a taxi.

[justagirl]

I always sit in the back, too. Then there is no chance for any physical contact. I think...if I remember right...when I first got here 3+ years ago, a friend told me that sitting in the back makes for less of a risk for the passenger, especially for women.

Speaking of getting into fights with taxi drivers, I had one tonight and I've never been so angry at a taxi driver before.

I took the new high-speed train home to Cheonan and then got in a taxi. Before we even got out to the main street, it was at 2,000. I know I'd been in the car less than 2 minutes, so I asked him (in Korean) why it was already at 2,200 and going so fast.

I asked him for his ID number and for his name, but he just said something (which was neither) and kept driving. He didn't have a photo ID on the front dash/window like all other taxis do.

As soon as we got on the edge of town, I told him to pull over. I asked him again for his number, but he wouldn't give it to me, so I got out and told him that I wasn't going to pay him without his name and number. No name, no number, so I started to walk away.

He got out of the taxi and started yelling at me, "give me the money" and I said, 3,500--it's too much. Give me your ID number. I walked back to his car, wrote down the liscence number, and the company phone number and told him I'd give him 2,000 won, which I thought was fair. He was angry and took the paper I'd written the info down on and threw it on the ground.

I picked it back up and threw the 2,000 won on the ground and turned around and started walking. Then he came after me and was yelling and he grabbed my arm and coat and said he wanted his money. I yelled at him and told him not to touch me. This happened 3 or 4 times. I can't remember, he just kept grabbing my coat. Finally I was screaming at him and crying, "Get away from me!" He let go and I left as quickly as I could.

This was all in a very dimly lit area and not residential at all. I'm glad he didn't keep following me after I started screaming because there really wasn't anyone around. Took me 40 minutes to walk home. Worst night I've had in a long time.

justagirl

[cacheSurfer]

i like sitting in the front because my Korean language skills suck. it helps when the driver can see my hand signals.


i live in a small city, so usually the drivers really like to talk to me too. I can't believe people have been hit by taxi drivers. that's weird.

I've only had one peoblem with a driver...and it was when i was in Seoul. He thought I was too drunk to understand that a 3k ride should only cost 3k. Some how the pr1ck fixed the meter and it said like 32k. I handed him 3k and told him to "go to he11". the friend i was with was really drunk and he wanted to hit the guy for being a jerk. I had to step in the middle and keep everybody cool.

[coolsage]

Always in the back, seat-belts be damned. It's a refreshing few moments without unwarranted physical contact with strangers, after the daily pushing and shoving. I've been here for what is starting to seem like forever, but another ninety-nine years won't clear my northern blood entirely; stay the hell out of my space!

[Toby]

[Seoultrader]

A garrotte (sp.?) is best applied if you position yourself in the back seat behind the driver.