Korean Job Discussion Forums

[canoe_jesuit]

several years ago i witnessed a brawl between korean waiters and older korean patrons (in gecko's) which was sparked after the younger manager requested that the drunken customers stop drinking. At that time, one of the customers slapped the manager and a rugby style shoving match began. The manager had to bring out the tear gas gun (no joke) but he couldn't fire it off because half of his crew were involved in the shoving match of 12 or so people. The assistant manager grabbed a broom and swung it at the mad slapper, which missed him. In the end, the smaller sized bouncer proved unable to stop the mess and the cops were called in. That was 2 years ago.

The second near gecko's brunch brawl happend today. This time, I was in the mess. 3 drunken white guys were shoving each other and threatening each other after being drunk all night. I notified the waiters who were totally oblivious to the fact that a fight was moments away. Luckily, the 3 guys didn't see me alert the waiters. But then, these drunk guys started coming over to the table next to mine to bug some african customers who were on a liquid lunch date with their korean girlfriends. The korean gf called over the waiter to remove these guys from a possible fight that was moments away from happening. The waiters and manager were completely clueless and didn't come over. I had to do a much louder "yogi" which worked to get a korean waiter to come over to ME (as he passed the table in question). I pointed out what was going on and suggested he get these guys to leave. Unlucky, i was overheard by these guys and the attention quickly focused to me. The waiters managed to get these guys to go back to the bar but never asked them to leave. For 10 minutes after, the pointing (towards me) and the eye contact started. A few middle fingers later (towards me) and I had to ask the waiter to watch out for these guys. He said they would keep an eye out. A few minutes later, one guy makes a break for my table with the intent of either fighting, or getting a hand shake to "make up". Which ever one it was, i got up and left my table unsure if a punch was headed my way. The waiters got this guy to go back to the bar. He went back. After another 10 minutes, the three guys paid their bill and headed to the main door to leave (which was in front of my table). As they hit the door, two guys made a break for me and luckily i was able to get out of the way of both these guys. 3 waiters came over and managed to get two guys out of my face, but it was a very close call They also managed to get two guys out of the bar but the third guy was allowed to stand near the door and shout unspeakable swear words at me for about 4 minutes. The restaurant of traumatized brunchers sat in total shock and silence. I didn't bother firing back any swear words in the hopes of avoiding another major confrontation. After the final guy left the bar, i told the manager to call the cops and he looked at me puzzled as to why I would request that. I didn't have any missing teeth, so why would the cops be needed? (keep in mind gecko's no longer has a bouncer working during the mornings and early afternoons).

I finished my meal and figured these chaps set up camp outside of gecko's looking for revenge - because i was complaining that they should be asked to leave the bar for bothering brunchers like myself. I paid the bill and said to the manager "university teacher gets beat up in gecko's - nice newspaper headline" (of course they wouldn't report this). He looked at me with a sense of total disapprovement. I'm sure that in his mind, I caused the whole uproar. I headed down to the basement and into the supermarket and exited from there.

The food in gecko's has been declining steadily. Powdered potatos and rabbit ice berg lettuce as sides but the all night drunks make the main street of itaewon very dangerous.

Next time i'll post the details of the 10:30am "shake down for cash" from a russian gangster looking dude which happened right in front of the itaewon cop shop last year. Luckily, I was an observer

**If you are going to post a comment to say that i'm a total moron.... I understand that there will be some rage fueled rants coming my way - please try for constructive type of criticism instead.

[northway]

[saram_]

ah, i dont really see the point of the thread except for an itaewon or geckos slashing!!

how about joining the big bad dangerous group of three all nighters next time for a drink or else moving to the other side of the bar (geckos is big enough)..

those boys didnt care about u..but u made yourself known to them as a guy who didnt like their behavior...
telling 3 all nighters what they should or shouldnt be doing is prob the worst thing to do..

i cant imagine them outside waiting either.. they'd have been gone of to the next bar without doubt.. Im sure they had forgotten all about you by the time they reached the bottom of the stairs!!

and last point. if i was the bar staff when u said the headline thing...
id have snarled too i think!!
no need for that kind of comment..
Geckos staff must be used to all nighters coming in and they know how to deal with them..

itaewon is about as safe as you ll get considering the availability and access to all night drinking...

ahh,, cant beat the all nighters too from time to time

[Yaya]

Gecko's has always been a slimepit. The problem was that you went to that awful hellhole in the first place. If you want breakfast, you can get it at many other places in Itaewon.

[canoe_jesuit]

objective measure...

one or two bars on hooker hill stay open 24 hours and the all night drunks come down to the main street at 5-10am and head to dunkin, geckos or tom n toms. geckos has a brunch crowd and a drunkin all nighter crowd. in north america, these guys never would have been able to enter the bar cause of their drunkinness. long time itaewoners who have lived in itaewon for a very long time can testify to the fact that the main street places like geckos and dunkin can be dangerous as i've illustrated.

UPDATE: 5 hours after this situation, i walked down near wolfgang only to see these same 3 guys coming out of a bar. i turned back but they were so bombed they wouldn't have been able to muster a punch.

[jondepoer]

If you want a nice, civilized, gourmet breakfast where the furniture isn't sticky, the staff isn't hung over, and the whole place doesn't smell pissed-on, try Tartine's new brunch restaurant two alleys up from Hamilton Hotel towards Noksapyeong.

But if sticky furniture and slimy clientele are your thing, by all means, slither on to Geckos.

My 2 cents.

[northway]

Yes, there are guys who drink all night. Yes, they are obnoxious. Yes, they can be far more rowdy than is acceptable. That said, to describe Itaewon as "very dangerous" is ridiculous, unless your baseline for moderate danger is stepping out your front door.

[Kimchifart]

[weso1]

[toby99]

Old Towne on the Hill is the place to see a fight every 20 minutes in the wee hours of the morning. Open through sunrise, you'll run into types like JJ, the elderly man infamous from the video showing him getting jacked up in front of the Wolfhound. As another poster mentioned, many of those partaking in all-night benders (and there are a lot of them, at least on the weekends) will hang out on the hill until other places open between 10-noon.

[Yaya]

It seems quite a few infamous expats have gotten themselves banned at Itaewon bars for causing trouble. I know of one crazy Scottish guy whose English is barely understandable yet teaches at a university in Seoul. When drunk and sitting alone, he starts arguments with people for no reason and the like.

Good thing he loves to walk his dogs because it seems they are his only company.

[Captain Corea]

So... this was almost a fight?

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

Well, you got involved and stuck around to see what would happen. The drunks caught on and you made yourself a target. Should have just left or left them alone.

[Baron]

I had a late night one Saturday night and was drinking in Debut Bar. I popped into Old Town Bar for a beer. I saw all these skinny white guys walking around with no shirts on for no apparant reason. I soon beat a hasty retreat. Seems like an interesting place.

[Maserial]