Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sligo]

I just got on a bus and the only available seats are next to the window. Whatismore when one tries to take a window seat the aisle occupant merely moves their leg a short distance and expects you to squeeze past. Why not move over to the window, or stand up so the other person can get by? Squeezing through a 20cm gap is most indignant.

[Captain Corea]

I think it could be a few factors...

-ppl know that getting past someone can be a pain, so they pick the isle seat.
-the window seat can get sort of hot from the sun. I know on really sunny days, the old folks all fill up the shady side of the bus first.
-you're worrying too much about other people.

[Fox]

[transmogrifier]

I like the aisle seat so I can get out easily when my stop arrives, rather than clambering over someone else. Same for an airplane - I always request an aisle seat.

[Nolos]

Yeah it's because they don't want anyone to sit next to them. It is a passive-aggressive move, and also it makes it easier for them to get up and leave when it's their turn to get off. I know I do it now and no one dares step over my legs to sit next to me

[optik404]

So you don't like sitting next to the window but you expect other people to like it?

[Nolos]

[maximmm]

We need some apologists in these recent threads, because it seems that the number of 'why do Koreans .....?' threads is going out of control.

[tatertot]

It's not a Korean thing, it's just a bus-rider thing. I'm back in Seattle, and lots of people are doing it here, too. I think there are two reasons people sit in the aisle seat rather than the window seat:

1) So that people won't sit next to them. It is more inconvenient to squeeze by somebody than to just sit in an empty aisle seat, so sitting in the aisle seat makes it more likely that you will have an empty seat next to you for the duration of your trip.

2) As others have said, it is easier to exit the bus from an aisle seat, as well.

I find this behavior obnoxious, so I often specifically sit next to these people (squeezing by the aisle-seater and getting the window seat for myself) rather than sitting in an easy aisle seat in order to "pay back" some small inconvenience to them.

[schwa]

All the local buses in my town have single seats down either side, sometimes with lots of standees. I note a nice consistent etiquette of surrendering seats to elders or parents with young children. Its a very polite environment.

A few of these buses have double seats at the back. I've never seen anyone refuse a seatmate. I've never noticed Koreans reluctant to sit next to me.

Many Koreans given the choice dont like to sit next to a sunny window.

Intercity & express buses assign seat numbers.

Squeezing past an aisle passenger to a window seat shouldnt be a big deal, unless you are big.

I like Korean bus culture. I ride them daily. They run on time & are cheap & user-friendly.

[Ginormousaurus]

It's almost as if the OP had never ridden a bus before going to Korea.

[le-paul]

[atwood]

[Threequalseven]

[optik404]

Why is it a dick move to sit on the aisle seat? Have you seen how the bus drivers drive. Every time I'm in the window seat that has the tire bump, I feel like I'm going to end up falling on the person next to me when I get up.