Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JacktheCat]

Was on the subway coming back to Incheon this afternoon. As usually the subway car filled up pretty quick till there was just one seat left; next to me. On comes this adjuma, doing the usual push everyone out of the way and grap the seat thing. Sits down and looks over and realises she just sat next to a foreigner. She got a big surprised look on her face and let out a scream of fright. Jumped up and ran to the other side of the subway car and spent the rest of the trip glowering at me.

While most Koreans couldn't care less, I've noticed that there is a sizeable minority of Koreans that will go to great lengths to avoid sitting next to a foreigner. There have been times where I've been on a bus with an empty seat next to me and five or more Koreans standing around unwilling to sit down next to me.

[royjones]

[VanIslander]

I get quite the opposite, but then again, I don't live in one of the big cities.

I get "Let's sit next to the foreigner and practice our English!"

[ryleeys]

I rarely try to sit down on the subway... standing is fine. Plus, since I only visit Seoul once a month, it's not that much of an issue.


But, where it is an issue is on the buses. I stand on the intracity bus in Icheon or sit in one of the single seats. But on the intercity buses, the seat next to me is always the last to fill. One time, the seat next to me remained empty while 6 or 7 Koreans stood in the aisle. I think this is a rarity though as I've only seen it once.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

I use the subway every day, and yeah this happens a lot. Last seat to be filled is the one by me, and sometimes people will stand instead, and if another seat becomes available they will often get up and move away from me. Love it actually, more room!

[Blind Willie]

[Mashimaro]

I've noticed it in Korea and Japan. First it annoyed me, but honestly who wants some crusty old ajumma sitting next to them anyway. If people don't want to sit next to me it makes my ride all the more comfortable.

[mindmetoo]

I'm not fat.

Males of all ages seem not to have a problem sitting next to me. Once in a blue moon they'll try to practice their English. Once an old guy had me proof read his English poem. It was a pretty decent poem.

I've noticed usually older women (60+) avoid sitting next to me. I figure maybe they had a bad time with the whitey sort back during the war years or something.

And maybe I'm paranoid but young women will usually avoid me if they can. I like to think it's because they don't want to seem slutty. Yeah yeah. That's it.

Once I got on the subway. This was a few days after the Korean b*he@ding thing (don't want the ministry's ban bots to crawl this site and think there is banned material here..). There were two guys in full Islamic garb heading towards the mosque in Itaewon. The car was full but there was a prime empty seat right next to them. Being from Toronto, a guy in Muslim duds isn't particularly unique. So yeah. Woosh. I grabbed that seat no problem.

[peppermint]

Perhaps it's more of a gender thing than a race thing, cause I never notice people leaving empty seats next to me. Lots of women are a little uncomfortable sitting next to strange men.

[bibimbap]

just went to spidey 2 yesterday. went by myself. love seeing movies by myself. but of course i got strange looks from everyone - and shock from the ticket girl? hanna? jin-ja?

ne, jin-ja.

then i get into the theatre and i'm seated beside a family. they rearrange themselves so the seat next to me is empty and the kid is seated on one of their laps.

now, i shower every day. and i'm a pretty handsome devil and was looking particularly spiff yesterday.

i spent 9 months thinking it was all 'cultural' differences and i was open-minded light hearted and accepting.

then an event happened last week which has transformed the way i see these things.

it's just plain racism. this country is racist and that's it. so is every country, but i've never condoned it when i heard it at home and i certainly don't take well to being its victim.

[Demophobe]

Yep...everyday on the bus, the seat next to me is the last one filled. Some people will stand before they sit next to me.

Don't give me that fat and ugly thing...you are worse than the Koreans. I am not fat, ugly or dirty, I'm white.

However, it's fine...I put my bag on the seat and look at the poor people being hurled around the inside of the bus trying to stand on that mad roller-coaster.

The only people who will quickly sit beside me are really old adjoomas, late-20's girls and over-the-top (clothes, hair, sunglasses) young men who really want to look like they are with me. Yes, so presumptuous. I can tell though...really.

I like that most people are fearful. Gives me breathing room and keeps my bag from wrinkling my clothes on my lap.

[Demophobe]

[capa21]

This doesn't happen to me often and I live in Seoul. However, when it does it's never the ajumas. They seem fascinated with me for some reason. One even stroked my hair and slapped me on the ass as I got out of my seat to get off the subway. Very awkward..
The ajoshies are the ones who'd rather not sit down beside me. Or they'll get up and switch seats if another becomes available.

[Butterfly]

It happened to me, once in four years. I was a bit hurt, but forgot about it until you mentioned it. Horrible old woman she was, it was a very ostentatious display of xenophobia, very deliberate. Most people don't even notice who they sit next to.

[nev]