Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Koreans Ignore Smoking Ban on International Flights
Korean travelers have built a reputation for making a nuisance of themselves by ignoring international flight regulations. Some passengers had to be released on bail in foreign countries after being detained for violating smoking bans.

"Even though some of our passengers violate in-flight regulations, they are still our precious customers, which means we should be extremely careful in handling such troubles," an official of Korean Air said.

According to a document for the National Assembly inspection, a total of 58 cases of disorderly behaviors took place this year on planes belonging to the two Korean airlines, which was 2.4 times higher than the same period last year. Excessive drinking, at 36.6 percent, and smoking, at 25.9 percent, accounted for some 60 percent of all troubles on flights.
By Lee Jin-woo, Korea Times (November 25, 2004)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200411/kt2004112518345211970.htm

[Cheyne]

Yeah, on the way over here the first time on Asiana Airlines, a Korean man was found to be smoking in the toilet. He got busted but I doubt any charges would have been laid.

What's with the constant need to go to the toilet on an airplane? There was ALWAYS someone waiting to go to the toilet. The plane was made up of 90% Korean people. I found that weird and annoying...especially when I was drinking beer and had to go too.

[Wisco Kid]

If anyone smokes on a flight I'm on, I hope they spend at least one night in jail and have to shell out a big fine.

Seriously not cool.

[FUBAR]

My favorite part of the article

[Wangja]

This raises an interesting point.

In the happy days when one was allowed to smoke on aircraft, the airlines had to change the cabin air very frequently to rid it of the visible pollution. As that was done, the invisible pollution was also removed.

These days, and largely at the arilines' behest, smoking is not allowed and the visible pollution does not have to be removed. Which means that the cabin air changes have been reduced as each air change costs energy. Which means that the invisible pollution remains. Which means that many people now get off planes with illneses that did not have when they boarded.

(And FWIW, I have not seen anybody smoke on a plane for many years and I take on average 30 flights or so a year).

Why is it, btw, that the only airlines you have to PAY for a beer are US airlines? Is there any special reason? And it ain't cheap ... especially for American beer ...... an oxymoron I know)

[Blind Willie]

You know, for years now I've been trying to figure out if Real Reality is posting these things as a way to justify some sort of anti-Korean bigotry on his part, or if he's trying get back at the kid who first tong-chimmed him in some weird round-about way.

Regardless, the cafe wouldn't be the same place without his scouring the web looking for any and all news of the evils of Koreans.

[gomurr]

I just got back from the Philipines. The plane was full of Koreans coming back to Korea and although no one was smoking alot of Koreans were getting up as soon as the plane touched the ground, getting their stuff from overhead compartments and rushing to be the 1st off even though it would still be 15-20 mins until we finally stopped. The stewardesses and stewards wre really pissed off and yelled at them for a good 5 minutes to sit down. I was kind of annoyed myself at the Korean passengers for causing the disturbance in the 1st place and for not willing to wait their turn and exit the plane in an orderly fashion.

[J.B. Clamence]

[Real Reality]

Blind Willie wrote,
"he's trying get back at the kid who first tong-chimmed him in some weird round-about way."

Exactly.
I was traumatized by serial dong-chimming. The violations were numerous and painful. The boss and local authorities just laughed at my protestations. The only way I could indirectly express the shame and violation was through the CAFE.

[fidel]

Hah! Some personality from Real Reality, nice one. See, posts without news links can also be fulfilling!

[sistersarah]

geez....koreans on flights......since i'm flying home in a week and a half, i have to admit, i'm a little nervous....

last year when i flew home, i got an aisle seat and to my left was a korean family...mom, dad and cute little 2 or 3 year old girl. naturally, the little girl was restless for most of the flight and the father would get up with her to walk around every so often -- that's ok since i don't sleep much on flights.

what bothered me was that every time he wanted me to stand up so he could get out, he was so rude about it! he would just nudge me and point, no apologetic smile or excuse me, or thank-you or anything! one time,