Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

Along the lines of worst/strangest places perhaps. Seoul is a rude, and not a friendly city. I haven't been anywhere as rude or with generally as unfriendly a feeling as Seoul. I think even many Koreans would agree that Seoulites can be rude and unfriendly, and not just because it's a big city. An article by a Korean in the English "Joongang Daily" had this very complaint, and thus was concerned about Korea's image, and the impression it made on foreigners.

But for the more travelled of you, I am sure you may have other places in mind.

[keithinkorea]

Big city people are often rude. Doesn't matter which big city but it is true. It is partially I believe the stress of living with so many other people all around you and often having to work harder than folks in the sticks.

In Korea I've met very rude and also incredibly polite people. In the UK and a few European countries I've met very polite and very rude people. In the US I've met really rude and also very polite people. SE Asia -many countries- same story.

The rudest category of people are possibly ajumma or Indonesian taxi drivers. Though I have met some lovely individuals from both of these groups.

People are not the same. Everywhere you go you'll meet arseholes, average and wonderfully sweet people.

Stop trying to put people in a box.

[Hanson]

Right on!

Power to the average!!!

[Badmojo]

I don't agree.

I never lived in Seoul, but the ten times up there never rubbed me the wrong way.

In fact, I had more people bothering me in Seoul than anywhere else. "Are you lost?" "Where are you going?"

It was a breath of fresh air.

Gamsa Ham nida!

[Cthulhu]

Beijing.

Including the flight over (China Eastern I believe).

[poddubny]

philadelphia, USA.

'brotherly love' my ass...

[desultude]

One time in Seoul my friend and I could not communicate to the taxi driver where exactly he was to take us. We had instructions written down in Korean, but he didn't know his way around the neighborhood. He stopped every few blocks to ask someone for directions. Finally, as we got nearer to where we were going, a guy told the driver to follow him, and he ran the five blocks to our destination in front of the taxi, and the driver followed him slowly.

The runner did not even wait for us to thank him.

I could never imagine such a thing in the U.S.A.

[bucheon bum]

luxor, egypt. don't go there. sure, the valley of the kings is there, but it ain't worth putting up with the biggest concentration of assholes on the face of the earth.

[VanIslander]

New Zealand.

The rudest people in the world live there. It's way different than elsewhere. There's a real need for civility.

(If you ever go, you'll know what I mean.)

[Swiss James]

Strasbourg, France.

Sit at a table for 15 minutes at a cafe trying to catch the attention of a waiter? Check
Walk out of a nightclub and say "Bonsoir" then the bouncer shouts abuse after you in a horrible mocking franco-america accent? Check
Ask for butter with your bread in a restaurant and be refused with the words "Oh you english with your butter and your mayonnaise!" Check.

[tzechuk]

[Zenpickle]

[Swiss James]

I found people in NYC to be remarkably polite- people would say things like
"Hey how ya doing?"
whilst I was just walking past them on the street
or "Hot enough for ya?"
in elevators (lifts).

Once we were walking around and a radio pundit stopped me and some friends to ask us what we thought of the vice-president. We told him we were english so didn't have an opinion and after a bit more chat he invited us out for dinner.

It's either a friendly place or everyone's gay.

[the eye]

my vote is for Toronto.

ask a street vendor for directions, and get the old 'waddu-i-looklike?' rountine.
citizens are downright snobby.
retail clerks seem like they are physically unable to smile.

[syclick]