Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dispatched]

Just had this happen and had to share, hence the revival of this old thread...

I was chilling on my sofa and heard the door open then close, figured the wind must have blown it but assumed it had now closed properly... it's 11pm and I live on the 5th floor, no elevator so the chances of a stray person entering I figured are pretty minimal, hence why I don't lock my door when at home.
About a minute later I hear the door open again and this time it doesn't close, time to get up and investigate. I arise from the sofa and pop my head around the corner to find an Ajosshi taking his shoes off and entering my place (not overly large or threatening). He mutters something then proceeds to enter my place, I'm not overly alarmed as this has happened once before when my gas oven alerted the gas company that there was a problem with it. Instead of heading for the kitchen he goes into my bedroom, I'm now thinking he must be my neighbour, he bumps into my wardrobe then starts clearing the scattered clothes off my bed. At this point I'm a little confused and say, 'Ajosshi, moiyo' (what??) yes my korean is very limited, he looks at me, sways a little then heads for the door. It's at this point I realise he's had a good night on the soju. Heading for the door he spots my sofa and hangs a hard right depositing himself down upon it and closing his eyes. At this point I'm thinking, 'er, that's not a good sign'. I shake his arm and try to get him to move but he isn't having a bar of it.
Thinking it might be my neighbour I go and knock on their door hoping someone else in the household can claim him and escort him to the correct location. A young guy opens the door and using my best body language I get him to enter my apartment hoping desperately he has indeed misplaced a drunk ajosshi. Alas the guy looks as confused as I but quickly realises that a drunk ajosshi in a waegugin's apartment is not a common situation. After attempting to get the ajosshi to move he threatens to call the police and starts to dial the number. Whatever thoughts are running through the alcohol addled mind of the drunk the concept of 'police' still rings a bell. He got up, ambled to the door and put a shoe on. The other shoe seemed to pose a bigger problem... probably because it was mine! After about 10 seconds he figured out that the shoe was somewhat different to his own. He then found his actual shoe and proceeded to make his way out of my apartment, destination... unknown! After offering my neighbour many thanks I am now secure in my apartment once more... this time, door well and truely locked.

[Summer Wine]

[url]When I was riding on the subway in Seoul, and the old "subway person" sitting next to me was fascinated with my leg hair. He kept trying to touch it, and I almost got up and left, but was just too darn tired (I had waited too long for the seat).

I ignored him, only to feel a weird scraping on my leg about 2 minutes later. He had pulled out a disposable razor, and was trying to shave my leg hair!!!

The Koreans across the way had a look of shock which nearly rivaled mine.[/url]

This post by Derek is funny. I mean you read so many posts and you have so many experiences that seem incredible at the time. Later I think you just take it with a pinch of salt.

I was invited to drink with some Korean Mafia once at this little drinking place once and then after an hour one guy says to me, Ok you have to go now. I said but I haven't finished my beer and I can go sit back at the table I was at before you came. He said, no you have to go now, so I took the hint and left.

Would you get the opportunity back home, not likely, these experiences good and bad make you a more interesting person to talk too. Though some are just a crack up.

[peemil]

It's amazing how many posts here describe Koreans invading your privacy. When I first got here I had a taxi driver get curious and try to molest me down there while he was driving.

At the time, I just smacked his hand and told him to pull over so I could get another taxi, but now after too many incidents of this type, I've become convinced that:

A. This is not a cultural thing at all. Koreans don't do this to each other. Can you imagine the taxi driver trying to grab ye old Ajossi in the taxi? He'd go ballistic.

B. They do it not out of curiosity. They do it because they are downright rude.

C. The more us foreigners take it in good grace. The more they'll continue to do it.

D. Anyone who touches me in an inappropriate way now gets a quick punch in the head.

[canadian_in_korea]

[Swiss James]

yeah but there's touching and touching. Koreans are naturally very tactile between themselves

[keithinkorea]

Some Koreans are strange, but then again I've met a fair few strange folks in other counrties too.

I've had strange experiences with religious folks here. A guy in my neighbourhood a while ago always used to great me with a hearty 'HELLO' followed by an even louder 'YOU MUST BELIEVE IN JESUS!' This is quite odd. To be fair I've had weird Canadian folks trying to convert me into a Raelian too whilst in Korea.

Weird behaviour at the beach is amusing. A while ago on the East coast I saw the most strangely colourful ajumma group ever. There clothes were being wacky and they looked like escapees from a clown school, also at the beach they don't let you swim as soon as you're out of your depth a speedboat comes barreling along and after almost running you over blows a whistle and the guy gestures for you to get back to shore. Korean male bosses who rub the legs of their male workers when out drinking is very strange.

Old men to drunk to stand whacking policemen who are trying to help them up of the ground and calling them lots lots of colourful language. The police were so gentle, I've seen this maybe 100 times in Korea.

A Korean coworker who was very angry with Bush asking 'What's wrong with North Korea? What did they ever do to us?'

A Korean guy on the talking to me and my gf and then telling the subway carriage that foreigners have too many Korean girlfriends. Rude and strange.

Korea is a strange place but I guess I haven't had anything really weird happen, it's more a general atmosphere of weird things. Behaviour, attitude, comments.

[eamo]

I'm sitting home one day when I hear my door being unlocked. I get up to protest at the intrusion expecting the landlord but in walks two ajumma's and an ajeossi. All in their 60's. They come right on in and start walking around my apartment chattering, looking at me and laughing. There was some great joke going on. After a minute or two I was laughing along with them!! I'd no idea why they were in my apartment or who they were.

After a 5 minute inspection of my apartment they went on their merry way. Laughing and chattering all the time.

I just sat down again and continued watching TV.

[Demonicat]

I don't think they pull this crap with Russians either. Whenever I head out anymore I try to look as Russian as possible (thank god for genetics), I keep a straight face and answer unwarranted English questions with "Da' or "Nyet". No one bothers me anymore. I think Russian males are scary to many Koreans- possibly becasue of that whole Mafiya thing....

[AdamH]

How does one go about looking "more Russian"?

Just curious, as on at least two occasions I've been asked if I am Russian, and I'd like to know what - if anything in particular - prompted them to ask this.

[dogbert]

It's the haircut.

And the clothes.

[AdamH]

Well, I've pretty much ditched the parka now (hooray for springtime!) and my hair (un)cut, which looks a bit like a scruffier dark blond version of Ruud Van Nistelrooy's hair don't, is actually a grown out mohawk that I had done in Australia last March...I have the slowest growing hair in the world.

Do I still look like a Russian?

"You, me, eolmayo?"

[chiaa]

I am actually half russian, live near Itaewon and not one person has ever thought I was Russian.

[poddubny]