Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

My friend works at her Gu or Dong office. I'm not sure which. Anyway, she works the front desk, directing inquiries. She sure doesn't set policy. Her English is quite excellent and she could probably advance quickly up the public ranks but she went and jumped into a traditional Korean marriage and I'm sure she will be on the mommy track soon.

Anyway, apparently her Gu or Dong or whatever started to enforce parking laws and have started issuing more tickets. Who'd have thunk it? Some old guy came in to, err, discuss this new policy. In fine Korean fashion, he didn't bother with a petition. No. He came in with a big hammer and brought it crashing down on her desk.

Check out the photos:




The guy was taken away by the cops. A few days later the guy's wife came in with some flowers, trying to make amends. You'll see a vase of roses on her desk:

[peemil]

The Sledgehammer wielding maniac.

Living the dream I tell you. Living the dream.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I don't blame the old coot. I was mad, too when the cops towed my car...twice.

#1. I used to drive to the swimming pool and always parked right behind a No Parking sign. I know, I know. But there were always one or two other cars parked there, too. And it was always fine...until one day I came out of the pool and (my car and the other cars) were gone.

Found out that day was Parking Law Enforcement Day for the month. Cost me about W35,000 for illegal parking and another 10 or 15,000 for towing fees. (I forget the exact amounts, but the total was around W50,000)

#2. I used to live in a dong just off a big main road. You had to drive up a two lane street for a block, go half-way around a circle and then turn up a street. It was always a hassle because the circle was always clogged with cars parked illegally while the owners did their shopping at the only grocery store in the area or the other shops around the circle. One day I swapped cars with a friend who was going out of town (mine was better). On the way home I decided to go to a mok-yok-tang. So I parked along the circle, just like everyone else, and just like I did when I bought groceries.

When I came out of the mok-yok-tang all squeaky clean and relaxed my friend's car was missing. I was sure it was stolen because there were lots of other cars parked along the circle. I started sweating bullets--I couldn't afford to buy a car for my friend. It took me a couple of hours to find out it had been stolen. This time it cost me 53,500. W35,000 for illegal parking, W10,000-15,000 for the towing and W3,500 for the wasted bath at the mok-yok-tang.

Why feel outraged? Because the parking laws are only enforced sporadically, with no signal which day is the unlucky day. I use 'unlucky' advisedly. Many Koreans get upset when they get fined. It isn't that they don't know they have broken a law. It's that everyone breaks the law everyday, but just once in a while, unpredictably, some people get punished. It really isn't very fair.

The laws should be enforced everyday. Most people would adjust and accept the consequences when everyone is treated equally.

[peemil]

My car got towed and I was absolutely ropable.

Where I live there is no-where to park. I mean no-where. It's ok through if you get home before 8pm- You'll get a parking spot around the hill that the apartment complex is on, but after that, you are whistling dixey. People just cram in. Wherever they can get a spot after about 10pm.

Every fortnight I have to go into town on a Wednesday. I usually get home around two in the morning. So there is only one more option. Join everyone else parking illegally on the street. But it means that I have to get up early, like everyone else and move the car up the hill, when other people go to work. It's like musical cars around here.

One morning I slept in and my car got towed. The thing that pisses me off, I know that it is illegal and all, but you can't park your car on the side of the road, but every ajumma is allowed to have a stand down there. It's really dangerous. The road is slim enough without having do fit an ajumma stand, a bus and a car, trying to get through. Why don't they ever punish them?

You know the only other option for people who live where I live is to drive seven minutes over the highway and into town. I live out in the rice paddies and that means I've got to drive there, then get a taxi back. A lot of the time taxi drivers around here won't take you up to the top where I live. They know what the parking is like here. It's an absolute nightmare.

[desultude]

[diver]

Sorry, but you guys should have thought about this before you bought your cars.

This is the main reason I don't want to buy one. I'll rent one when I need one, but for the rest of the time it's the bike.

[ulsanchris]

I want to start up a parking garage and a towing company in this country. First I would build the garage and then start towing every car in the neighbourhood.

[Swiss James]

I'm just enjoying the mental image of an ajossi with a sledgehammer wreaking havoc. Go on son! How dare they put a ticket on your bongo truck!

[Ya-ta Boy]

[mindmetoo]

[lastat06513]

Hmmmmm.....................


I think that place is vaguely familiar....
Ain't that the Itaewon Ward Office?