Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Demonicat]

so, my freaking bike just got lifted by some pissant. What the F--- is the recourse for a foriegner here. Can I call the police? or is it better to stroll up and down seoul looking for my bike, and take it back (by force if possible)? Experiences and funny antecdotes appreciated.

[just because]

The police will do nothing but maybe file a report.

Start looking

[JongnoGuru]

[julian_w]

Got my bike nicked in 2003, in Gwangju. Went straight to the police.

They got in touch with me within a week (... can't remember how many days it was... very few though). This senior high-school rotter and his relatively good-boy friend had seen me park it and walk off. They must have had a skeleton key or something. They'd taken it out of the city to their home town out back of Hicksville, had painted it badly, put those bloody aweful suspension springs and a big baldy on the back wheel, ...

but had not changed the licence plate... ( ... haaa ha haa ...omg ... I still like to laugh about that).

The mother had seen the bike parked in her place, and so had taken her naughty boy by the ear to the police to confess. They'd found my report on the computer straight away.

I ended up going to their home town for a wee chat with the mum and the nice cop guy. Through a translator I learned that she was a late-middle aged solo mum who had to work to support the family blah blah it was his first offence blah... could I perhaps not press charges?

I ended up meeting him and his mum closer to my home so he could give me a face to face apology, and his mum gave me the whole cost of the bike as new.

They never even mentioned any other guy, but this skinny-little kid clearly didn't have the sand to take the bike on his own, and I clearly remember seeing the two and wondering how they were in uniform but out of school so early as I walked off with my keys in hand for lunch in Shinsegae. It was obviously his rotten-punk mate who'd used him to stash the bike and take any blame. No bother to me if he got a record or not, as long as I got the full money for the bike. I actually thought the whole process was really good, and one of the things I still appreciate about Korea - the negotiable, personable approach to sorting things out is available, and we can all avoid the bloody lawyers. Yeah yeah, I know that it can degenerate into street-side yelling and bare-fisted confrontation in a worst case scenario, but I was glad to get it sorted out simply and get a nice shiney new bike.

The cop I dealt with who was the dude in charge in that wee town was on to it, fair, and a solid good bloke. Among the guys I first dealt with in Gwangju, the junior officers were helpful and knew what they were doing, and had all the details of the bike online within minutes of my contacting them. The more senior guy I first had to deal with and to whom they had to be polite was just a complete twit: didn't seem to know which way to point his nose to find forwards; he was like a cartoon character, like the cop from the Simpsons or something... hilarious in a tragi-comedy way.

Whatever, I reckon: if in doubt, do it. The worst the cops here seem likely to do is give you reason to laugh at them.

Generally though, as in when my friends and I have had various different bike accidents, or as in other incidents completely unrelated to motorbikes, I've found police in this country to be unrelentingly helpful. (It's almost like they're either so bored - or perhaps so intrigued by the prospect of helping a weirdo foreigner - they'll just help out non-stop until all is good for you again.)

Getting me two good wheels was one of the best things I did while in Corea. Good luck, whatever you decide, and whatever the outcome.

* * *

"Yeah nowadays I got me two good wheels,
I seek refuge in aluminum and steel.
Aw, it takes me out there for just a little while,
And the years fall away with every mile

I'm back out on that road again
Turning this beast into the wind ..."

Steve Earle, 'The Other Kind'

[JacktheCat]

The police are usually pretty useless; but you never know.

I'd spread the word among your Korean friends. This country has a grapevine like you wouldn't believe. I think thats one major deterrent to crime here, and why people think they can get away with stealing things from foreigners.

[Demonicat]

Thanks guys, you're in my cool book. I suppose I'll file the report, though I have nothing distinquishable (other than a helmet in the boot and several scrathes from sliding), but WTF why not?

[Gollum]

I keep lots of photos of western guys having sex with Korean women and stash them under the seat, just so the guy who steals it will get pissed off. That, along with flyers that say, "DOKDO BELONGS TO JAPAN!" in Korean.