Korean Job Discussion Forums

[xtchr]

Hi there, just wondering if anyone can answer this for me.
I have been at three different elementary schools this week, and in 5 classes there was a vacant desk. I asked where the child was, and the rest of the kids just said words to the effect of "That's Thomas' desk, Thomas is a ghost", etc. When I quizzed them further they all just dissolved in giggles, or made 'scary' noises, and I couldn't get any more sense out of them.
Does anyone know what they're on about? Is it from tv, movies, a computer game?
I know it's not life or death stuff, but I'm really curious, so if anyone knows why they are acting like this, I'd love to find out.
Thanks

[Demonicat]

Quite possibly its a joke from the teacher that just left. I know I have all sorts of things like that floating around- inside jokes between teacher and students.

[inkoreaforgood]

It's from some old story about a ghost student. Their name is on the class list, but they are never there. Thre was a horror movie some years ago that used this concept extensively.

[Konundrum]

In my classes, if a student was absent, I would ask "Where is Yu-Suk?"
The boys would say "He died!!". I would ask how he died and they'd draw a picture or enact the scene complete with death throes.
If the student walked in late, I'd say "I thought you died?!?!" The students would say he was a ghost.