Korean Job Discussion Forums

nrvs · Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Location: standing upright on a curve

I'll start:

1. Why do Koreans tend to walk on the left when they drive on the right? Sometimes this is institutionalized in a way (escalators, arrows on subway station stairs). However, it's usually the case on busy sidewalks too. In every other right-side-driving country I've visited, pedestrians walk on the right, just like they'd drive a car. Why is it the opposite here?

2. What's with the fluorescent lights? I live in a fairly affluent part of Seoul and my humble villa is surrounded by expensive apartment blocks. When I step outside at night for a smoke, I look up and all I see are harsh, unshielded fluorescent lights in these apartments. Very few incandescent lights are visible. Now, I can understand my cheap apartment having fluorescent lighting. However, can't these doctor/lawyer/judge/businessperson parents of my students afford something easier on the eyes? Is this just a case of "well, we've always done it that way / it reminds me of the countryside"?

3. What are the little plastic discs covering the hubcaps of expensive cars? Often I see BMWs, Mercedeses, and Lexuses sporting these gray-colored plastic discs. They neatly cover the wheel lugs. They're only on one wheel, never more. Is this some kind of anti-theft/tracking device? Why only fancy imports?

Feel free to add to the list. Oh, and I don't intend this to be a Korea-bashing thread; I'm honestly curious about this stuff.

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:57 pm Post subject:

I might be mistaken, but I think Koreans walk on the left because it was forced on them by Japanese who controlled Korea. But Japan left before cars became big here, so they drive on the right side, like in the west.

nrvs · Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Location: standing upright on a curve

The evil penguin · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:43 pm Post subject:

stvwrd · Joined: 31 Mar 2005

I was told that when the Japanese left the Korean government attempted to irradicate a lot of the remnant signs of the occupation.

So it was mandated that cars drive on the right, the opposite way from Japan.

However, it's hard to set policy as to which side of the sidewalk people walk on, and I guess they were so used to walking on the left they just kept doing it.

Just what I've heard, I wouldn't put money on it, but it makes sense to me.

steveohan · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

[quote="The evil penguin"]

Links · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 2:03 am Post subject:

I think it is for safety. Facing the traffic that is heading in your direction. Where I grew up in Western New York, we were taught to walk on the left also.

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Why do men hold each others hands while walking? Are they gay or just weird?

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Billy Pilgrim · Joined: 08 Sep 2004

After waiting 40 minutes to buy movie tickets yesterday, I have this simple question:

Why do some Koreans seem to treat buying tickets for a movie like it was a mortgage application? I swear to God, I saw some people waving around five seperate cards, fishing for all the discounts on offer, signing bits of paper, calling loved ones for advice........

Mr. Literal · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: Third rock from the Sun.

Waiting at an ATM---anywhere in the world. Some people just have to read EVERYTHING on the screen before punching numbers, like the directions may have changed from yesterday.

I've been behind some people who were taking so long I thought they were planning a hostile takeover of the world by hacking into government computers via the money machine.

(Warning: Stereotype ahead) And old people, OMG, I've walked away plenty of times when I've seen gramps at the ATM. These people are totally perplexed.

It takes me about 15 seconds and most of that time is spent waiting for the machine to process.

cdnhawk · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Location: Bupyeong

When I run in the park I go clockwise while all the Koreans go counter clockwise. I get dirty looks from them. Why do they care about this so called law when they disregard red lights which might actually kill someone.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I;m wondering why this very pretty girl followed me home and then bailed at the last minute last nite. Maybe she did not like the beer gut?

PolyChronic Time Girl · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Location: Korea Exited

How these ajummas can still perform back-breaking labor and run up and down stairs without any shortness of breath. Gotta have respect for that.
I'm 27 years old and my Korean mother-in-law could probably beat me in a stair-running sprint.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!