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rnrpaulsen
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Location: Cheongju, South Korea
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 Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject: weird Korean laws? |
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Hi all.
Just wondering, before we head over to Korea, if there are any unusual laws that we ought to be aware of. Either along Singapore lines, or not quite so strict/nitpicky, but still things that you might not think of.
Anything we should know? |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck.
Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
Overall living conditions, including education, housing, medical care, transportation, immigration, and access to the Internet are pointed to as inconveniences. Not only inconveniences caused by different systems and customs in Korea, but also special discriminating practices, such as the practice of submitting two years of monthly rent in advance like a deposit, which is required of foreigners just because they are foreigners, are ubiquitous. "Even though Korea has achieved some degree of globalization in going abroad, it has still a long way to go for globalization in embracing foreigners inward," said foreigners residing in Korea.
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448
Principles
a) If you come to Korea, you must have a return ticket out or cash resources to get you out should an emergency arise. This is a personal matter, but one that will prevent you much heartache and stress should you adhere to it.
b) If you employer asks you to work in breach of Labor Laws or Immigration law, you must refuse. It is far better to be dismissed by an employer than breach Korean law.
c) If your employer asks you to work without Immigration authority (visa processing,) refuse. You can be fined heavily and given an Exit Order baring you from return for 5 years.
EFL LAW: Important advice when teaching in Korea
http://efl-law.com/crucial.html
Rotten to the Core?
Chosun Ilbo (October 9, 2003)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200310/200310080034.html |
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excitinghead
Joined: 18 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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There are no wierd laws like no chewing of gum etc. etc. that they have in Singapore, the only things I used to do back home that I feel I can't do here are just because of Korean social mores against them and not laws, like not kissing in public.
But in addition to the discrimination against foreigners that the last poster mentioned, there does seem to be one legal principle in Korea that is very different to those of Western countries and that can have serious consequences if you get on the wrong end of it. I would sum it up like this: In Korea, in any dispute between two parties, the less injured one is perceived to be more guilty and liable for damages.
Let me explain:
1) If you're driving, and a kid or drunk guy runs out in front of your car, despite the fact that you couldn't avoid hitting them and it's not your fault whatsoever you will probably have to pay at least some of their medical expenses.
As far as I know, Koreans get special insurance solely for that kind of thing.
2) If someone ever picks a fight with you in a bar, no matter who started it and that you had to defend yourself, if you do so so successfully that you end up in much better shape than the other guys then you're thrown in a cell for the evening.
Before anyone flames me let me point out that: a) yes, of course I'm generalising b) I haven't had any personal experience with either, so I may be completely wrong.
As far as I know the first situation is mentioned in the Lonely Planet, and the second always happened to a friend of a friend of a friend...in case I've given the wrong impression, I've been here 5 years and never even seen a fight in a bar, let alone been in one. And in the case of the stories I've heard, simple discrimination again may have more to do with it.
Anyone with personal experience can tell us anything? I want to know if my friends were exaggerating!?  |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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When Moses had communed with God on Mount Sinai, he finally descended and addressing the throng said:
"I have good news and bad news"
"Give us the good news! Give us the good news!" the cry went up.
"I've got him down to 10" said M going on to say
"The bad news is adultery is in"
As is the case here, you can be in the pokey for a little pokey.
Caveat fecundador. |
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manlyboy
Joined: 01 Aug 2004
Location: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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J-walking is a law sometimes enforced. I ignored it with impunity for years, but a few months ago a cop actually pulled me up and gave me a warning. You won't often see Koreans cross anywhere other than at the designated places.
I've heard that on some hiking trails, no smoking laws are actually enforced, too. |
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bundangbum
Joined: 23 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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| smoking in PC bang is apparently illegal aswell but rarely enforced |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| If someone burgles your house and they are armed you would still be liable for punishment if the offending party was more seriously hurt than yourself. I can't respect laws like these irrespective of whether I am a foreigner or not. |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| you can't pour your own drink when out on the tiles with Koreans- pour theirs, and you shall receive in kind |
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Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| manlyboy wrote: |
| You won't often see Koreans cross anywhere other than at the designated places. |
You were being sarcastic, right?
Sparkles*_* |
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bundangbum
Joined: 23 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| You cant question the mods law |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
1) If you're driving, and a kid or drunk guy runs out in front of your car, despite the fact that you couldn't avoid hitting them and it's not your fault whatsoever you will probably have to pay at least some of their medical expenses.
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This is true. As I understand it, the concept of 'accident' is not the same as ours. Everyone is always at least a little bit guilty. Something like: "Well, if you had been driving either faster or slower you wouldn't have been in the intersection when I ran the red light and plowed into you."
A former co-teacher was driving to work. A ta-bang girl came out of a side road on her scooter and smashed into the side of the car. The cops insisted that both drivers pay for the damage to their own vehicle. 
One of my Korean friends was driving out in the country. A farmer on one of those little tractor thingies managed to swerve in front of my friend and got himself killed. The judge agreed it was not my friend's fault but he had to spend a month in jail anyway. |
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Barking Mad Lord Snapcase
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
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Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
One of my Korean friends was driving out in the country. A farmer on one of those little tractor thingies managed to swerve in front of my friend and got himself killed. The judge agreed it was not my friend's fault but he had to spend a month in jail anyway. |
In high school I recall my business teacher telling us the story of a family friend who was driving on a two-lane highway on a hot summer day. Ahead were two cyclists. As the driver was passing them, one of the cyclists hit a rock (or something). He fell in front of the driver's van and was run over and killed.
Of course, the driver made no mistake. Unless you consider that a bicycle is a road vehicle and should therefore be given ample room when passing. Apparently the judge took this view; the family of the dead cyclist sued the driver, who ended up losing his business and going broke over the incident.
This was in Canada.
Sparkles*_* |
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Intrepid
Joined: 13 May 2004
Location: Yongin
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:47 pm Post subject: Movie evidence |
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It's even in a movie that came out a while ago here. Could be "Friends", but it might be another, similar one.
Guy is cornered on top of the ole high school by about ten of his enemies. He somehow manages to beat the crap out of all of them and, sure enough, the cops stride in and haul him off.
What if a foreigner gets beaten up, though? They just haul him off anyway, don't they? |
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Gord
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiberious aka Sparkles wrote: |
Of course, the driver made no mistake. Unless you consider that a bicycle is a road vehicle and should therefore be given ample room when passing. Apparently the judge took this view; the family of the dead cyclist sued the driver, who ended up losing his business and going broke over the incident.
This was in Canada. |
In Canada, bicycles are road vehicles. It wouldn't have been a judge's personal opinion but rather a legal requirement. |
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