Korean Job Discussion Forums

lastat06513 · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:16 pm Post subject: Itaewon burning

I left my home early this morning and found YET another store in the Itaewon shopping market razed by YET another fire. For those of you that might know the area, it was the hat shop and a few other stores right near the army surplus store near the bus stop behind MacDonalds.
This is the second fire in under a week and the third in 2 months, and they are getting closer to the residential area behind the market (where I live).
I think the developers are now using strongarmed techniques to force the stores to close in that area to make way for newer, more modern looking stores, like the one near Outback and Subway.
Like anyone would shop in those highpriced sh^tholes anyway...

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Damn, the title of this thread got me wondering if there were riots in Itaewon.

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:05 pm Post subject:

Interesting. And they all seem to be happening in the same area.

I know the nightlife has taken a serious nosedive in Itaewon in the past few years. I don't know about the shops that sell stuff during the day. I find it hard to believe that uniquetravel would have burned their shop (although I don't know if the fire started next to them, or what).

I don't remember fires in Itaewon before. Kind of odd that these would start in the same area within a week or two of each other. I would think they could tell pretty easily how they were started. Firemen back home sure have it down to a science.

I wonder if some stores aren't paying their mob dues or something. I know the bars in Chia's area have to pay off the mob. I've been having drinks when the guys come to collect.

vlcupper · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Location: Gangnam

peppermint · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:08 pm Post subject:

nail salon? please don't tell me that pro-nails is gone.

vlcupper · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Location: Gangnam

It was a nail and hair salon that had just opened a couple of months before it burned. It was close to the Hamilton. I think.

Col.Brandon · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

Ah, well. The place needs a tidy-up. What Itaewon really needs though is a bulldozer along the sidewalks to clear away all those annoying stalls. I've taken to walking on the road to keep my blood pressure down.

animalbirdfish · Joined: 04 Feb 2004

PEIGUY · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Omokgyo

Korea Custom Tailor and the shop beside it burnt down a while ago maybe it was the nail shop.. I was surprised to hear about the 2nd fire and now a 3rd.. kerosene heaters would be a likely source..

cdn_guy7610 · Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Location: Suwon

I actually had a pair of pants that I had made at Kang's Tailor. It got burnt down, it is a good thing he has a shop where he makes the pants, so all I had to do was go in so they could get my measurements again. So I will pick up the pants next week. He told me it would take about 3 months to rebuild everything from the second fire. Sucks it was wintertime. Glad I bought my rockports when I was in a few weeks back. Hope no one got screwed because of the fire.

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

Kang's Tailors make hot suits for a great price!

lastat06513 · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:50 am Post subject:

The 3rd fire happened last night I guess because I was in that vicinity just yesterday looking to buy a baseball cap.
Space heaters and kerosene heaters~~~ highly unlikely
Although they can be a tad unstable as a heating source, but I find Koreans to be very safe in using them and the stores seemed too close for them to seem like a mere accident.

vlcupper · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Location: Gangnam

Agreed. It doesn't seem like an accident.

I still think it's the Mafia.

igotthisguitar · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:07 am Post subject: