Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RACETRAITOR]

I don't normally make posts like this, but I've been really wondering lately...

Why do so many old people in this country walk around with hiking gear? I always see people with big back packs, hiking clothes, and those ski-pole walking sticks. Is there a specific reason for this? My best guess is they're survivalists who want to be prepared in case the bombs start falling without notice.

[the eye]

just a guess, but they probably go hiking.

[Nowhere Man]

Simple explanation: Korea has the market cornered on mountains and Koreans are avid hikers. A great number of locals hit Pukan, Kwanak, etc... before work. Retirees do it all the more. Weekends on the mountains are similar to weekdays on the subways.

Extended explanation: Have you ever seen Korean tourist groups either here or abroad? They enjoy wearing tourist uniforms. And the hikers esssentially have a dress code of hiking cool. It's an extension/part of the ajumma full-face visor. You've got to have a titanium pole or you're a poseur.

My opinion: It all looks a bit silly, but at least they're active and making good use of the terrain.

Further: I was amazed when I arrived here that, given the terrain, Koreans weren't mad about skiing. I believe the newer generation is compensating for this. Likewise, everyone here will tell you about how they went to "climb" a mountain. What they meant was "hike". Haven't seen it yet, but I'd expect "rock climbing" to take off here over the next 10 years.

Interesting factoid: A while back, the Joong Ang Daily ran an article on, I shit you not: unicycle mountain bikers.

UNICYCLE MOUNTAIN BIKERS!

How about hiking in stilts?

Might as well. When I was at Sorak one February, there were women hiking in heels.

On one hand, it's mad.

On the other, more power to them.

[RACETRAITOR]

If they are hiking, that's good. But I go hiking too and not all the people I see out there are wearing hiking gear.

I was thinking about making this post today while I was riding a bus through Gangnam. I thought it wasn't worth posting, when suddenly I ran into yet another elderly woman dressed like this.

[Nowhere Man]

[zappadelta]

The simple explanation is that Koreans just love gear.

[Woland]

[ZUL]

[Hollywoodaction]

[jinju]

[zappadelta]

[Hollywoodaction]

My friend and I met an American rock climber in Seoul a long time ago (she was the second highest-ranked climber in Korea at that time. I had actually read about her in the paper, here.). She told us how her Korean friends would ask her to bring back some of the most expensive gear (American brands, or course) whenever she went back home. She said the Korean stuff was just as good and much cheaper. They'd go on a simple climb and her friends would bring all their gear. So, by the time they got to the cliff, they were exhausted. She also said that many climbers would risk their lives to retrieve their clamps and other gear from difficult spots along the cliff. She said it was an unnecessary because you always come out even because you always find stuff left on the cliffs by other climbers.

[peemil]

Most people should die.

That goes double for old people in hiking gear.