Korean Job Discussion Forums

[okokok]

Ever notice when walking among Koreans (especially transferring subways or something) that you constantly get cut off and Koreans always pass in front of you so closely that you have to pause or you would run right smack into them.
Do Koreans ever pass behind you? For me, never. If I am crossing paths with a Korean, they will always make the effort to speed up and walk in front of me (or walk into me ), essentially breaking my stride. If I keep walking as I was, I end up tripping them as they walk by (must admit I've done it more than a few times).
I also notice that Koreans will always take the shortest route, no matter how inconvenient it may be to anyone else. An example is when you are walking side-by-side alongside a Korean, and you have the inside lane when approaching a corner. For me, 100% of the time the Korean will cut me off, take away my lane and give me no room to walk as we walk around the corner.
I have many problems with the way Koreans walk. I find it amazing how during rush hour when a million people are storming down a sidewalk, some Koreans will walk aimlessly, never even looking where they are going. They'll stop to look at what the guy is selling on the edge of the sidewalk, and then without even looking step right out in front of you . Others will be typing text messages or reading a book while they walk down the sidewalk or subway stairs during the busiest time of the day.
While I'm at it, a couple other things are bothering me lately as well. For instance, on the subway I often notice that if I'm approaching my stop and I'm making my way to the subway door while the subway is still moving, Koreans will notice me and jump up quickly (and cut me off) so that they can get to the door first.
Or how about this... twice in the last month I have approached the ticket machine at a subway station, and ran my card over the electronic reader thingy to enter and even though I swiped my card and have already entered and am half-way through the little walk-through, a Korean on the other side trying to go out will swipe their card and push past me in that tight little area (sometimes the machines are set to accept traffic from both directions). The machine on their side doesn't even read their card, because it has already read mine, and the little arms popped up to stop them, yet they still push their way through not even understanding that they did anything wrong. What a ridiculous scene that was.
Anyways, it's been one of those days.

[RACETRAITOR]

This is one of those "You're not in Kansas anymore" things. You really should've heard about all this before coming here.

[laogaiguk]

Ya, they do that (though they don't actively try to hit you, they just go whatever way seems best to them), but I think you are just having a bad day. It happens to all of us, you will feel better later, or end up like Real Reality or Alyssa

[okokok]

Yeah, I know it's nothing new and I ain't no newbie, but even after years here and the day I've had, I had to let it out.

Racetraitor, you are sooooo cool!

[Mashimaro]

Man, that stuff drives me crazy. I guess it is not going to change any time soon though so what can you do...

[Col.Brandon]

[cbclark4]

Are motorscooters subject to traffic laws?

Are motorscooters considered pedestrians?

cbc

[Tommy]

[Tiger Beer]

[n3ptne]

I'm 6'0 and weigh 200 and walk fast... they make a hole.

If I have anything to say about Korean walking habits it's that they don't walk with a purpose and tend to be completely oblivious to their surroundings. I love how I can pass a few feet from a student, parent, or otherwise acquanintance and see that they don't have the slightest clue whatsoever that I'm near them.

[cruisemonkey]

I now leave a trail of wounded Ks lying on the ground behind me as I cruise through any subway or railway station. If they get between me and my luggage, I drag it over them.

[Smee]

I don't get pushed in my small town. But when I go to Gwangju, Seoul, or Bundang, then I notice that people don't know how to walk. Last weekend I was near Chungjangno in Gwangju, in a crowd, and nobody was moving. The line in front of me wasn't going anywhere, obviously, yet these people behind me kept pushing. I threw a couple bows and straightened them out.

What gets me the most is the in-before-out attitude on elevators and subways. But, the way I look at it, when I'm having a really bad day I can just go out in public and deck some Koreans.

[Captain Corea]

Most days I try to flow like water through it... the other days I walk like a brick.

I know exactly what you're saying though man.

[seoulsucker]

[R-Seoul]