Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Howard Roark]

I think the general opinion of foreigners is that Koreans are not likely to steal from you - snatch your bag while you're asleep on the train for example.

I agree.

But what if they find something that's been lost? Do you think Koreans are any more or less likely (than us) to seek out the owner? Do you think they are more likely to try and find a fellow-Korean owner than a foreigner?

These questions are on my mind because I lost my purse on Saturday. I was simply walking home from a day of shopping and dropped my purse somewhere on the road, near my house.

*more after my class*

[kat2]

You should report it to the local police station. I think thats the routine when you lose something. Also, I hope you have already cancelled all your cards. Good luck!

[poet13]

I think in large part it depends on where you are. I'm in a small place. It seems like EVERYONE knows me....and likes me! If I dropped something that could be identified as mine, I bet I'd get it back. I wouldn't feel the same way in Seoul... I've heard some good stories about people getting stuff back though....minus the cash... Good luck, let us know what happens.

[Howard Roark]

*continued*

I did report it at the police station, which is next to my apartment.

There were no credit cards in my purse. But there was my mom's credit card number written on a bit of paper. She cancelled it right away.

My alien card and bank card were in my wallet. If some ambitious person found it, they could contact immigration or even the bank. Either of those would certainly be able to contact me or my boss.

So, it seems to me if someone wanted to they could get it back to me.

I know what it's like to lose stuff. It sucks. If I found something, like a purse, I would exhaust every possible means of getting it back to the person.

Sadly, I don't think most people would. Not only in Korea, but probably anywhere.

Even my students (adults) said they didn't think people would return it, and even they themselves might just keep it. They also said they thought a Korean person was less likely to try to return something to a foreigner.

What would you do? Honestly.

[Colorado]

I'd make every effort to return it, as would most people, be they Korean, American, Canadian or whatever.

[MikeJ123]

I lost my wallet one time when i first arrived. I got my wallet back in few weeks with all the cards and stuff still inside except my money. They mailed it to me to my house. There was only 5k won in there

[RACETRAITOR]

If they return it, you have to get mad and ask where your 1 000 000 won cheque went. It's tradition.

[kermo]

I've lost my wallet an amazing number of times in the last year. A couple of times I've left it behind or dropped it, a couple of times I suspect it's been pinched. A couple times... well, if I told you that then you'd know how many times I've lost it.

Anyway, the sad story is that not one of these wallets has been returned to me, regardless of the ID inside.

[gyopogirlfromtexas]

One time my dumbass self left my whole purse on the bus. I couldn't believe I've done something this retarded. I'm walking off as I get off the bus and while it's starting to move a bunch of ajumas are yelling to get my attention and had my purse hanging out the window. I ran a little to get it, but that was really sweet of them.

[RACETRAITOR]

If you get someone's ID card you can essentially become them. Not a big deal for us because our cards are useless, but a serious threat to a Korean.

[princess]

[poet13]

"I think in large part it depends on where you are. I'm in a small place. It seems like EVERYONE knows me....and likes me! If I dropped something that could be identified as mine, I bet I'd get it back. I wouldn't feel the same way in Seoul... I've heard some good stories about people getting stuff back though....minus the cash... Good luck, let us know what happens."

I wrote that on November 12th.

A few weeks ago I dropped a set of laminated english exercises. About 250 laminated strips with sentences and stuff on them. It took me almost three days to make that exercise. Type the sentences. Proof the sentences. Print and cut out each sentence. Insert into laminate film. Run each sheet through the laminating machine. Cut each one out.
So I cursed myself up and down for an entire day, and then spent three days making the exercise again.

Last thursday some ajumma working on a construction site as a nail puller/clean up person, handed me the entire package back. She found it, and kept it with her until she saw me again....two weeks later. I left a package containing energy and vitamin c drinks, a half dozen bottles of soju, and a few dried whole cuttle fish at their work site this morning before they arrived. I saw them enjoying it this afternoon.


Pretty cool that she did that.

[Zyzyfer]

It depends. I like to lose my cell phone in taxis. Still have the same one, although one guy was rather reluctant to come back and drop it off. Out of 5 instances, I've gotten it back every time, one guy actually started calling numbers on my phone, one guy got my attention before I was out of sight, and two guys were happy to come back after they finished eating or whatever.

But then I lost a DVD player last week in one of the convenience stores in Itaewon. Was bringing it home and put it down to look at something or make coffee or whatever. I highly doubt the staff were willing enough to stash until until my eventual return, if it wasn't swiped by another customer beforehand.

I also left a bag with important things in it at a convenience store in the Gangnam area once. The staff did stash it until I could return to pick it up.

[brento1138]

I knew a Korean girl who pretty much had to pay a ransom to a taxi driver to get her lost cellphone back... I think it cost her 50,000.

[contrarian]

I am a careless clutz. My prize story of "almost" losing something is this.

I had been in Costco and was having a little trouble finding my car keys, so I set a passport wallet w/ passport a couple of other things and 1000 US dollars in cash (my get out of town fund).

I had gone about a km from Costco when at a red light a Koran jumped out of his car ran up to my window scooped my wallet from the roof and handed it to me.

I said Kamsahamnida. I love this country.