Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mikejelai]

Yes, I know that the various embassies have evacuation plans in place for their citizens but I question how well these would actually work in reality. I mean, consider the likelihood that cell phone service and electricity would probably be cut, TV and radio transmitters would likely be off the air (AFN anyway), many roads impassable, chaos among the locals, embassy staff quickly fleeing aboard US army helicopters (like in Saigon at the end of the Vietnam war), the US army installations ablaze in a sea of flame (heaven forbid!), etc. After all, war IS hell!

I'm thinking it would be every man for himself, and the best bet would be to cross the Han river (by bridge or by swimming if necessary - damn, that would be some cold water!) and heading toward Pusan (hmmm, sounds historically familiar, no?).

Sounds a bit like "The Road" doesn't it? What would be the safest and fastest route to Pusan? Just head down the interstate highway (gridlock Hell or worse) or take to the backroads? How long would it likely take on foot? 7-10 days? Possibility of scavenging food along the way? Would the Korean banks freeze all accounts immediately?

I don't mean to sound paranoid or anything; just thinking, that's all. And remember the Boy Scout motto- "Be Prepared"

[victorology]

They should do a Man vs. Wild episode of Bear trying to get to Busan from Seoul

[diver]

[Mikejelai]

Exactly; remember the gruesome road carnage footage from the Iraq war? The one where hundreds of cars (including drivers and passengers) were attacked while fleeing Baghdad, I believe(?)................ Not that I think North Korea has the ability to get many planes through all the missiles/ack ack/ US and South Korean jets and attack helicopters, etc. Just saying.............

[decolyon]

Recently I saw a page on the US embassy website that had two evacuation points for Americans. Both just south of the Han and on either end of the city. But I tried to go there just now and the link is redirected, which makes me think they may be rethinking their own evacuation plans since they probably haven't been updated in a while.

So, being the nerd that I am, I decided to open up Google Earth and plan my own way out.

Step 1: If you're in city center or just East of center and not too far North, your best bet is to get on the Tancheon and head South. The Tancheon is tributary of the Han. The roads on either side of it were designed to be big enough to support bikes, jeeps, and military equipment in case of war. It will lead you directly to Seoul Air Base. This is your first opportunity to get a ride out. But considering the air base may be on lock down mode, you'll have to continue to follow the Tancheon South. Remember Bear Grills says to find water and stick with it. I'm only about 5 miles from Seoul AB by way of the Tan and could knock this out in no time. Especially by bike, but also by foot. Note: I have myself, personally walked 8 miles in an afternoon. But that was in the dead of summer and I was wearing flip flops. Given that, with proper shoes and my own ability to function better in cooler weather, 10 or 12 miles a day on foot seems certainly reasonable

Given my own location (South East edge of Seoul) I could comfortably get to Bundang in my first day. That's roughly 10 miles. Some say you could do more, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. You're going to need to give your body time to rest and recover as well as scout safe locations to sleep for the night and possibly raid a GS25 for rations.

Day 2: Rise and shine. The bombs are beginning to fall and commies are one the horizon. Drop your c*ck and grab your socks, it's off to Suwon we go!

Day two will find you following the same routine much of the time you did on day one. Stick with the Tan and keep heading South. Eventually you'll hit the Northern tip of Yongin. Time to say goodbye to Tan, because this is where he ends. Near the Tan basin, is a large and hard to miss 6 lane overpass (if it hasn't been blown to smithereens by now.) Just East of this overpass is Suwon Country Club. We're mainly going to use SCC as a landmark to know we're on the right direction. We're going to cut through the golf course and cross the highway. Should be easy as either traffic will be backed up for miles or all the cars have been shelled. Here we'll be at another golf course that is adjacent to the folk village. No time for picture taking, as we've got to jump over the highway and settle on the South East corner of Suwon city, near the Shingal Reservoir (looks like a big lake and will be the largest body of war anywhere near you.) Make camp and call it a night. Another solid 10 miles under our belt and a big day ahead tomorrow.

Day 3: By this point, Seoul is empty and the war is raging somewhere along the 38th. Probably no nukes at this point, but artillery has already rained down on Itaewon. So long old friend. You start your day by finding the loan tributary on the South end of the Shingal Res.. Can't be hard to find, it's marked by a mini-dam. Follow this stream South and in just a short 2 or 3 hours it will turn into the Osancheon. The river-like stream the runs through Osan city. Stop and gather rations if you must, but we're only halfway done for the day. The Osancheon cuts right through Osan and then continues South. About 4 miles outside of the city is Osan Air Base. This is your next big chance to catch a free flight to the Land of the Rising Sun courtesy of Uncle Sam. Considering the size of Osan AB I find it hard to believe there wont be some set up there to process American civilians and get them to safety. But just for kicks and giggles, we're going to continue on this journey to Pusan. Those installments to come later. I need sleep now and my eyes hurt. Good night.

[rumdiary]

[UknowsI]

What I can't understand is that none of my friends know the location of any bomb shelters. Bomb shelters seems like the most natural solution for civilians. In my home country there are bomb shelters everywhere even though there have been no signs of war since WW2. We even have evacuation drills at school, therefore I am surprised I haven't heard anything about it here.

[silkhighway]

Even a few strategic shells landing near Seoul and I seriously couldn't imagine the potential chaos. 20 some million people going in every direction, military convoys trying to manoeuvre through mass crowds of civilians, roadblocks everywhere, no power, no telephones, severe shortage of food and drinking water, everyone looking for information and supplies and nobody having any. One police or military officer will tell you to do one thing or go one direction and another will tell you to do another.

In the South, people will run the bank and start hoarding any supplies they can find. The Red Cross and the government will scramble to get food and water to the Northern refugees (Seoulites) but will be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.

[jvalmer]

Back in the 90's when Clinton was 'eh' close to attacking NK, Koreans were seriously worried. They made a run on rice, you couldn't buy bags of rice anywhere. So if Koreans start buying bags of rice on mass, thats when you should consider making an exit plan.

[WilliamThomas]

[silkhighway]

[Mariella713]

[Steelrails]

[Xylox]

If a war breaks out, my biggest worry is all those douchebag elementary kids who said "You die!" to us turned out to be right.

[silkhighway]

SteelRails, you're more of an optimist than I am. North Korea has the largest artillery force in the world, and all virtually in range of Seoul. They have repeatedly made threats they would flatten Seoul in an full-out escalation and I don't see why they wouldn't make due on their word considering the importance of Seoul both symbollically and practically. We can debate all day about the rationality of it, but it's making sense of the senseless, and civil war is usually senseless and very very ugly. The best possible outcome is to avoid it altogether.

Ok, If war breaks out I don't exactly think Seoul will be turned into a parking lot. However I do think North Korea is certainly capable and almost certainly will inflict enough damage to it that it becomes a humanitarian crisis considering a couple stray shells in populated neighbourhoods like Nowon will leave thousand homeless.