Korean Job Discussion Forums

[philipjames]

Ban on motorcycles on Seoul's sidewalks goes into effect on Saturday. What a joy it will be to walk on the footpath without being threatened by oncoming motorcycles. What a delight it will be to go for a stroll along the....

Oops, I just woke up. What was I thinking? This is Korea. Absolutely nothing will change. They'll probably assign three teenage 'police officers' to enforce the new rule on Seouls five thousand streets. After two weeks they'll announce that the new law has been an enormous success, and reassign the three young lads to another project.

Good times!

[Captain Marlow]

to quote my boss, "you don't understand korean culture..."

[Ultimo Hombre]

Why must people announce news that everybody knows will not change anything in this city? It just makes me feel defeated. (pout pout)

[Crockpot2001]

[Ultimo Hombre]

I'll never get the hang of this culture. I think they change it as they go.

[seoulsucker]

[Tiger Beer]

Looks like I got out of Korea JUST IN TIME!

That was one of the greatest things about living in Korea, being able to drive my scooter up on the sidewalks and park anywhere I wanted!

[Bingo]

It's just like these new laws regarding hagwon fees. I read an article in one of the English-language papers last week about how hogwans arent' the slightest bit worried about the new rules. The article, written by va Korean, listed the various ways that wangjanim can get around the new laws. The best part, however, was his discussion of the massive law enforcement apparatus that was being deployed against hogwans who continue to break the law. In southern Seoul, which has more than 3,000 hogwans, the government has allocated a grand total of three inspectors.

And if a school does happen to be shut down, old wangjanim can re-open it the very next day under the name of a family member.

Whatever else Korea may be, it is not a country where laws are respected and / or enforced.

[esetters21]

Dammit! I am going to have to re-navigate my route to school now.

Seriously though, I try my best to not ride on sidewalks, but sometimes it is out of convenience. I'm always careful though .

[supernaut]

i really hope they DON'T enforce that law, driving on the sidewalk is grea t as long as u take care.

I can't stand the people who get their panties in a bunch over the little things like this. I think Seoul is already too westernized as is, it's already more like America then Canada.

[Bibbitybop]

This has been illegal for a long time. Within the last year, the police in the Gangnam area have used cars that take a picture of bikes' plates as they drive by on the sidewalk. In Jongno, cops often catch people on popular sidewalk routes.

But keep in mind, bikes will always be able to drive slowly on a sidewalk and park. There is NO other alternative, unless the cops want the bikes in the streets blocking traffic and creating a safety hazard.

IF there is a crackdown, it will be on fast moving bikes cutting through traffic. No one will be ticketed for driving slowly or parking on the sidewalk. I have been stopped by Jongno police with my bike on the sidewalk for a license check, no words about being on the sidewalk, and the Jongno cops are strict on bike checks.

[nautilus]

It must rank up there with the great prostitution crackdown and the nationwide purge of smokers who drop cigarette butts.

Still at least they recognise the problem. Will I win in court now, if i clothesline the next scooter that roars by only inches past me on the sidewalk or ploughs right through the pedestrian crossing?

[Whistleblower]

[Ultimo Hombre]

I meant the whole shebang.

[jkelly80]

They drop the 'culture' line when they want you to do them a favor.