Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ernie]

my korean isn't perfect, but good enough to understand directions... however, this hasn't helped me actually locate places because koreans DON'T USE STREET NAMES!!!

is it just me or is the way koreans find a place the most retarded, impossible way to do it? how is anyone supposed to memorize all the neighborhoods of a city of 12 million people? how am i supposed to know where one area starts and another begins? why aren't these areas ever indicated on a map?

so, instead of being angry, i've decided to be proactive: since koreans won't do it, let's name their streets for them and write it on a map so at least foreigners will be able to give directions to each other... my hope is that koreans will eventually (maybe within the next 500 years or so) realize that this is a much better system for everybody... who's with me? let's make the names funny and memorable!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

The other foreigners and I have already named the streets here in Hicksville: High Street, Main Street #1, Main Street #2, Market Street, and Connector Street. I think that just about any other group of random foreigners would have come up with exactly the same names.

[dogshed]

I suggest getting involved with openstreetmap.org

[ernie]

awesome! can you post a map?

if we start small, we can eventually cover an entire town... i think that proposals be submitted (maps are best), and people can make suggestions, etc... maybe i'll be able to finally give better directions than: 'turn left at the second buy the way after the kb bank'

[ernie]

openstreetmap is a good idea but i don't have the time, money, or GPS system... let's just use maps from naver.com, write the street names with MS paint, and post them here!

[lucas_p]

I read somewhere in a Korean newspaper that they WILL in fact be naming the streets. I will take some years to finish, but I think it is on its way.

[ernie]

i think most streets HAVE names, but unless people (and maps!) use them, what's the point? so let's make street names and USE them...

[VanIslander]

Boshintang Alley

[billybrobby]

I think major streets do have names. But I'm not sure if I follow what you're saying. How do Koreans find a place that's different from us? If you ask them, what kind of directions would you give?

[ernie]

if i was in canada, i'd say: "go to the corner of yonge and bloor. it's 2 streets north of there"

honestly, i have no idea how koreans do it, and from the general ignorance regarding maps and cardinal directions, i don't think many koreans understand either... from what i have gathered, you have to say: go to ____ dong and then name some sort of landmark to narrow it down further...

[RACETRAITOR]

How about we name some of the streets after famous Koreans? There's one major street that runs through downtown, passing Jongno 1-ga, 3-ga, and 5-ga stations. How about we name that street Jongno?

And how about we name a street after Eulji Mundeok, the general who fought off an invasion by the Sui dynasty. There's a nice street that runs by Euljiro 1-ga, 3-ga, and 4-ga Stations we could use.

There's a street that runs past Yangjae Station where noble people used to tie up their horses. We could call the intersection something like 말죽거리.

Most streets in Korea have names that just aren't used. Also, most intersections, which is something I haven't seen in western countries. It's interesting to learn what the names mean.

It's also useful to make up new names where applicable. The only one I use is Parking Lot Street in Hongdae.

[Gwangjuboy]

Koreans name most junctions and many long roads have names. Even small allyways have names. e.g. 가상 1-10길. Finding the exact location of a particular place can be a hassle sometimes though. Where I live every junction is named as well as the main road. (very long) 천호대로.

[venus]

Where the streets have no name
where the streets have no name

Well, there's allways 'hooker hill' 'homo hill' and 'the place where the eggburger guy is.'

[DaeguKid]

if naming every street in Korea by its resemblance or character, I would say 60% of them could be named "Stinking Bloody Avenue" and even then you would be driving around all day...on many different streets, but with the same name.

I heard that Korea loses a huge amount of cash in lost time, fuel and wages because of the lack of proper addresses here and they were leaning on changing it soon.

Anyone else recall this?

[venus]