Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ilsanman]

So I noticed some dynamics about Koreans at big chain supermarkets. Especially at the check out register.

I was buying 3-4 things, so I walked up to the register, grabbed that rubber thing, put my stuff down, and waited. A few seconds later, some ajumma with her kids came up behind me in her cart. The guy in front of me (an old man) was extremely slow, but no problem, I am in no rush.

He was standing at the very back, taking forever finding his card and OK Cashback card. I stood patiently. I can feel the breeze of a shopping cart almost hit the back of my ankles.

The ajumma has the cart no more than 2 inches from me, just itching to push it all the way through. I guess she expects me to walk all the way through and to the back, even though it's not my turn yet. I don't. I take a quick look back at her. She has a look of distress on her face.

Ok, now it's my turn. I start walking. I can feel the cart moving already. But I stop....about 1 foot past the computer screen thing, where it's easiest for me to grab my things and pay the cashier. The ajumma has to stop her cart before hitting my ankles, and wait again. Again, she looks distressed.

Then I am done with my purchase. I take my change, pick up my things, and go for the lockers, where I had locked up my bag. Finally, the ajumma can push her cart through (and probably the ajumma behind her as well). She breathes a sigh of relief.

I bet next time she won't line up behind the big bad foreigner who might stop the harmony of shopping carts from being fulfilled.

[hogwonguy1979]

i can one up you from yesterday, i was at homever at the seoul world cup stadium and got maybe 10-15 items. i go to check out, plop my stuff on the belt, woman begins to check me out then this aggosi comes up from behind with like 4 bars of soap and DEMANDS the person stop checking me out and get rid of my stuff. Why? apparently i had accidently gotten into a 5 item or less aisle, there was no sign above it as per but a small sign next to it.

i tell him to f off and he gets even madder and goes to the cashier in charge demanding my items be pulled for his. by the time they got over to me i was 2/3 the way done and again to the guy to f himself, he finnally shut up when he realized i wasnt budging

[VanIslander]

It is ironic that they are so rushed in a country I find I can relax and be stress free.

Whatever 'bali bali' feeling I had back home I left there and so find Koreans a lot to be pitied.

[jinks]

Ha! ha!
I was at the local E-mart a while ago and I only had a few things so I headed straight for the 5 items or less (I mean, fewer) check out. Actually I was in a bit of a hurry, and I saw that the woman in front of me had a cart load of stuff, so I started harranging her about this being the 5 items check out. It turned out that the cart was full of non-shopping stuff and she was actually buying fewer than 5 things. I am pleased to report that I had the good graces to blush and apologise, but otherwise, I take NO SHIT at the supermarket checkout from other pushy customers.

[jeffkim1972]

The caliber of people that come to this country is amazing.

The sign says "5 items or less" not "5 items or less and foreigners"

So next time you are home, you will cut some slack to a Korean that's in the express checkout lane with 50 items because he can't read English?

A$$holes.

[Ilsanman]

Hmmmm...hit a nerve with another angry gyopo.

I can't remember off the top of my head whether it's written in 1 or 2 languages at the local E-Mart. But I can read it so no problem.

The express lane thing is really the cashier's responsibility to enforce or not. I have seen the local cashiers enforce it quite well, even telling a lady with 6 items that she'd have to move or not buy one of them.

Me, yesterday, I was not in the express lane.

[chronicpride]

[sojourner1]

This not only happens in stores, but also on the streets. Many areas don't have sidewalks so you walk in the street where drivers threaten your life. If you see a driver or anyone else outside or in a store trying to push you around, just look at them and make eye contact and wave at them.

This works to stop or slow down people in cars or on foot to give your time or room to pass.

In a store if someone is pushing you out of the way, just look them in the face, this is what Koreans do when they don't want to be pushed and shoved. Don't budge or back down to these rude people with no values of courtesy or respect for others. Sometimes, I will look them in the face and say, "anio," and then look on such as situations like the OP experienced. People in Asian countries are rude and unfriendly for the most part, that is, until you know them or get introduced by a 3rd person.

[matthews_world]

[The_Eyeball_Kid]

[soju pizza]

Damn, that's the most appropriate image on this forum. I love it. Good on you!

[agoodmouse]

[agoodmouse]

Dawson's the epitome of the paralysis of analysis.

[Zyzyfer]

[Vicissitude]

If I were in Korea and a Korean was trying to push their cart into me to get me to move, I would just put my hand on the cart and push it back in their direction. It's not being rude to do that. You just need to let her know that you want your space respected. I think a lot of westerners are taught to respect people's space, but Koreans don't generally think it's rude to do otherwise. They just push and shove. Soooo, when in Rome...


What I really can't stand in Korea are the sales people. Oh they drove me NUTS. I hate the way they scream on and on about fish and stupid things. Quite a few times, my ears would ring because they yelled so loud right next to me. And I really hated the Korean sales staff who would follow me around on my heels as if I was in there to cause trouble. Some people say that it's just good service, but I don't think so because they generally don't follow Koreans around on their heels like that. That's just a good way to lose my business. Then I would sometimes go an ask my Korean friends and students about that and they would agree with me that what they were doing was rude and not to go back again.