Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

This really disappointed us.

My uncle, who is 79 years old and a Korean War veteran, traveled to Korea this week to see Seoul for the first time since 1952. He has really enjoyed the trip. For the most part, the Korean citizens of Seoul have been very nice to him. Many have gone out of their way to give them their seat on the subway, strike up a conversation in English, and help him if he appears to be somewhat lost anywhere in the city.

Unfortunately, the government installations honoring those who fought in the Korean war have been a bitter disappointment -- leaving a really bad taste in my mouth (and likely my family, too). My uncle is a very quiet guy. He wouldn't complain, but inside, I am seething, and plan on writing some letters to newspapers and government officials in both Korean and English.

First of all -- the Korean war memorial.

We went there as a family of 7 -- myself, my father, mother, sister, uncle, aunt, and cousin. Three of our family are over 60, and my aunt/uncle are nearly 80. The museum itself was quite nice (although far too removed from the main street). Unfortunately, when we ordered our tickets, we attempted to take advantage of the discount for those over 65 statement on their ticketing board. Prices were 7,000 for general admission, and 3,000 for seniors, if I remember correctly.

The lady outright refused. Why? Because that discount is for Korean citizens only. My family were shocked (although after living here for several years, I was a little less surprised). She explained, "Only for Korean citizens over 65." When he offered to show her his passport to prove his age, she said, "We don't understand non-Korean ID documents, so I can't help you. You must pay full admission."

(at that moment, I found myself laughing inside, wondering about suggesting that he get an apostille affixed to his passport, but I knew nobody else would understand what I was talking about)

So here stands my uncle, who is obviously extremely old, a veteran who watched his friends die along side him in a war defending this lady's country, being denied free entry into the very museum put there to honor him. Of course, if he were Korean, he would have been given the discount.

As I ponder this moment now, I can't help but think just how perfect of an example this situation mirrors Korea in how they now view the security of the US armed forces with a sort of contempt, but I digress.

My uncle paid the ticket, and to add insult to injury, the woman forgot to make the ticket a 2-person ticket for he and his wife (there are no individual tickets there -- the computer prints a number on the ticket). After trying to enter the building and the gate, they sent him back outside to the ticket booth to buy another ticket! We explained the mistake to the ticket lady, and she denied that it was her fault -- eventually making my uncle pay a 2nd time to enter the Korean War memorial!


Not so bad, but still a bit annoying, was the DMZ infiltration tunnel. You could call this one our fault, and they did eventually accommodate us, so I'm not getting too upset about it, but I thought it would be worth a mention...

After learning that the downward slope of the tunnel was going to be steep, and after we were cautioned that it wasn't a trip for those with any health problems, I warned my uncle he shouldn't go, but he was determined. As we went down, down, down, I started to become concerned. We reached the bottom, and were releaved to see a small tunnel train with a sign that said, "reserved for the young and elderly" or something to that effect. We were glad that train was there, and decided to continue on and walk a few hundred meters to the end of the infiltration tunnel (about 30 mins round-trip).

When we returned to the area with the car reserved for the elderly, we asked our guide if my uncle would be able to ride the small train up with the next group. He asked the lady driving the train if my 79 year-old uncle could hitch a ride with them, and she was reluctant to allow him to do so. Apparently, you need a reservation to use the train, and it costs money. It didn't matter that it was obvious my uncle was too old to get back up the tunnel without taking too much time -- she was bound and determined NOT to let him ride the train. Our tour guide (who was much older than her) begged her for no less than 2 minutes before she finally allowed it, scowling in disgust.

Granted, my uncle made a mistake in going down there, but when an elderly person needs help, and you've got room on the damn train, it wouldn't be a bad idea to at least allow the guy a ride. He was more than happy to pay for it. This woman, however, was determined NOT to allow it to happen. Finally, she did.

These two events have really put a damper on the spirits of my family, and although my uncle is a quiet man, and wouldn't complain, I can tell he is sad because of it.

[The Hierophant]

So much for that Korean respect for elders that is always being gloated about... Sorry to hear about your experiences. Hope your uncle is otherwise enjoying his trip.

What does he think of all the technological changes in Korea over the past fifty years?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[bassexpander]

He has been treated very well by the general public -- almost like a family member. It's actually a hoot to see how kind people are to him (he looks very old). I think it's a rare thing for Koreans to see foreigners this old, and they have seemed almost impressed with the fact that he's even here. When they find out he is a Korean war vet, many people ask him questions about the war, which he is thrilled to talk about.

It's the stupidity of the staff at the government-run (I'm assuming gov't-run) memorials that have been utterly disappointing. Not unlike immigration, it is obvious that these dumb-ass individuals working there have no answer other than "NO' for any situation that requires any common-sense.

As for his impressions of the city, he is in shock at how much things have changed. When he was here, virtually every building, except the PX, was smashed or burned-out (I'm not sure which building was the PX, but it could have been what is now Seoul Station). He was based in Suwon, and says Seoul was almost completely deserted. He has remarked several times at how sad he felt for the endless thousands of Korean refugees who left their homes in Seoul to take refuge in the countryside. He has very vivid memories of them walking South out of the city.

[bassexpander]

[Homer]

So..on one side we have a mean clerk at a memorial ticket booth...

On the other we have

[regicide]

[bassexpander]

[kiwiduncan]

If the title of his thread had been "More evidence that Korea is a terrible place" then I'd say it was unbalanced. But he explixitly noted that the problem was only with the War Memorial Museum and inflitration tunnels only, and acknowleged that most Koreans were extremely kind and friendly to his uncle.

It really wouldn't be that hard for the Korean government to say to the War Memorial employees, "ok, if you get a very old foreign man coming along and are told that he was a Korean war veteran, just let him in for free, ok?"

I once had an old Korean man on the subway ask me where I was from. When I said 'New Zealand' he replied that a long time ago many New Zealand soldiers helped defend South Korea and then thanked me personally. I'm sure that the OP's uncle also experienced the same warmth from the majority of Koreans during his visit, but the attitude of the two women at the museum and the tunnel really let their country down.

[mistermasan]

well...if there is ever a desert storm memorial built in that forelorn sandbox they won't be able to PAY me enough to make the trip.

my uncles that survived the korean war have absolutely no interest in a victor lap here.

and, not curiously, my uncle who was a japanese prisoner of war in the philipines and then china never wanted to see any of those countries again.

that out of the way...the vietnam wall...been there done that. it is good that those guys are getting some closure.

pearl harbor...i always refused to go, even while stationed there. last summer i got roped into going with a group of exchange students. i was so angry i could barely see straight. they let too many people on the arizona memorial at once. what should have ben a solemn remembrance was instead for many folks a giddy, let's get pictures next to the names of the dead guys happy fest.

end of old guy rant. where is reserves recruiter?

oh, and senior citizen discounts? don't worry, they'll be done away with before we get to use them.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[bassexpander]

[CentralCali]

It's a good thing your uncle wasn't also disabled. He would not be eligible for the disabled passes for public transportation here. Apparently, the government thinks only Koreans need that access. All others can just walk. (Yes, I know. That's my point exactly if you didin't catch the irony directed against the Korean government.)

[bassexpander]

[the eye]