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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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 Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject: advice for a newb driving in Korea |
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So I just bought a car.......the ugliest thing I've ever seen on the road since my friend owned a Gremlin...a 93 Kia Pride sedan. Anyway....
Just wondering about driving in SK.
1 What is the usual routine if you are involved in an accident?
2 My car just passed inspection with the previous owner, will I be contacted when it needs to be inspected again or will I have to keep track of this?
3 Emergency road service.......what the hell do I do if it breaks down on the freeway, is their an emergency towtruck service or something similar to CAA or AAA?
4 Mechanics, are they as dodgy as motorcycle mechanics? Do I need to spell out exactly what I want done or will they actually do a diagnostic test to figure out exactly what is wrong rather than make assumptions?
5 Any unusual road rules I should know about? I notice that it's illegal to turn left without a green arrow....no manual seems to exist in English to explain Korean road rules.
6 How much are some of the basic fines? Will I rack up a bad driving record with loads of tickets making my life a pain in the future?
tanx |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: advice for a newb driving in Korea |
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| earthbound14 wrote: |
So I just bought a car.......the ugliest thing I've ever seen on the road since my friend owned a Gremlin...a 93 Kia Pride sedan. Anyway....
Just wondering about driving in SK.
1 What is the usual routine if you are involved in an accident? |
Drive away from the scene, if possible. Otherwise, stop, photograph, and call your insurance co./police.
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| 2 My car just passed inspection with the previous owner, will I be contacted when it needs to be inspected again or will I have to keep track of this? |
Once you register the car in your name, your name and address will go in the system and an automatic notice will be sent to you prior to the next due inspection.
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| 3 Emergency road service.......what the hell do I do if it breaks down on the freeway, is their an emergency towtruck service or something similar to CAA or AAA? |
Your insurer will likely have a program very similar to AAA included as part of your liability insurance package. Samsung's is called "AnyCar" for example.
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| 4 Mechanics, are they as dodgy as motorcycle mechanics? Do I need to spell out exactly what I want done or will they actually do a diagnostic test to figure out exactly what is wrong rather than make assumptions? |
Like anywhere else, it is hit and miss. If you know your way around an engine, just shadow the mechanic and comment as needed.
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| 5 Any unusual road rules I should know about? I notice that it's illegal to turn left without a green arrow....no manual seems to exist in English to explain Korean road rules. |
There might be an English language version sold in the areas around drivers licensing centers.
| earthbound14 wrote: |
| 6 How much are some of the basic fines? Will I rack up a bad driving record with loads of tickets making my life a pain in the future? |
Around 50k-100k for parking and moving violations. |
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Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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When in an accident, get whiplash  The more you're hurt, the more money you can get. Never admit to any wrongdoing.
Carry a can of white spray paint. When in an accident you're supposed to paint on the road, around where your tires were.
Stop lights are optional. Lanes are just suggestions. Hell, pretty much every rule of the road here is nothing but a suggestion.
Most importanly... try not to go anywhere near buses or taxis. For "pros", they must be the worst drivers in Korea.
Keep your head up at all times. |
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WoBW
Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Location: HBC
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| Take a taxi! |
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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5000 won for a puncture on your tire. I didn't know this first time and, call me a dork and a spoon, I paid the invoice I was given as 30ooo won.
Most mechanics will try and up the price by finding something else wrong with your car.
Every three months or so you should change the plugs, air filter and oil change and oil filter. This should cost about 80ooo won.
Do the brake pads at least once a year. Change the water in the radiator biannually with anti freeze or not to suit the season.
Parts are cheap for Korean cars.
If a mechanic suggests that something needs changing, but you feel it hasn't seemed like a problem before, it probably isn't. Get a second opinion.
Watch your speeds. Spatially Korea is different - objects are at most times closer than they seem. Take care. |
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lucas_p
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't drive. That is the easiest advice. I had constant nagging headaches I hadn't had for YEARS when I first got on the road here a while back. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| lucas_p wrote: |
| Don't drive. That is the easiest advice. I had constant nagging headaches I hadn't had for YEARS when I first got on the road here a while back. |
You beat me to the punch. I was going to say that.
OP, you are very brave. Koreans drive a little too crazy for my taste. |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: advice for a newb driving in Korea |
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| earthbound14 wrote: |
1 What is the usual routine if you are involved in an accident?
4 Mechanics, are they as dodgy as motorcycle mechanics? Do I need to spell out exactly what I want done or will they actually do a diagnostic test to figure out exactly what is wrong rather than make assumptions?
5 Any unusual road rules I should know about? I notice that it's illegal to turn left without a green arrow....no manual seems to exist in English to explain Korean road rules.
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1. Accidents are tricky. If you are the Victim, be sure to get pictures. If you are the cause of the accident, try and get to pay out early, means have about 200k in your ca at all times  . It worked for me.
4. Mechanics are the DODGIEST you can imagine, get several quotes and don't mind playing them against each other, its a dog eat dog world.
5. The rule is "ALWAYS LOOK OUT", even id you are palying by the rules, there can always be a jerk who ignores those. I keep ALL cars under check at all times. |
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't pick your nose and drive at the same time it's illegal here. |
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trubadour
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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I aggree with Juregen. Always look out!
If you hit someone STOP!. Hit and run is a major crime in Korea.
But if you always look out are a bit cautious I think driving in Korea is fun. In the UK EVERYONE plays by the rules all the time. It's dumb. Might as well have robots driving. At least you can take the initiative break the occasional law for a moment and get one without causing a bloody traffic jam. Can't think of an example to support my theory though!  |
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safeblad
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| trubadour wrote: |
I aggree with Juregen. Always look out!
If you hit someone STOP!. Hit and run is a major crime in Korea.
But if you always look out are a bit cautious I think driving in Korea is fun. In the UK EVERYONE plays by the rules all the time. It's dumb. Might as well have robots driving. At least you can take the initiative break the occasional law for a moment and get one without causing a bloody traffic jam. Can't think of an example to support my theory though! |
i like driving in korea. i really dont think the drivers are that bad for the most part, sure there are bad drivers but there are bad drivers everywhere. generally in my opinion the system in korea does create skilled drivers, just sometimes they are a bit oblivious to things.
driving behaviour here is at least predictable, you see the same examples of '''bad''' driving time and time again and come to expect it and maybe even do it yourself occasionally. I like the fact that you can cut people up and be cut up without it being a big deal.
the drivers in korea arent half as bad as the pedestrians |
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safeblad
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Newbie wrote: |
| When in an accident, get whiplash |
yeah... ive seen someone be reversed into at a speed below walking pace then the guy gets out of his car holding his neck. funny. |
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saw6436
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon, ROK
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| If you do get a ticket do not pay the fine. Wait till the you get your second notice then pay. You will have to pay a 10% late penalty but no points accumulate on your license. If you pay the fine on time you will receive points. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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Driving in Seoul isn't so bad. You'll get used to it after a couple of weeks. Korean drivers follow some rules strictly. For example, they'll drive for kilometers to find a legal u-turn spot. They don't really speed too much. I mean in the way that Europeans will put the pedal to the metal any chance they get. I know I did.
Their worst trait is lane changing. |
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Hanson
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| saw6436 wrote: |
| If you do get a ticket do not pay the fine. Wait till the you get your second notice then pay. You will have to pay a 10% late penalty but no points accumulate on your license. If you pay the fine on time you will receive points. |
While I'm not disputing your claim, that makes no sense whatsoever. How, may I ask, did you come to know this tidbit of information?
As for driving in Korea, it's something non-drivers trivialize, in my opinion. I started driving two years ago and I realized only then how bad the driving can be here.
For me, driving in Korea can be summed up by the word "inconsiderate". Too many drivers are inconsiderate, selfish and lack awareness of their actions while driving a vehicle.
It's Korean culture on the road - bali-bali, me first, cutting in line, unaware of others, red lights ignored, no respect for pedestrians, hierarchy of rich-to-poor cars, driving laws ignored, lots of honking, faking injuries when involved in accidents, 'blood money', aggressive driving, speeding in school zones, double-parking, triple parking, blocking another parked car, taxi/bus drivers who think they own the road, cops who don't police the roads, stop-signs used as decorations, crosswalks ignored, and my absolute favorite - the 'hand-wave' absolves all.
Good luck on the roads! |
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