Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gamecock]

I bought my first car in Korea a couple of months ago, and I don't consider myself a complete dunce when it comes to driving (I worked my way through college as a school bus driver), but what is the deal with the highway system here?

I'm not talking about urban driving, but the rural toll highways. Twice now I've been driving and chatting with a friend and missed my exit. My bad...so I need to turn around and go back. FAT CHANCE! Next place to turn around...40 km! So 80km later I finally get back to my exit! DAMN!

Now I know that it is my fault for missing my exit...but the punishment seems harsh. In the USA there is always a chance to turn around a mile or two down the road. Are other countries similar to Korea? Has anyone else run into this frustration? Are Koreans just super attentive when driving and never make a mistake like this? Or is it a scam to get another 3000 won in toll fares?

[CentralCali]

I've been on highways in the United States where there are signs posted saying, "Next Exit: 20 miles" or some other large number.

In Japan, the expressway is like here; it's a toll-road. Miss an exit, and one has to travel to the next major burg to exit the road and get back onto it going the opposite direction.

[PRagic]

Cultural difference that impacts perceptions. Read Hall's 'Beyond Culture'. Interesting stuff.

[Benicio]

Guess it's a message that drivers should pay more attention to where the hell they are going!


If they had those turnarounds in Korea, could you imagine the accidents it would cause!
Koreans are bad enough on the roads, they don't need any more hazards!

[sunnyvale]

You're right, the distance between exits is really far. I've missed my exit a few times and it's pretty frustrating. I'm guessing it's because they don't want to pay all those extra toll gate workers... It makes sense from their perspective.

[matthews_world]

Get navi!!

[Scotticus]

I can't speak for every state, but the highways in NY are just like that. Once you get out of the populated areas and onto the rural sections, the thruway has 20+ miles between every exit, and you can't pull a U-Turn unless you want to get lit up by the State Troopers.

[kentucker4]

Is it that big of a deal to make a u-turn in Korea? The taxi cab drivers don't seem to think so.

[IncognitoHFX]

I'm amazed at how easy it is to U-turn here, and how easily taxi drivers seem to pull it off. I can't recall any places back home that legally allow you to do a U-turn, and the places that are good places to do a U-turn are normally armed with stationary police cars that will follow and punish offenders promptly.

Just wait until the traffic is sparse and do it (twice I suppose). No one will do anything about it.

[Gamecock]

Negative on the u-turn on rural highways...there is no place to do it.

[pidgin]

As matthew said, it helps to invest in a good GPS (if you don't already have one.) Sometimes there is a way to get back on track, that isn't SO direct, but still better than what you've been going thru.