Korean Job Discussion Forums

[haute 4 teacher]

1. Drive as fast as you can, all the time, regardless of traffic, weather, or pedestrians.

2. Red lights are for suckers.

3. Traffic laws don't apply, as long as hazards are on.

4. Why choose one lane? Cruising in the middle of two lanes guarantees optimum position at the next light.

5. Two pedals? Two feet!! This way you can speed up and slow down AT THE SAME TIME!

6. Slow down as if you are going to stop. Look over at foreigners you almost picked up. Drive away, very fast.

7. When approaching a red light do not stop at the line. Or the pedestrian crosswalk. Rather, position yourself about 1/3 of the way into the intersection. That way you can see if you "really" need to stop.

8. "I'm sorry, I'm not currently driving in the direction you are trying to go. Even though you are my customer, and turning around would actually make more money for me, I still refuse. Please leave"

9. Seriously, red lights are for suckers. When stuck behind a bunch of suckers use the gas station, parking lot or turn-off for a short cut. Suckers.

10. When the foreigners are talking too loud in a language you don't understand, turn up the volume to drown them out. Or better yet...

11. Turn up you television. While on your cell phone.

12. Your window is down. There window is down. They wouldn't let you drive in the middle of a lane. Bastards. Stare at them and scream curses while maintaining your forward motion. Hit brakes on the verge of accident. Repeat with same car you almost hit.



That's all I got. Feel free to add.

One time my girlfriend was in a taxi for 5 minutes. Total silence. At a light the driver started screaming at her, pointing to the door, and finally reached over and opened the door motioning for her to get out. Her first thought "man, that was weird". Second thought "cool, free taxi".

[Ut videam]

Don't forget this one:

When driving with waegook passenger at night, leave the dome light on.

[it's full of stars]

Yeah what's with that? I just got a taxi and the driver turned the light on about 1/3 of the way into the journey. What's that for?

[samd]

The price is right, we get there fast.

Seoul taxis are a godsend.

[poet13]

When I get into a taxi in Seoul or Daegu, they seem to morph into a formula 1 driver. I have taken to making small retching sounds, putting my hand over my mouth, and waving for him to slow down with the other. Works like a charm.

[blaseblasphemener]

[mnhnhyouh]

I love them too. Most let me smoke, and I often have my best, though limited, Korean conversations with them.

One ajumma one night took me home while I was fairly drunk. I started making jokes and we were laughing all the way home. We came to some traffic lights and she started edging through.

I took a look around and said to her Japsae ob soy yo. Gwenchana yo. She burst out laughing and went through. Thing went on from there

One took me halfway home one night and when I looked at the meter I noticed he hadnt turned it on. I pointed this out and he started saying sorry!! I laughed and when we got to my house I paid him the usual fare, but he wouldnt take it, stuffing most of the money back in my pocket. He had pretty good English, good enough to know what I said as I put the cash back through the opened window of the now closed door and said, "I win".

Love the taxi drivers.

Nothing better than being drunk, 4 am, and getting a driver that wants to get you home as quickly as possible so he can earn more money.

Hongdae to home 10,000 W
160 kmph along deserted expressways when you are in a state where it is fun. Priceless.


h

[Freakstar]

Korean taxi drivers are a strange breed of people... I've conversed with some really cool drivers who were able to offer interesting perspectives on life in Korea...but mostly, I just want to literally choke the hell out of of them!

[whatever]

The more rancid the breath, the better.

Must claim not to understand basic Korean until foreigner repeats him/herself for the thirteenth time.

Get pissed off when: (a) foreigner politely asks if he/she can turn off the dome light, (b) foreigner adjusts their window for any reason, (c) foreigner politely asks if he/she can smoke in the absence of a sign to the contrary, (d) foreigner talks on the phone.

Smooth driving is to be avoided at all cost. Pumping the accelerator like you just learned to drive today is key. Bonus points for motion sickness.

Keep your vacancy light on, even if off-duty and keep your headlights off, no matter what.

Don't say thank you or goodbye to a foreigner, lest they think you are a wimp.

[mnhnhyouh]

[ds_fan]

newbie here, got a cab the other night, im not complaining as I arrived at my destination in 1 piece, and it wasnt a major rip off. Just curious, do taxi drivers actually have the right to run red lights? I was shocked, thought it was crazy that they were ripping through the reds while other traffic stood still, very dangerous driving.

[mnhnhyouh]

[Chris Kwon]

Why are you people labeling just taxi driver's as the redlight runners? Everyone seems to run redlights here.

Haven't had any bad experiences with taxi drivers, nor have I gotten the dome light turned on. I don't understand why they did that to you guys.

I've met some pretty nice drivers, though many of them don't bother to try to converse with me.

Price is good and they get me there quickly... don't have much to complain about.

[Whitey Otez]

Taxi drivers are along the same bell curve as the rest of Korea.

Some of the best taxi drivers are awesome and amazing. They let you smoke and drink, they don't attempt to practice their English skills on you, and they generally don't give a *beep* about anything.

Some of the worst taxi drivers are evil and idiotic. Some won't pick up foreigners (and many for good reason). Some will pretend they didn't hear you yelling at them to turn right - in both forms of Korean - at that intersection you just passed. Some accept your generous tip with a look like they're dealing with a complete retard.

We can all agree, though, that the worst bass terds are taxi snakes. They are the ones that arrive after you, and position themselves in front of you in order to get the next taxi. Bonus points for them when they succeed and give you "the look." Bonus points for you if you foil them and they throw a fit. I actually had one guy appeal to the driver that he was Korean and I was a foreigner, so why did I get the ride while he had to wait for the taxi right behind him. God, if there's anything I hate, it's live squid and taxi snakes.

[cornholio1]

I don't see what the big stink is,learn to speak the language and set them straight or just let it pass and take the next taxi. a famous korean proverb says that if you see a big pile of shite what do you do? step in it and get angry with it for sullying your new pair of jordans or just go around/step over it? that is the million dollar question isn't it? not saying be a pacifist by any means but time is like money: invest it wisely before it's all gone. I have had several bad and good experiences in taxis and learned from most of them the most useful lesson, be crazier than they are and when confronted give em a big smile and say thank you. it drives em batty