Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

I watched it slowly progress over the last few months. The Korean government came in, bought out all the property around our apartment and starting building a massive government complex. At first I thought we would be safe, since the construction began on the main street. However, I watched it slowly encroach closer and closer to home. This week ALL the apartment complexes directly across from our apartment has been stripped and are being destroyed. The noise level has become deafening. Before, it was somewhat managable. Now it is unbearable. The construction workers start jackhammering, drilling, hammering, throwing steel bars (which ricochets off the concrete) at 6:00am until 10:00pm SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

This morning they began tearing up the road right outside our apartment main door. We couldn't even leave our apartment! Not to mention the impossibility of driving a car down the road in front of our apartment (to our parking spot). No warning. No signs.

Our landlord refuses to do anything, and considering the current difficulty in finding new housing (including the high costs and huge deposit needed) I am extremely concerned. On the other hand, if we don't act quickly, I am concerned this situation will worsen and we will be FORCED to move suddenly. I feel like I'm in a TV movie, where the EVIL Real Estate Corporations are pressuring the average citizen to move from their apartment to allow for their New Multi-plex Shopping Mall. The only difference is I am in Korea, where laws don't exist (or at least are not enforced), and our actual rights are muddy at best.

Do we have any options? (Other than the obvious quip: MOVE)

[caniff]

Lie down in front of the bulldozers?

(I'd only do that in the morning. Many construction workers drink soju at lunch, so you could be in more danger of being run over in the afternoon.)

[blaseblasphemener]

Go buy some white cardboard and make a sign in English.

Suggested slogan:

A) NO SLEEP! 2MB MUST GO! BAD WORKERS!

Then, get a kamikazee-style head band, and a white surgeons mask.

Call MBC, KBS, SBS, and say there is a protest in your neighborhood.

Then, go down on your day off and protest. Try to get your neighbors involved.

Take pictures and post a link for us.

[D.D.]

I walk around like a zombie now. The new bar in my street has a patio and the windows all slide back so it is open. It is open until 4:00 am and after that the fights and the drunks make even more noise.

Then at 5:30 the construction starts at 3 buildings. I have tried everything from going to the cops, to going out there and yelling at them.

It's ok to all the koreans in my building. Nothing seams to bother them.

[billybrobby]

I feel for you. I don't think there is anything you can do but move or wait it out.

[Ukon]

You could fight it, but I have a feeling that will the outcome will be similar to this song by Bobby Fuller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPXnoLAEUSQ

[GoldMember]

Of course the Koreans are not bothered, they get their sleep at work!

[warren pease]

[oskinny1]

[bassexpander]

Welcome to my hell.

[justin moffatt]

Bassexpander:

Why so? Are you having a similar experience?

After my last post, the construction crew decided to have their heavy machinery barrel down the street (creating huge potholes I may add), knocking out all wires and cables connecting our homes to cable, telephone, and internet. Of course, once confronted, they just shrugged their shoulders and walked away. My poor wife had to contact all service providers to reinstall the wires. A few hours after the repairs the construction workers did it again! (Using my PDA phone now for internet)

My landlord said "This is Korea. Nothing can be done. All neighbors are angry and complain. Government do nothing".

My wife showed me pictures on the internet of people protesting similar situations. The government responded by sending in the riot police, beating up the residents, and putting them in jail! Ummmm . . . no thanks blaseblasphemener . . .

[PigeonFart]

Construction work is one thing, but having to listen to people shout, talk, or sing is the worst.

Our brains are designed to listen to human voices, they're very hard to ignore.

I guess ear-plugs are the only option. It's shameful that that's the way it is.

[kiwiduncan]

[Faunaki]

[patongpanda]

A geezer from my apartment block came to the door and asked me to sign something. A week later he came round again and gave me 170,000 won.

Turns out it was a petition complaining about dump truck traffic from a nearby construction site and we all got compensation.

Although I have never even seen a dump truck go past as I am at work during the day.