Korean Job Discussion Forums

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Browsing through the foreign community pages on the online Joongang Daily, I got what could be a kind of hint of an answer to a longstanding question I�ve had since someone tried to walk through me as I left a pharmacy in downtown Daegu.

Just bought some mosquito repellent and opened the door to step out in to the street. Couple of guys were approaching the door to enter and even though I was actually within the door frame (it�s not as if they could imagine that they had got there first and had the right to squeeze in before I made it out) they actually attempted to walk through me as if I wasn�t there. I had to push them back to get out and couldn�t believe the audacity! I imagined them trying to do the same thing in Belfast and believe me the response would have been, let�s say, emphatic�

I knew perhaps that it might be different here in Korea to the UK where you have to let people out/off before others get on but this was just silly. Anyway, I did not yield!

"Koreans in general are used to living in crowded spaces and regard a minor offense to others such as bumping into a stranger or stepping on their toes, as unimportant. This doesn�t mean that they are not sorry or that they don�t care about others, however. It just has to do with the norms of this society.Koreans traditionally attach great weight to the profound meaning of words. If you say Thank you or I�m sorry too often or too casually, you�re seen as a flighty or dishonest person. Many Koreans are taught to express gratitude or apology only on serious occasions. Simply put, Korean culture doesn�t have adequately casual expressions to address such small incidents that occur far too often."

You can find the article here: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2050462

[Harpeau]

[Intrepid]

I always think things like this are just "palli-palli"
I can't count the number of times I've let people ONTO the elevator BEFORE I've exited, just because they were right there, pushing in, and I found the situation so ridiculous...

[jkelly80]

Square your shoulders and march.

Or stop in the middle of the doorway and stare at them. They don't like that much.

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

when i arrived in korea it shocked me how people were like this, i was always curtious letting people go, opening doors etc.

these days, i dnt give a fuk. if im walking along the street and someone doesnt move, or walks into my path...shoulder goes out.
subway in seoul, its like a competition of how many people i can hit. Sick to death of being stomped on so i now love to dish shit out and get my own back. They will never learn so....when in Rome.

[eamo]

[Fishead soup]

[earthbound14]

Korean politeness and Western politeness are two different things.

I think even in your situation another Korean might have been a little pissed off. But it's hard to say. In Korea they seem to expect you to move. If they can squeeze 2 or 3 people through a door at one time....why wait? This is thought of as being polite in Korea. Simply giving way to others and having them give way to you with out the need to wait, say sorry, or make a gesture out of it. If you both squeeze past each other without pain then everything is OK.

Sometimes I think it gets the better of them. Sometimes its kind of silly. Before we got married my wife had a habit of standing in front of the elevator door. I had to ask her what would happen if the elevator was full and others would be trying to get off. She didn't get it. She just pushed into the elevator as people tried to struggle out. Eventually I just pulled her back and asked her to wait. After the first time I asked her if it was easier this way....she agreed and now she waits until it has emptied.

Koreans will say they are sorry if they hurt you or hit you. They can be very polite. Sometimes the older generation won't though. Not all Koreans are the polite type. Usually I find a simple bow is good enough.

In Korea things that would cause a fight in the west are not even considered to be impolite or worthy of an apology.

[Juregen]

If you often use the green line, an amazing view will develop if you have the patience.

Let's say that there are a lot of people waiting for the subway, and when ones comes in, it's already packed, and people keep pushing to get in.

the subway goes on, and 30 secs later, an empty one stops.

The reason is, everyone is pushing so hard to get into the full one that it gets delayed 20 secs per stop. That is 1 minute every three other stops. People amass, and the problem keeps on growing.

So anyone with half a brain would just wait a couple of more seconds, get on the next subway and sit in absolute freedom.

But I must say that behaviour has improved over the last year. Now people form nice lines next to the door and wait for people to come out.
Only middle aged man still don't seem to get the cue, so they get a nice bump if the opposite individual is me. I can remember that there were situations where people were trying to get out, while people were walking in at the same time! It takes some backbone to push 10 people back.

[Kevtron]

I too have gotten somewhat used to bumping people and not really reacting at all. I'm worried this is gonna get my ass kicked when I go back to the States and bump someone and just keep walking.

[crusher_of_heads]

Yesterday, I was walking on the busy side of the main street in itaewon-I'm on the far left and a couple is approaching, the guy on the right. I made eye contact and had my right elbow out for him to clearly see and WHAM I really leaned into it.


Of course, I didn't look back as that would acknowledge his existence; that was satisfying, and I encourage Homer to do the same when he's fully recovered and back in Korea.

[seoulsucker]

I've seen a pretty decent improvement in the subway queue culture in the 5 years I've been here. People seem to "get it" now.

[CentralCali]

You should've been here in the 1970s! Those "maximum occupancy" signs were just like the "안전제일" signs are today (decoration). I remember standing in the entry or exit doorway with quite a few other people, all hanging on for dear life. The Bus Girl would have her feet in footrests on the outside of the exit door and her hands holding onto handles, also on the outside of the bus. If she were to let go, about a dozen or so people would've ended up on the street with her. Since the buses were so crowded, getting to the doorway first was pretty important--you might not make it that far until four or five stops past yours!

[EzeWong]

[livinginkunsan]