Korean Job Discussion Forums

Pligganease · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: The deep south...

Why can't Korean people see what's happening around them? Why do they walk right into you, or slam their shopping cart into yours?

giraffe · Joined: 07 Apr 2009

seoulsucker · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject:

Interesting analogy, giraffe. I agree with you, there is a sort of poetic chaos to the busy pedestrian flow here.

On the "empty" street note, I think there's a very passive-aggressive undercurrent in some pedestrian behavior due to the population density, especially in older men and women. They seem to have some sort of subconcious need to occupy as much space as possible.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Forward Observer · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: FOB Gloria

Because they're only concerned about themselves. Not everyone though.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

Aelric · Joined: 02 Mar 2009

The ajumma radar is an amazing sight. They can walk in front of you at the last second even it you are approaching from behind to pass them. At first I thought it was Waygook hate, but now I think it's just crotchety old ladies who hate everyone in that passive aggressive way. Everyone else gives a wide berth for me unless it's a packed street or subway station or whatever.

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

Personally, I have seen plenty of Koreans run into each other, so there is at least some circumstancial evidence that, no, Koreans have not evolved a sixth sense or natural sonar.

When you live one ontop of each other, whether in crowded homes or densely populated areas, you learn to ignore the people around you.

Pwillig · Joined: 26 Jan 2009

Eh, I think it's just the waegukin gravitational pull phenomena.

M-Tea · Joined: 11 Oct 2008

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Koreans bump into you because they don't know you, so they don't see you. They don't want to know or see you. This behavior could arise in overpopulation of a small space - but I doubt it (it doesn't happen in the Netherlands). It's just the Korean way, i.e., if you're not in their 'circles' - you simply don't exist.

Case in point.
I was fishing yesterday when 2 young K males approached. I gestured for them to please walk quietly by (and I pointed to the pod of fish I was fishing for). They stopped - talked in K - then walked in front of me - and then waded through the middle of the pod of fish I was fishing for.
Although that was the end of my fishing for the day, I wasn't surprised. I used to live in Seoul, and experienced the same 'manners' almost on a daily basis. In Korea, nobody matters except people in your 'circles'.

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

I have looong thought that peripheral vision (or lack of it) is to blame. I'm not Korean myself so I can't tell you for sure, but it continually appears to me that people can't see you until you're in direct vision. Lack of spacial awareness plays in to it too.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

I almost screamed at someone yesterday for pushing my daughter out of the way just because she couldn't be bothered to move a few centimetres (we were waiting for the bathroom).. this was a YOUNG woman in her early 20s - may be even 19 or so.

I gave her the death stare only a mother could ever produce. I was so hopping mad with that girl.. I mean.. she literally used her hand to push my kid away..

harlowethrombey · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

ppcg4 · Joined: 16 Oct 2008

I think that Koreans are the most oblivious people in the world. They have no idea of who is around them, nor do they seem to care. I saw a guy this weekend throw a lit cigarette, which hit another guy walking down the street. He just didn't look where he was throwing it.

Also the shopping cart thing... I experience that too.

Koreans kind of 'flow' through a place, like water. I guess it's not just Koreans... the same could be said for any large group of people. It drives me nuts sometimes though.