Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thefarns]

It's cold outside. Every building I go into here has the windows open. Why?

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

Because they are crazy.

[The Goalie]

[VanIslander]

Constantly in my head my first winter here: CLOSE THE *BEEP* DOOR!

[eamo]

Koreans have a fear of whatever machines control climate. Fans, Air conditioners, heaters....you'll have to ask a Korean why. They seem to not really know, so I'm guessing they are just following form.

[peppermint]

A lot of Koreans rely on improperly vented space heaters to warm public spaces. I used to close the windows in my classroom and wonder why I came home with a killer headache every day. Apparently I was giving myself a taste of carbon monoxide poisoning by closing the windows.

[littlelisa]

Because they think it's cold, then crank up the heating. Then it's too hot, so they open a window. Yes, it's stupid and wasteful.

In my school they have ondol for the first grade classrooms. The control for all three classrooms is in my room. So we have to put the heat up because they are colder in the last classroom. It gets hot so I open the windows... if I turn down the ondol the last class complains it's too cold. The kids keep asking me to turn on the A/C, but I told them it's not going to happen.

[fermentation]

Its to let "fresh" air in and let the dirty air from the heaters out. Doesn't make much sense to me but whatever.

[itaewonguy]

because they think they need fresh air... its to much hard work to go outside and get some fresh air so they would rather just spend money heating the room, and the nwaste all that heat..
let children enter the hakwon, even kindergarten children study with freezing cold rooms, these days Koreans believe windows open will prevent swine flu... the flu will fly out the window hahahahaa

don't try and argue LOGIC with a korean.. you'd have better luck talking to a brick wall!

[schwa]

Just 30 to 40 years ago Koreans died in droves from carbon monoxide poisoning every winter. Faulty heating systems. Talk to any older Korean & they likely have a story about a family member or someone they knew dying from it. Tragic unexpected deaths. All the major hospitals had hyperbaric chambers for treating sickened victims.

Heat sources have improved but cultural injunctions about keeping fresh air in the building are deeply rooted. That will change but it'll take time.

Just button up.

[The Goalie]

[thefarns]

[Freeghen]

I live in an officetel and these kinds of buildings often do not have proper ventillation systems. I keep the windows closed at night, but by morning time - my throat is really sore and my nose is stuffy from the stagnant air, so I have to bust the windows open for an hour or so.

[Xuanzang]

They're open because Koreans don't know there's a medium setting on the thermostat.

[cruisemonkey]