Korean Job Discussion Forums

[anjinsan]

I am just wondering if other posters--in their travels in other countries around the world--have come across this very disgusting spitting and puking (in public, on public sidewalks/roads) that is so bad here in S. Korea.

I've been to about 6 other countries and have not found this vile habit
anywhere.

Has anyone come across such spitting and/or puking elsewhere in the world?

Thanks!

[debb199]

Back in the UK, I would have to step over piles of puke nearly every morning on my way to work and I'll take spitting over guys peeing in my doorway any day of the week!

[Olivencia]

Yup spitting and puking in the Philippines. In fact, there seems to be signs everywhere that read "Bawal Umihi Dito".

Don't piss here!

[denverdeath]

Yeah, there's quite a bit of that in Canada, too. The spitting, puking drunks try to make it to an alley to pretend like they have some class or something, but it's basically the same.

[BigLarry]

Most nights in any British town. Oh I do miss the sight of a Northern lass hurling abuse at you and then hurling into her kebab.

[Trinidad]

I remember in Canada the pukers would either be hardcore alcoholics
or drinkers/tokers. Have 6-7 pints and you're fine. Then some dude
passes around some hydro and whamo. OVER THE EDGE. So, yeah,
just peruse some unis and you'll probably find lots of puke.

[misher]

Just go to paris. Piss, puke and spit are all over the streets. One thing that I really like about Seoul is the lack of DOG ^%$# on the streets. I really hate really hate it. IN EUrope I have to do a tip toe dance to get from point A to point B. I hate dog &^%$ so much that I think I have a problem.

[DosEquisXX]

I hate the spitting. Have seen more pissing than puking though. My entire neighborhood can be used as a urinal.

[redaxe]

I have seen much, much more puke on the sidewalks here than in any other country I've been to.

The spitting is definitely not unique to Korea. The Chinese spit a lot too. But I feel like Koreans are the noisiest spitters. Ajosshis just love to make that "HWAAAAAACK!" sound.

[beercanman]

My impressions:

Most of the spitting is done by smokers, and most of the barfing by drinkers..Koreans smoke a lot and drink a lot of vile stuff. Maybe some of the food does not agree with some of the booze. Chinese smoke a lot but are not big drinkers. Both spit incessantly, but the Koreans barf a lot more.

[redaxe]

[morrisonhotel]

[Adventurer]

I haven't traveled all over the world, but I haven't seen it so widespread in the continent of Europe. I haven't really seen it widespread in Jordan or Kuwait. I haven't seen it in Japan at all. I have seen a little bit in the United States here and there, but not much. I didn't see it much in Montreal or Ottawa as far as I can recall. It's part of the culture here to some extent, but I can't say that I have seen many high class Koreans doing that. This country used to be very agrarian not long ago. It's only recently that it has become a wealthy country.

I would say the more high class Koreans that I knew didn't do that. However, I agree, I have seen way too much of it including people closed to my shoes, and I would give such people a dirty look. I cannot comment on Britain, but Britain has a huge drinking, so the puking problem might be in order. When I was in England many years ago, I didn't see spitting everywhere. Maybe things changed. I don't think so.
I never recalled seeing that in Spain or Greece, either. I hardly saw that in Egypt, even.

China may have a similar problem.

[anjinsan]

Wow! Some great responses. I never would've thunk Britain would be a
world leader in the public spit/puke/piss department. (I guess tv lied to me; not all Brits are prim and proper).

The spitting thing I have found in SE Asia, but still, I've never seen the puking anywhere--especially in residential areas (I can understand this type of behavior in party areas/club areas/uni areas anywhere in the world).

I'm also from an average-sized city in the American Midwest, so I've never seen this type of stuff; though a lot of yahoos chew and spit tobacco, and though they'd try to do it more discreetly by spitting into a pop can or an ash tray (which never worked and the brown spit would run down their chin).


Yup! Fun with bodily fluids around the world!

[Stalin84]

Downtown Halifax, Canada, has a lot more puke on the streets than anywhere in Korea.