Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dodge7]

I just can't do it. I don't understand all of the language to read all of the signs much less within 2 seconds driving past them. The roads are congested as hell. The drivers here are aggressive and scare the ---- out of me sometimes when I'm in the car with my wife. I just don't see me ever going through getting a license to drive and hit the roads in this country. I'm perfectly fine taking a bus or taxi or let my wife chauffeur me around.
I'm just wondering the percentage of people who are living here for 5 or more years if they bothered driving or are like me and won't drive.

I KNOW there are some of you who have a car/bike and your lives must be so much more convenient. I envy you, really. I just can't do it. Why risk it?

[chickenpie]

I live quite a way out of the traffic hell hole of Seoul so I don't mind driving, been driving for about five years and never had an accident.

If I was you I'd get a licence just to take the burden from your wife who has to drive you both every where you go.

[newb]

You're better off not owning motor vehicle in Seoul. I also live in a smaller city quiet away from Seoul with no traffic. It's extremely convenient in my case to own a car and go where I please without dealing with stares from bus crowds and taxi drivers.

[Harpeau]

I've been here for 13 years and don't drive. Seoul is just crazy!! Cycling down to the bicycle path is enough excitement for me. I do want to get an International License for when we travel abroad.

[Dodge7]

I just cant take all of the cutting you off in fast traffic and whizzing around cars. You have to have wits about you and always be two steps ahead of the other guy. Things are much more relaxed and slower speed back home. Yeah I do feel bad for my wife having to drive every where but I'm just not cut out for driving in Korea.

[No_hite_pls]

I really like hiking and hate rural buses so a car is must have for me and my family. It opens up so more of the country. I can camp in areas where no one else will be around. It really helps my family and I to escape the crowds of the cities. Korea has wonderful highways outside of the cities which actually can be relaxing to drive. A car in Korea makes me happier.

[thatkidpercy]

I don't mind it. I don't own a car but have driven in and around Seoul a few times and once I'd figured out what was different to what I'm used to it was fine. I usually cycle everywhere anyway (on the road) so being in a car actually makes me feel safer

A few tips which would have helped me in the beginning had I been told instead of having to work out by myself:

- You can turn right at most intersections even if the light is red. Obviously oncoming cars have the right of way, though. I actually don't know if this is legal but most drivers do it and will be upset if you don't.
- Even when you have a green light, when turning right you need to give way to pedestrians crossing.
- When you're turning left at an intersection, you must wait for the green light unless the junction is marked 비보호, in which case you can turn left whenever is safe. Again, oncoming traffic has right of way.
- Indicating is optional, and generally frowned upon (this one's not necessarily true, but certainly normal).

[Savant]

I've only drove in Jeju and even that stressed me out due to all the bad drivers there.

Right of way? In Korea, surely, it's whoever put their car in front first? That's what "right of way'' looks like to me.

Here's another tip from watching Korean drivers.

You seemingly can stop anywhere as long as you've got your hazard lights on.

[xhaktmtjdnf]

Highway driving is fine, but be careful not to miss your off ramp or your in trouble. Now city driving in Seoul is not what I would call fun, but not that horrible. Changing lanes can be difficult with such thick traffic and sometimes other drivers will do strange things like trying to move over three lanes and turn all at the same time. Mostly its just slow and congested and hard to figure out where you want to turn sometimes with so much traffic. You simple have to drive like everyone else which means aggressively. I really don't drive in the city there's no where to park and it's just a lot more relaxing to use the bus and subway. However, it great to have a car when we go to the Emart or head out of the city.

[viciousdinosaur]

This is an issue I've struggled with too. I can certainly afford a car, but I just can't seem to justify getting one. Because of traffic it's not any faster than taking PT. And it's just a whole world of stress I'd rather not have to deal with. You have to drive around for an hour looking for a parking spot. And then when you fill up. Ouch! When I see my buddies lay down 140,000 for a full tank I cringe. No thanks, delivery trucks, taxes, subways, buses. It's all good. The only bit that gets me is the status symbol thing. If people saw me rolling in a car they'd say "Yo, that guys got money", but because I'm rolling a bike, you know, doesn't exactly elicit compliments.

[Captain Corea]

The only time I like driving in Seoul is during Chuseok - it's feels like a whole 'nother city. lol

[dongjak]

I live in Seoul and I drive. It is not as bad as it seems. As soon as you realize that no one follows the rules and no one gets upset if you break the rules, driving becomes much easier. Everyday I drive illegally onto the right hand side of oncoming traffic so I don't have to go 5 minutes out of my way to make a u-turn. No one cares, I've been driving for two years and have never gotten in an accident. Finding a house with parking sucks though.

[Skippy]

An old blog post by Brendon Carr jumps to mind. The post was pretty good on giving a good reason on why not to drive in Korea.

http://web.archive.org/web/20090425085512/http://www.korealawblog.com/entry/why_i_dont_drive_in_korea_and_you_shouldnt_either/

[ethanshin]

I'm definitely planning to get a license to drive around the country, especially outside of Seoul. Road trips are the shit in Korea. Well, if you are a Korean I guess...

[dairyairy]

I haven't met many teachers who own cars. Have you?