Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Keepongoing]

since being in this apartment I have had my door tried on several occassions. I usually have it locked but this time I had forgotten. I am siting at my computer with my laundry spawled all over the room. When suddenly the door opens. There, staring at me, is a middle aged Korean women. Privacy really seems to be an unknown. I I could complain tgo the landlord, but feel it would make no difference. I put a sign on my door and hope that coupled with the door being locked will afford me the privacy that I value.

[sillywilly]

wow. Feel like an animal at the zoo much? The closest I ever came o that was a man-maid in a roach-motel in New York city. I'm glad noone ever opened my door in Korea. Firstly they would have been shocked by the mess. Secondly, as I had my kid with me, I probably would have gone all kung-fu.

[just because]

I've live here 3 years and I've never had anyone try to open my door here (well, not with my knowledge).

With all the stories I've been reading on here lately where do all you guys live???
I live in the relative countryside/medium city so maybe thats why.

[the_beaver]

So, uh, what were you doing naked in front the computer that caused the old girl to scream?

[SuperHero]

[the eye]

i failed to lock my door one night before sleep.

one night.

coicidentally, i woke up at about 5am to a shadow in my doorway. i'm sure there are bastards who go around looking for one that is open.

[mindmetoo]

I've had various people try my door.

The other day I came home and my little "cat door" was open. Odd. There were no ads shoved thru it. Anyway, about an hour later my door bell rang. No one I know comes by my place so I always ignore the door. Usually it's people slapping flyers on your door under the entirely mistaken impression the most pressing thing in your life is to know a new kimbap shop has opened on your block. I can't figure that one out at all.

Anyway, more rings. Okay someone is really at the door. Now mostly it's either sales people or people wanting the apartment in the A building. Not my B building apartment. Again I ignore it. Someone tries the door handle. Then my little cat door opens. Someone must be trying to look thru to see if I'm home. Then there's a loud *BANG BANG* pounding. I look thru my little peep hole. There's some squat woman at the door. She doesn't look like a threat. My mind does that Terminator thing. I run through possible responses.

a) I don't speak korean.
b) *beep* you.
c) *beep* you, asshole.

I pick A. I open the door. Squat woman is wearing an LG25 apron.

"Eh," I say. "Sorry I don't speak Korean." I closed the door.

She never came back.

Some possible reasons people try the doors:

Gas inspectors. They seem to come by every few months .

Pest control. My building seems to get sprayed about 2 or 3 times a year.

Wrong building. Do you live in a big complex? Mine is small, just an A and B building, but that confuses a range of people. Maybe they wanted building 301 but went to 302...

[Sleepy in Seoul]

Early this year over Solnal I had pneumonia, and wasn't feeling quite as chipper as I could have. My flatmate went out for a pre-prandial ambulation and failed to properly lock the door.

I went back to sleep then woke up to hear someone knocking on the door and ringing the bell. I ignored them and drifted off to sleep again. I woke up again a short while later (I thought - but it must have only been seconds), I heard the front door open, then my bedroom door open.

I woke up with a start being confronted by my landlord who gabbled a long stream of Korean at me. My brain hadn't been working for days because of the pneumonia (or so I like to believe), and I couldn't understand any of it. I couldn't even remember how to tell him "I have a cold" in Korean. I must have looked like death warmed up - I know that when I breathed I sounded like a really obscene phone call. I think we were both taken aback.

It turned out that he wanted to invite my flatmate and I to a Solnal lunch with his family. How nice...

I know that 2 female foreign teachers at my old hakwon had their home invaded on a semi-regular basis by their landlord. Once he tried to go into the bathroom while one of them was having a shower. Very helpful...

[rapier]

After 2 years here, I think it comes down to the following usual suspects:
1) The landlord/his wife:- both think they own the place (and actually do). They feel free to come in at any time to check on repairs and such like.
2)Pest control/ electricity readers. The y don't care if your naked or not. They just want to do their job, its like you're not even there.
3)Mormons/various salesmen: They usually knock first, though.
4) Late night drunks/ racists/ stalkers. Sometimes just drunk and disoriented, sometimes a previous tenant with an alcahol induced flashback, or some strange person who wants to force you into their life in a big way.
5) Mistaken prospective tenant: should actually be looking around the appartment next door, but your limited Korean is unlikely to put them on the right path.

[Cedar]

[the eye]

[mindmetoo]

[Keepongoing]

[captain kirk]

Sleepy mentioned a 'pre-prandial ambulation', is that like a post-coital cordial and perambulation? Sounds nice, wish I had one, is it by the sea? Probably negative, to do with no-fun pneumonia. I'd still like one though, I think.
So anyway, about the door. A couple of months after I moved in it was a guy in a suit looking like he owned the place. He said he was the apt. juin, owner. Except what did he want? Dunno. An award? A bow? Tribute? First born child, what? He looked really important, then went away. Good.
I think if people tried to break into my place they'd immediately want to break out. It's that kind of place.
It's the same in Canada! A good looking lady dressed to titilate and the serious one, both holding Awake magazines. And just like in Canada I tell them to swing on the doorknob as I slam it, it's fun!