Korean Job Discussion Forums

cellphone · Joined: 18 Feb 2004

Was holding my video camcorder and standing just inside the doorway at an entrance for a Lotte Mart (not dept store), where there were plenty of people as well as a good pan view of the store. Held the camera up for 30 seconds and some employees started flipping, actually wasn't so much that in as much as they didn't have anything else to do so why not do 'this' something to make them seem busy. A minute later a security guard walks from nearby and smiles, tells me "no picture in store." I smiled back and said it's just a basic camera, no big deal but put the camera down anyways. He uses his headset to talk to others, but even he is smiling as he can't seem to understand either what the big deal is about a guy at the front door doing a pan over. Then another employee who speaks decent english tries to tell me this is private and no pictures.

I basically gave him a friendly and firm debate asking if there were laws or real rules about it, and otherwise this is supposed to be a democracy. He asks "what is purpose of picture" and I said I am basically a simple tourist, nothing more for certain. Didn't seem to score any points. Gets on phone with someone, avoids me, I finally have to ask him "where are the paper rules for the store?" Doesn't have any. Seems to imply the conversation is moot and can go no further.

In the entire store there are no signs and no indication that simple amateur pictures are forbidden. I wonder what would have happened if it were a Korean person holding a camera. I also wonder what do Korean people have to hide. Apparently Koreans don't like pics/filming. Oh wait, that's only when it's them being seen. By the way, this occured a few days ago.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I find people have issues with video cameras all over the world.

Recently, on vacation in Vancouver, I was told to stop filmimg a few times. Once by a random guy on the street who just felt I was invading his privacy by doing a shot of a street in Vancouver just as he was walking past.

In Korea it could be down to the massive amount of adultery that goes on here. So many married people are having affairs so a video camera is the last thing they want to see.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

I'd love to start a program...cheaters...korea! Start following and filming! Trouble is...I would not have enough flim! All the love hotels and barber shops! I'm sure though...that I'd be killed by the cheaters after awhile!

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:54 am Post subject:

I was told once not to take pictures inside of a certain shop back in Virginia Beach. I'm pretty sure that there's an unwritten rule about stores being private property and that they can refuse to allow you to videotape for any reason. It's not just a Korean thing.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Can't do it in the states these days, either. Best Buy in the USA has called police on customers who write down prices to compare against other stores. They always assume you're from some other store, and are price-checking.

Freakin' joke. If some store wants to get your prices -- they'll get them easily.

Blind Willie · Joined: 05 May 2004

It's generally frowned upon in Canada as well.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

no pictures or video inside stores is commonly enforced. It's done mostly to prevent compettition from getting an advantage. I'm sure there's worries about criminal elements as well.

As for the street nothing stopping you there.

IconsFanatic · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

I was told not to film the outside of a Hyundai Oil thingo (can't remember the chain's exact name) once while in Gyeongju.

Have they nothing better to do?!?

Drakoi · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: The World

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

this may be unrelated but when I was playing tour guide to some Japanese tourists in Edmonton they were amazed that they were able to take pictures inside of the malls.

They told me that you can get in big trouble in Japan for taking pictures of the insides and even outsides of malls and stores.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Yeah a friend at Carrefour whippd out his camera to take a photo of some Christmas display inside the store and some security guy told him no. I'm not sure what the deal is but by custom and convention it seems to be banned. I'm surprised you argued. You were standing in a private business, not a public street. What right do you think you have?

Shutterfly · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul

This happenined to my friend and I as well. She was taking a picture of me on a bench that happened to be facing DOOTA. HOwever from the picture you couldnt even tell what building was behind me.. just a cement wall! A security Guard came over and demanded we put the camera away and erase the picture. I would of understood if architecture or merchandise was being shown in the picture, but i think that was a bit much.