Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

My friend and I had a psycho taxi driver, and we tried to report him to the police in Itaewon (who don't speak English- it's Itaewon- go figure ). Well, the police said that his taxi registration # (I copied it from the ID card that's posted on the dashboard) wasn't valid (fake number ). Also, I didn't copy his license plate down correctly (it turns-out you need the hangul characters + the license #. Oooops...). There was also a # on the rear end, right-hand corner above the tail light, but the police didn't understand what I was talking about. They told me my info. was incomplete, so I should forget about it. Anyway, I'm posting this so that in the future, anybody with a run-in will (try) to write everything down perfectly. Also, it was dumb luck that I happened to have a pen AND something to write on (a paperback novel). ALSO, if you don't know hangul, you'll have a hard time writing down the license info.

I don't want to get into a rant, but I have decided not to take taxis unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. I think the guys don't really have any problems, but I have had COUNTLESS incidents. I'm to the point where if even the slightest thing seems off, I ask the guy to pull over. My tolerance level is absolutely zero. Safety first: social decorum can take a backseat.

As for the incident where my friend and I felt compelled to make a complaint at the police station, the guy had been acting strangely (talking to himself, but not in the same way that people talk to themselves here, you know? It was like he was hearing voices or something). Well, he lit up a cigarette, and I politely said, "Ajossi..." He started mimicking me in this really high voice. I ignored him, and asked him not to smoke (my friend is REALLY allergic to smoke and gets car sick really easily- I know, because once I handed her a plastic bag with perfect timing). He refused, so I told him to pull over. He said no, he was taking us to Itaewon station because that's where we said we were going. So I acted liked I was going to get out of the car right then and there (traffic was basically at a standstill), and he turned around and tried to grab my hair while I was bent over gathering up my grocery bags. I swear, we did nothing to provoke him other than to be 2 women who were asserting ourselves.

As for not tolerating any nonsense, I got into a taxi yesterday (new to the area and couldn't remember how to get to Carrefour by subway- I tried for an hour, getting off at different stops and looking around JUST to avoid using a taxi. Unfortunately, I can't pronounce Carrefour with the Korean pronunciation no matter how hard I try, so I couldn't ask anyone for help). So I got a taxi, told the guy Carrefour (he understood), and asked me, "Where is Carrefour?" He suggested going to 2 different locations that were easily a man won ride away. Well, I didn't want to be taken for a ride , so I told him to just pull over and let me out. While I'm standing there waiting for another taxi (I was in the correct dong where the Carrefour is located, btw), he gets out and says he knows where it is Well, I don't understand how someone can be driving around in that area and not know where a major landmark like Carrefour is located.

Anyway, I didn't trust the guy, and didn't want to play games, so I told him to forget it. Today I found-out from my co-worker what bus to take to Carrefour `

P.S. If anyone managed to make it through my rather lengthy post, can someone tell me what a "sock" is? I read it on another discussion board, and I can't figure it out I thought maybe it meant a discussion board buddy or something.......

[Zyzyfer]

A sock is the term for when someone has multiple accounts on a forum. If I went and registered as "Jack Black" and started posting, that would be my sock. Short for sock puppet.

You should try to get some mace or pepper spray or something, just in case. If that first taxi driver tried to grab you, he'd get the hint when his eyes starting burning.

As for the second guy, he may honestly not have known (may have just dropped someone off at a major subway station from another part of the city) and called up the company for directions while you were waiting for another taxi.

[Swiss James]

I don't think there's any basic geography requirement to being a taxi driver- I got in a taxi the other day and he'd never been to Incheon airport(!) he'd only been driving for a few weeks according to his license and, when I asked where he lived it was waaaay on the other side of town to where he picked me up.
I think they can roam pretty far and wide around the city, so not knowing a Carrefour is pretty understandable.

They'll quite often ring their buddies if they don't know where something is- or more likely wind down the window and ask another driver.

Anyway the guy you were complaining about sounds pretty crazy.

[JacktheCat]

More than a few taxi drivers here are wired to the gills on caffeine, nicotine, and speed. Add in more than 24 hours without sleep and having to deal with the wackos that fill up Korea. No wonder so many taxi drivers act strange.

[hellofaniceguy]

Korean taxi and bus drivers are poor excuses for human beings. They are really the pits of korea. They are cockroaches.

[travel zen]

Bad experience!

I'd say don't go to China. I could write a book on how the taxi drivers try to cheat foreigners.

One guy was actually circling around pretending to take the wrong turn, another stopped the car in a residental neihborhood and got out, scratching his head and pretending to ask people where the location is....all with a big dumb grin on his face

I'll say it again, Korea is a civil country compared to the Socialist Heaven of China.

Best to be careful with taxis though.

[Swiss James]

jeez- they're not all bad, just trying to make a living like anyone else.

When I left my cellphone in the backseat of one the other day the guy called up a friend from the phonebook, and we arranged for him to come back and return my phone. I've also had a few mini korean lessons on my way to and from wherever that have been fun.

[casey's moon]

[hypnotist]

My K-friend was telling me yesterday that I had to be careful taking taxis since there had been a number of fatal accidents involving taxis around Seoul recently

Mind you, I've taken to sleeping on the late bus home from Gangnam, so as not to see just how bad the driver is driving...

[tzechuk]

The scariest taxi I have ever been in was this one that was FULL of mirrors!!! I had no idea why he needed so many mirrors but there they were... crazy..

[canadian_in_korea]

Before I came to Korea the first time.....my travel agent gave me a print out...all the "do"s and "don't"s in Korea. One of the top ones was always use public transportation....never use a taxi unless it is absolutely necessary. The only time I take a cab is when I am with my husband other than that...I just wing it and try to find my way to where I am going. If all else fails, I call my husband and he directs me which way to go. If you have any korean friends/significant other plan ahead of time and get directions from them.....even if they don't know where your destination is....they can easily find neighbourhood maps for you. Safety is the number one priority....plan before you go...

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Second that, Chinese cabbies make Korean cabbies look like Swiss bankers.

[Gwangjuboy]

A Korean taxi driver once refused to accept any money from me. Free rides all round. No grumbles there.

[Medic]

Ladies if you ever get into trouble again just tell the driver you have aids and that you are attending a special clinic for treatment.

Find out the Korean translation

[SuperHero]

Every taxi has a sticker on the inside somewhere that says free interpretation. Point to the sticker and tell the driver you want to use that service, of if you have a cell phone call the number on the sticker.