Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kangnam mafioso]

why do koreans walk so strange in the streets? especially crowded areas like jongno, kangnam and dahagno?

why can't they get a system like other societies?

why do people zigzag all over the place, holding hands, bumping into each other and blocking others from proceeding through?

these are just four walking types. does anybody know of any other styles of marching through the streets in an inane fashion?

1. zigzagger: zigzags in front of you just as you are trying to proceed foward

2. blocker: usually a couple or a whole group of friends who block the whole street or sidewalk for several blocks. they are usually walking in a dramatically slow, retarded style.

3. bumper: walking way too fast like a bull in a china shop bumping rudely into anything in its path; opposite of the lackadasical blocker.

4. drunkard: usually see these in the evening although they can be observed in daylight hours near itaewon or seoul station. consumed way too many green bottles, prone to projectile vomiting, unaware of who they are or where they are going: can be dangerous, even.

[Yesanman]

Koreans ignore everyone who isn't part of their circle (family,friends, co-worker). Thus you don't exist. They can't see you. There is only one person walking on this sidewalk and it is me!
For reference watch the roads. They drive the same way. Only one car on the road that matters.

[Mashimaro]

[Mr. BlackCat]

Hahahahaha!

A related story: just a couple of weeks ago I was walking home from work around 6pm on a smaller than ordinary main road (not one of those alleyways) during a freakish rainstorm. A bus stopped right next to me and 15 people proceded to get off while opening their umbrellas. It was the most violent experience I've had over here. 15 Koreans bashing into me, and each other, with umbrellas stabbing and poking all body parts. And they didn't stop coming out. I was pinned against a brick wall, a couple of ladies fell, purses and phones were dropped into puddles. I thought I was getting rushed by the middle aged Korean Mafia.

Its actually quite funny (now) if you can picture it. But at the time I found it quite upsetting because these people, just like cattle, kept bashing into each other like pinballs until they chose a direction that was free of human obstacles. I felt dehumanized, I felt like they were dehumanized. I mean, what the hell? No 'sorry', no 'excuse me', no helping Ms. LadyWithShoppingBags off the ground, nothing. I know Korea is different than back home, but I don't have to like this aspect of the culture. And don't tell me that would happen in any big city. Even in NY I've been apologized to for a bump.

But its a good story nonetheless. I totally agree with the previous post that said Koreans don't see past their circle. There's people like this in the West, but not the whole culture. Like I said, I don't have to like everything here in order to respect the whole society.

[RACETRAITOR]

Every country has a different system of walking. Our pattern of walking in straight lines while looking directly ahead and swinging our arms is culturally determined.

A few weeks ago a couple of my friends were visiting. We were walking on a normal street in Sinchon (to the left of the McDonald's) and there was a nonstop torrent of people walking by. My friend told me he's not used to crowds like this in our hometown.

I pointed out that, in our hometown, every time there's a crowd remotely this size, traffic gets gummed up. If any of you are from Edmonton (and I know there are a bunch), remember what it was like walking through Hub Mall between classes? People would stop in groups and talk to their friends, halting movement. It was impossible to move.