Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Striped-pants scofflaws irritate ministry
From 2000 to July 2006, 14,524 parking tickets with fines of 582 million won were issued to diplomatic cars in Seoul. But only 27.4 million won was paid for 686 tickets, 4.7 percent of the total, the reports said.
Last year, Russian diplomats reportedly amassed 13.28 million won in fines for 311 violations, but have not paid any of them. That was the largest amount of arrears; they were followed by the Chinese, who left unpaid 221 tickets and 9.06 million won in fines. The U.S. Embassy, the report said, received 34 parking tickets and paid 1.2 million won, leaving 160,000 won of fines unpaid. Virtuous Candadians were issued nine parking tickets and paid all of the 360,000 won in fines.

"Under the Vienna Convention, we cannot confiscate the vehicles of foreign embassies or enforce the payment of fines. We just hope they pay fines voluntarily," said an official at the Seoul Metropolitan City Government, sounding calmer than his counterparts in New York, who regularly erupt in outrage over United Nations offenders.
by Kang Kap-saeng, JoongAng Daily (September 07, 2006)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200609/06/200609062232106939900090409041.html
-- spell check --

[Qinella]

Yeah man, those UN parking offenders.. something MUST be done to stop them!

[Guri Guy]

Good for Canada I guess. Maybe that's possibly a consideration, among other things, for why we have a better deal than the Excited States of America for Visas here in Korea. I'm not into flag waving really but good job Canada.

[Real Reality]

"Virtuous Candadians"

[ajgeddes]

I went to Candadia one time. It was a lot like Canada, but....... more virtuous.

[poet13]

We simply can't afford tickets. Get a ticket, have to turn off all the lights for a day, and carry empty water bottles to park to fill them up....

[billybrobby]

[Guri Guy]

I agree that we get a better deal because we give a better deal as well but i think engendering some good will by paying a few parking tickets can't hurt either. Some smart PR by Canadians I think. I mentioned it as being a small consideration. I wonder if Korean diplomats pay their parking tickets in Canada?

[hepcat]

It's the little things, the things that are done when it's thought no one is looking, that reveal the character beneath the facade.

If one values honesty, then this item reflects well on Canada.

If one values other traits, such as lawlessness, arrogance and bullying...

[Pyongshin Sangja]

We have a better visa deal because God wants it that way.

[laogaiguk]

[billybrobby]

[Canadian Club]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Just curious.

Does anyone know the numbers of embassy folks working in the various embassies mentioned in the article?

[laogaiguk]