Korean Job Discussion Forums

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

A Kiwi friend of mine came out to visit me here in Korea recently. I met him at the train station and we headed back to my pad, relaxed over a few stouts and had a catch up session. Naturally, I asked him on his impressions of Korea. I was quite interested to hear, since he had been working as a ski-instructor in Japan for about 5 months and had spent a lazy week in Seoul with his girlfriend for a few days before coming down to Daegu to meet me.

"I can't get over the obe-chuns in the markets" he commented.

"Obe-Chun?" said I.

"The old women... you know?" said he.

"Ahhh... you mean Ajummas!" I corrected.

So he went on to tell about how they carry around stacks of cash in their bumbags... changing dollars into won for the tourists. He found it difficult to comprehend how old ladies could tote around wads of cash without protection.

Then I asked him.

'Anyone cut in front of you while you're waiting in line?'

His face lit up. 'Oh mate! Some old Obe-chun hell cut in front of me at the train station while I was buying a ticket at Seoul Station!'

I just had to laugh... I could imagine the astonished look on his face as some pushy ajumma cut in front of him.

'So, what did you do?' I queried...

'I wanted to punch her out' he grumbled.

I just laughed. 'You'll get used to it. Don't leave any space between you and the person in front.'

He stayed for 3 weeks and we had a lot of laughs observing Ajumma behaviour while riding trains in Seoul. Swear to god... One Ajumma did a flying leap through the subway train doors before it come to complete stop. Gotta get that seat!!

So... my question: What do you do when someone cut in line?

William Beckerson · Guest

If I'm feeling like a bad-ass:

Being somewhat larger than most ajumma / ajushi / anyone else, I tend to stonewall them. So if I catch them butting in front of me, I just step forward and get in their way. They can address any complaints to my back.

If I'm feeling nice that day:
Let them do it. Count out the five seconds of their lives that they now owe me, and step forward.

On the subway, I just steam my way in if I'm pushed from the front. If pushed from the back, I ignore it and go at my own pace.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

It depends. Sometimes I get the feeling that the person needs to be served right away. At the train station you get people that will be leaving soon and need to get a ticket. I can stand waiting another minute. But the rule is leave no gap. If you leave a gap it is filled in a sec.

Of course you could always do what they do. If some one gets in front just get right back in front of them.

Acutally what bothers me is leap frogging. This is when you are waiting for a taxi. And some one comes along on goes a little further down the street before you. So they get picked up first. I sometimes just walk another walk down and leap frog them. But I hate blatent leap frogging of just going five meter down before me.

Skippy

gatohorrible · Joined: 02 Jun 2003

what do ya do ?

I guess move to a place where people are actually civilised. It s not that HARD for the university educated white middle class westerner, is it???.

But I guess deep down some of you love all that earthy rudeness and unnecessary hostility. Where would you be without it ? Beats paying for cheap thrills.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I figure it's just korea's way of evening out.. for instance when I go to the movies at this one theatre the manager sees me asks what movie I want to see then escorts me to get my ticket... so if someone cuts in line I figure it's pay back for not waiting half an hour in queue for the matrix 2.
CLG

gatohorrible · Joined: 02 Jun 2003

that s called wanting to get into your ......( insert item of clothing here)

nothing to do with 'evening out'.
try it with a female manager - oh on seconds thought might get the same treatment with all those latent furry cup lovers abounding in uptight kkkorea.

Cedar · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 2:47 am Post subject:

Step aside would be Bi-kyuh not kyo. it does work... I scream it when hurtling down mountain trails on my bike with some idiot on the race-course in front of me...

gatohorrible · Joined: 02 Jun 2003

it wouldnt be 'kyuh' necessarily because that' s a romanisation , which we all know does NOT WORK IN KOREAN, either in any co-ordianting signing matter , nor by the fact that korean sounds are not best represented by 'uri/ oori/ oree/ roman alphabet .

it works in pinyin in china but not korea

see you down at myong dung , or myeong dong, or myung dong, or myung dung or wherever..just follow the signs.........zzzz

William Beckerson · Guest

gatohorrible · Joined: 02 Jun 2003

dont call me 'dude' again . get back to watching oprah , mr. funny and ironic guy.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

When I lived in BUSAN, I mastered a technique of positing my feet to block any and all who try to get in front of me..

Here in Seoul.. the few times it happens - extremely rarely, I turn to them and say "BUSAN SARAM im-ni-da"? in all seriousness..

From my experiences, pushing and shoving is more of a Busan characteristic..

steroidmaximus · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: GangWon-Do

"Se Chigi Hajima seyo" - please don't butt in line. Polite and effective. If you want to be rude, add a "ya!" before it. Not recommended.

If you're feeling cantankerous:

check em as they try to get past. Or step on the heels of their shoes. That one is a hoot!

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

"Korean people have bad manners."
It should be there national tourism campaign slogan.
Koreans have THE WORST manners in the world. They should be proud of that and I think they are.

I have a subway prepay card so I don't wait as much as I used to, but I still go through the daily event of exiting the train with some jackass standing dead center of the exit. There is no typical jackass, they range from young to old in both genders. Sometimes I have to sniff an old perm and others times my sausage is dusted by a skinny college drop out. I'm not a tourist and I don't consider it rude or unusual it's just part of my day.
Korean spend their work days abused and then they all get together and abuse each other.
It's all a facade. Koreans have the most diverse assortment of veneers I have ever seen. They spend millions trying to make plastic look like wood, granite look like marble, small look like big, hate look like fun, short becomes tall, nothing becomes work, poor looks rich...everything is perfect.
But, in the end, they can't line-up, take a number, be quiet, relax, compromise.
Hey...take the money and run is what I say.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

Zark · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2003 10:28 pm Post subject:

I learned "in line" behavior working as a circus bear in Africa. Once, after a three hour wait to cross a border - I was even farther back than when I started. Banks were even worse.

Now, I am over 400 kgs, so this may not work for everyone. Spread your feet (paws) to shoulder width - get a strong balanced stand and spread your elbows to get wider. A little shoulder check helps too.

When in doubt, my favorite with someone climbing up your b*tt is to step back onto their instep and then give a very sincere, I'm sorry!"

But then, not many people wanna cut in front of mean SOB like me . . .