Korean Job Discussion Forums

[philipjames]

What's up with that? I've been in Korea several years now, and it never fails to baffle me why Koreans won't sit beside me on the bus or train. It's kind of bizarre. The subway will be packed. All seats are occupied except the one beside me. As soon as a Korean vacates their seat, however, it's immediately taken by another Korean. (Even though the seat next to me has been vacant for the last twenty minutes.) So they do want to sit down. Just not next to whitey.

If I had a nickle for every time an ajumma began to sit down, had her backside more on less on the seat, only to notice whitey, straighten up and move on. Bizarro! I'll never figure these people out.

[Kim Jong Jordan]

good, more room for you.

[nautilus]

Now you're going to get 50 lying posts saying

"its just you, there must be something wrong with you, Koreans always fight over who gets to sit next to me".

sigh...

[ajgeddes]

You must smell then because it never happens to me. I am always sandwiched in there and just end up standing up because I don't like it.

[nautilus]

[formerflautist]

I never want to sit beside Koreans either. But that's a personal space issue and not an issue with Koreans.

[Vancouver]

[Dev]

[JeJuJitsu]

I like to feign sleeping, and then cuddle with the Korean next to me in various ways. Sometimes I just let my head slump on their shoulders, sometimes I sorrt of sleep-talk/mumble/snore in their ear, and the guaranteed way--spoon them.

Sort of turn to your side, yawning, snoring, etc., and put the arm furthest from them--around them, throw your leg over their leg. 9/10 they jump up and run, while you just startle awake sheepishly "embarassed." However, 1/10 times, the Korean will be so stunned (or possibly afraid) they will not even move. Nor breathe. In this case, just shift back so you aren't spooning 'em.

[Juregen]

It happens though.

Normally people do not care, but let me tell you my experience.

I live at the last and first metro station, this means that the seats are free for the taking. In the morning (8 am) people slowly pile up on the seats. The ones next to me will ALWAYS be filled last.

The reason probably is that my build is a bit wider then most koreans (1.83m and 90 kilos), in other words, they have less space for themselves. Also, i don't put my legs in such a way that others are not annoyed by it! My precious things need space. So its more of a practical nuissance for them to sit next to me, has nothing to do with racial preferences. The subway seats are just way to small!

[SuperFly]

But they DO sit beside me a lot of the time! Juergens right though, it's always last!

I'm 6 feet, 165 lbs - swimmers build and I don't take up a lot of space. Sometimes they avoid sitting next to me, but 75% of the time they do. Not just guys, girls, adjumas old men, everyone.

[ajstew]

Yep. Those who say it never happens are blind. The rule is this:

1) If you are on a train with all open seats, every seat will get filled on the car first, before the one next to you is

Unless

2) the seat next to you is a precious corner seat,
3) the person is in a rush and grabs the open one: a) thinking no more are available, or b) not realising that the seat is next to a foreigner. In both instances, should they realise another seat is available, most will move immediately to the next open seat.

Lastly, there are always exceptions, but this is the general rule.

[europe2seoul]

[Milwaukiedave]

You might want to take a look over here, I think this person is referring to you in their post:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=80594

[Juregen]