Korean Job Discussion Forums

KOREAN_MAN · Joined: 01 Oct 2006

I'm curious if you guys vacant your seat on the subway or bus for someone else from time to time. I usually don't give my seat away to ajummas but I do get up sometimes when an old man/woman can't find a seat. I thought, why give my seat to an ajumma when she won't give hers to someone older and weaker than her?

wild · Joined: 24 Feb 2007

I'm beginning to wonder if that giving up the seat hting wasn't just a good hoax so the foreigners never get seats. Those Koreans can be crafty sometimes...well....maybe.

As far as giving up my seat, IF i get one, I'll give it up to the elderly or the pregnant women. Adjummas *beep* em...In almost two years, i've seen maybe 2 people give up there seats for middle aged people, and they were middle aged too. The young people sure as hell don't do it. So, i use the same discretion that I'd use in Canada...in canada if some old person or pregnant women needs to sit down, i'll gladly stand up and let them have my seat. But *beep* some adjumma who'd cut your throat to get the seat, not say thank you or even acknowledge that you moved and then get off at the next stop.............adjumma should be able to stand a little longer, I know you've been busy hiking but *beep* you do it everyday, get some stamina..lol

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I know my prose is delectable, but once is enough.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

redundant

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

triple post

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I give it up for old women, women with babe in arms, prego women, and old men that look like they're on the verge of death. Generally if an old man looks like he's healthy, I stay put. I figure he's had every right and privilege as a male in this society. I'll keep the seat warm for the first old woman who deserves it.

happygirl · Joined: 20 Feb 2006

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

The old people have their own section they can go to.

I've given my seat up for random people a few times, but each time I had to practically beg them to take the seat. It's been so awkward and uncomfortable that I'm not sure I'll do it again.

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

I once got on an almost full bus in Jinju on my way back home, and took a seat next to a Korean guy about my age. We did the head nod acknowledge each other's existence thing, but that was it. In front of us were two rows of high school/middle school boys who were obviously returning from a carnival, as they had various large inflatable and stuffed objects. We had another stop to make to pick up more passengers despite the fact that the bus was basically full. More passengers streamed in, leaving many people seatless. An adjumma was standing in the aisle next to the teenagers and BERATED them within an inch of their lives for not giving a seat up to her. I don't speak Korean well enough to know exactly what she was saying, but I do know that she was b*tching them out for a good 5 minutes.

Finally, both of the teenagers got up out of the seat so she could sit down, but before they could, they had to extricate all of the random carnival items out of the seat, clown-car style. One of the boys had a giant inflatable clown hammer that said "1000 Tons" on it, which he kept accidentally bopping the kid in front of him in the head. The whole thing was playing out like bad sketch comedy, and I was trying not to laugh, until I accidentally caught the eye of the guy sitting next to me, who was also desperately trying not to laugh. We both busted up laughing at the same time, and I think it was a really great cross-cultural moment.

thebum · Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Location: North Korea

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

alpope23 · Joined: 15 Mar 2006

An old Grandmother or Grandfather will get my seat every time. I stood up for a maw-maw one time and one of my high school boys went for the seat. I gave him some grief and maw-maw joined in on the Korean side!

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

anyone who looks like they're not sweatin' standing can stand. anyone who looks like it's a challenge - or if they have more than 2 disorganized tikes in tow, i give them the low-end advantage.

anyone tries to snake when i stand up gets lifted up by their collar. it's funny how they stand down and bow when called out.

JMO · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

I rarely sit and never is there is more than 3 or 4 people on the row of seats. I'm a young guy, let the old and lazy have the seats. When I do sit however I don't really give my seat to anyone in particular, if lot of people get on, I get up.

Cerebroden · Joined: 27 Dec 2006

agreed. If i'm sitting down its cuz I'm gonna be on the train for more than 7-8 stops. If you want that seat you better have been in the korean war.