Seoul Local Custom Tips by ClarkRB

No big deal, folks ;-)

Koreans are a very calloused people. Especially in large cities like Seoul. Everybody has someplace to go, and there's not enough room for people to walk without coming into contact with those going the opposite direction.

When walking, you'll be bumped, shoved, and ran into, but this does not mkean they are picking a fight. As a resuly, this does not mean you need to get in a fight with him to show you are tough in front of your girlfriend of the week. As Chris Rock once said..."Let it slide."

The cool part is, you can purposly run into people if you are in a foul mood, and it is perfectly normal. There's some VT members I would love to be walking the opposite way from. I'd love to plow into them. I'd do it over and over. :D

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Customs & Oddities: Traffic Sales

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Written by ClarkRB

on Jul 25, 2004

Drinks to go, 3rd lane

Seoul can get some gridlock that makes Los Angeles look like a rural setting. A 90km drive from Chu'chon to Seoul can run me upwards of 3 1/2 hours at times. Many things enter my mind while in traffic.

Sometimes I get hungry, and obviously I'm not the only one. Koreans will set up food booths in the middle of traffic. This booth was actually in between lanes! People will stand in the middle of the road selling corn on the cob. Honestly, I have never been driving, and then all the sudden get a craving for corn. It's just never happened to me.

On a side note, check out how young this employee is. Either the son helping out with the family fruit stand, or just trying to earn some extra Won for that hot date. Dunno.

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Other Stuff: Other Languages

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Written by ClarkRB

on Jul 31, 2004

Hangul, Chinese and English

Unlike the rest of South Korea, it is very common to find English language and even Chinese and Japanese on all the signs. So if any of those are a language you comprehend well, then Seoul should be easy enough for you in terms of general directions.

The rest of South Korea is not as catering in terms of languages. English translations are found on some signs, but it is direct translation, and does not always translate well.

Case in point, there is a a sign I saw in Hangul and English. The English sign said "Welcome to our city, where the people live with romantic."

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Local Customs: Hazard Lights

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Written by ClarkRB

on Jul 3, 2004

The car in front threw his hazards

Koreans have some unwritten laws when driving. They go beyond the fact that lane markings are just "suggestions." It goes past that all the drivers are terrible and that they are all brake happy.

If any of them have to brake abruptly, they will throw on the hazard lights to warn the drivers behind them that something up ahead is causing them to slow down. Another is that they turn off their lights when stopped at an intersection.

Once again, this is not a written law, but just so it doesn't catch you of guard. I practice these same rituals. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

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Local Customs: Cass Beer

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Written by ClarkRB

on Jul 2, 2004

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