Comments on: Driving Advice for Foreigners in Seoul

By: fencerider

fencerider — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:01:24 +0000

the egg thing is a fair idea….forces the guy to clean it off pretty quick…particularly if it’s a new car….be careful with that one though…you could wind up getting in some trouble…..remember that even though they are doing something rude or inconsiderate to you..the idea of ‘retaliation’ or giving them what they deserve (and I agree they deserve it) could get you into a lot of trouble here since it is usually viewed as MUCH worse than the actual act that instigated the retaliation. And I’m not sure but i thing throwing something (anything) from an apartment building is actually a crime here.

On a personal note, I have often thought a well-prepared egg or piss-balloon canon would be a perfect way to actually enjoy those early morning visits from the motorcycle gangs. A baloon filled with food waste water would make nice fodder as well. Just practice with some average water balloons in the early a.m. when there are few people on the street just to calibrate your stink-howitzer and develop nice targeting area and release timing and create some memories. Be sure to take videos!

By: In Korea way too long

In Korea way too long — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:35:06 +0000

There was a wreck at Camp Kim a few weeks ago where a bus skidded across 4 lanes and crashed through the camp wall. The skid marks were about 50 meters long going right through the wall. Does anyone know about this one?

By: Kingkitty

Kingkitty — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:45:06 +0000

I notice another thing the locals do here: ERP

EVENT RECOVERY PERIOD

If they make a turn or something, they pause to fix their hair, text a friend or adjust their seat

Most annoying when they Just have to pull out infront of you then pause as the do the ERP

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:34:49 +0000

StKY, everything is special here and you wouldn’t understand it unless you’re also one of the special people.

By: StKY

StKY — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:42:03 +0000

I took the girlfriend down to the local “DMV” and had to chuckle when they gave her a 50 page driver’s test study guide and explained that there was 3 weeks worth of instruction and testing. (3 tests I might add. 1 written 2 driving)
The driving instructor knew exactly what I found funny and explained that Koreans have “special driving situation” and that’s why they have to pay 400,000 Won and take all the extra tests insruction.
So it’s obvious that foreigners will never understand these “special driving situations”.

By: Beatinzone

Beatinzone — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:08:28 +0000

There is something like 7 times more traffic accidents in Korea than the US which amazes me because the are 250 million more people in the States. One would think that Koreans would “wise up” and realize this kind of behavoir kills people, but nope, not happening.

By: Kingkitty

Kingkitty — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:44:22 +0000

There is an intersection that almost monthly as cars run the lights one of them gets hit by another car and runs into a car repair shop, I even saw a city bus run into a empty day care bus and run in the car repair shop, I cant help noticing the care repair shop looks richer every month

By: mcnut

mcnut — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:45:00 +0000

kingkitty that was a good one both the war record and the egg story!

on my way to work this morning i almost saw a horrific accident luckily it was averted

it was 0530 i come down the hill and end up across the street from McDonalds in itaewon so there are two drunk waeguks on the same side of the street as meet kind of half-way in the road trying to get a cab. No luck except for a taxi on the other side of the street spots them and decides he will stop and do an illegal u-turn across the double line to get his fare.

well the moron obviously doesnt look and a car behind him has to swerve into oncoming traffic and almost takes out the drunk waeguks!!!! it was about a 10 foot miss….now as for oncoming traffic one car had to slam on their brakes to avoid the car which had to avoid the taxi

it was almost a catastrophe

at that point i thought to myself why stand 4-5 ft in the middle of a road get a cab????
thats pretty damn stupid to begin with and koreans always do this and pretty much refuse to move for regular cars!

on a related note the other day i am driving home and a car in front of me has a licene plate fram that says “ENJOY DRIVING” on top
and across the bottom says “KOREA”
i was just wishing i had my camera to snap a good shot of it

where i normally park my car there is enough room for two cars if you have the common decency to pull up far enough and allow it
which i do every day BUT YOU KNOW WHO DOEST KOREANS!!!! the park just right smack in the middle of the roughly 25 ft space
its simply amazing that they can never honestly think of anyone else

i could go on and on but i would get carpel tunnel for typing to much

By: Kingkitty

Kingkitty — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:47:09 +0000

I actually tossed an egg at a car doing that one early morning. They guy looked pissed but do I care?

By: Kingkitty

Kingkitty — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:39:19 +0000

Just as I always said….its all about the ME in this country.

This explains why they are like 0-50-1 in wars…war come, they run and do their own thing