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 Um, how do I get my car out of
here? by jburron
When parking, you may notice that the spaces are a little cramped. Let passengers get out first then park. A neat thing here is double parking in the lots. Since virtually all parking lots are very level, many drivers will park perpendicular to cars already in spaces. It looks like they are blocking them in, but they always leave (i) their cars in neutral so they can be pushed and (ii) enough room somewhere down the line (there gets to be a line of cars parallel parked behind the ones in spaces) so that those 'blocked in' can always get out.
Some interesting structures are here as well. Some, like in the pic, are 2 or 3 storey (these I've seen near the train station in Pusan and the basement of 63 Building) or even built as a small building basically as a vertical parking lot (as high as 10-15 stories and found at the base of Namsan and next to the Lexington (nee New Manhattan) hotel in Yeouido). Koreans, apparently, came up with a lot of this technology.
Also, be aware that on certain days many sidewalks are full of cars too...but as a foreigner I would not park on one (sometimes you need a special permit, and without it you'll get towed and you definately don't want that!). Leave a Comment
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 You may need one of these. by jburron
If you have electronics I'd advise you to first: check with the hotel staff or owner if you can safely plug in your North American devices (they may have no idea if they've not been outside of Korea or have had few foreign guests); second: if they say it's safe then give it a go (knowing that there may have been a language problem) or get your hands on a voltage converter (about 20USD at many stores) to be sure. Most serious travellers have one anyways, but I'd hate to see someone plug in their laptop or whatever and fry it because the power was incompatible. Leave a Comment
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 "No Smoking; by order of
Public Health Office" by jburron
Unfortunately, it hasn't worked 100% (at all). For one: if you are a senior in a Korean company or group you can do as you damn-well please. This includes lighting up. No one can stop you...so CEOs and such continued to smoke. As well, the rank-and-file (not being told of and punishment or consequences for breaking the rules, and relying on a code of silence from all others) simply took their office-smoking to the bathrooms and stairwells (where they could take a dump or socialize at the same time--what efficiency!). Some offices even made special smoking zones for employees (cafeterias or lounges) because having someone take a 20-floor elevator trip twice an hour can kill productivity.
Anyhoo, I've seen so many clients and higher-ups smoke right in front of me (without even a question or sideways glance) that I pretty much figure that the whole 'No Smoking" exercise was like many things in Korea: it was for looks. Leave a Comment
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It's not as easy as it may seem. Although the hairdressers here all have training from technical school (where they learn everything from how to hold a comb to dying and other effects) and you can walk into a local salon anytime and get a cut (especially if you're a guy), actually getting the trim is the tough part.
The main problem is language. I was surprised today to find my stylist spoke some English, but, for the most part, language has been a big barrier. The gals may have a nice smile, but it's difficult to explain how you want your hair done with pure body language.
Here's the solution: go with a Korean bud (i wouldn't hold my breath waiting for another one that can speak English to come along). The good news is that there are many, many shops all over the place, there is hardly ever a wait (as mentioned), the cost is just 8,000 won (USD 7) for men and even ladies' sophisticated services (perms, etc.) are well-priced. Service is, expectedly, fast; with the gals snip-snipping and buzzing like there's no tomorrow.
One interesting thing, though, is that when they wash your hair they will usually put some kind of cloth over your eyes. I'm not sure if this is so you don't have to look at their face (usually this is not a problem!) or if they want you to relax more...either way it usually (along with the vigorous scalp massage they usually give) almost puts me to sleep. Leave a Comment
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Impossible as it may seem in a country that has 99.9% literacy and kindergarden English classes, you must brace yourself for the possibility that almost every Korean you meet will know little English.
In business meetings, casual conversations or various service capacities (driver, waiter) many Koreans cannot follow English sentences. More tough is they will rarely let on to the fact--they may nod, have a stone face or fall asleep (which I've seen a few times). If you have an accent things get even worse because many learned from Canadian or US teachers (and US soldiers).
The rules:
(i) Speak slowly. This is not patronizing, it is polite. If the listener says it's ok to speed up then do so, but make sure everyone listening understands the words that are coming out of your mouth.
(ii) Use simple sentences. This is especially hard for us who like sarcasm and double entendres. Only use affirmatives: no double negatives.
(iii) Use simple words and do not open up your thesaurus! If your listener understands one idea from a word or phrase don't use another phrase later in the conversation to say the same thing--keep it consistent. For instance, here they call "adding on another hour" to a rental or such "overtime". If you say "add one hour" they may not understand, but most Koreans know that "overtime" means the same idea.
(iv) Unless you're a teacher, don't get caught up in teaching. If you're doing a business presentation stick to the basics and give them hard copy to read later (and a Korean contact for them to follow up with). They will get more from that than you explaining concepts for an hour.
(v) Go and see in person. Most Koreans really do HATE being on the phone with English-speakers. It is imtimidating for them and they rarely understand more than the basics. Get a Korean phone and text message them or email them and then follow up with a phone call. (Remember rules i-iv when you do call.)
Have fun, and, by all means, try to do things over drinks...that way everyone is a lttle more relaxed. Leave a Comment
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(I'm putting these in Warnings because most people only go to these places if something is wrong.)
Hospitals: Perhaps there is a reason for having funeral chapels in the basements of the hospitals here in Korea: because once you're in there maybe you won't get out. I'm not saying that Korean hospitals are lax in their care, it is just an interesting factoid.
Having never been in one myself I can't give you first-hand knowledge but from what I hear sometimes patients are mis-diagnosed and either sent home or treated incorrectly here (of course, you only hear the horror stories).
Korea is still a young country, despite its millenia of advances in many fields. Medicine, however, is still something of a throw-back in some ways. Koreans believe in and learn Western medicine if they are outside Korea but it seems that even highly-educated doctors fall back into the old ways when they are in Korea. (Hence, I'd prefer an International Hospital if I had a choice.)
I won't say much more than this: Koreans love to run tests, doctors are rarely challenged and it's best to get a second or third opinion if there is really something wrong with you. I, personally, would not 100% trust the care here. Leave a Comment
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 We're Waiting to Serve You! by jburron
Clinics: Korea is full of surprises. The first time I got food poisoning here (it's happened twice in 18 months) I was escorted to a famous gastronomic clinic. (If you think you know what is wrong with you you can go straight to the specialist here: no referral needed!) Once there I noticed a few things different: leather couches, an aquarium (they call them fish banks here), nice music and numerous beautiful nurses and aids waiting to serve me/us.
Maybe because I was a foreigner, or because I went with an older Korean gent who knew how to work the system, I was called up quickly and went into an interview room. To my astonishment the doctor was in there! He was sitting behind a desk waiting for me; no waiting with my pants down as he dashes from room to room--very cool.
Most doctors here are pretty good at English (medical journals and books are in English and I assume many attend English-speaking conferences) but bring a local if you can, it helps.
You'll probably get a prescription, a "you'll be fine" and trot off to the yak-gook (pharmacy) where you'll probably get the usual 5 pills in little bags to gulp down every few hours. (It's always 5 pills for some reason.)
One time I went to a skin specialist for a wart. He didn't think it was a wart, but when I told him that my Canadian doctor said it was one he gave me a prescription. He went on to explain that the lotion's name means wart in latin: thanks doc, that helps. He also said to stop by anytime with any ailment...as if he was a GP. Interesting. Later I heard that everyone wants to be a skin doctor in Korea--guess there is a glut of them now. Leave a Comment
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 It may work, but then
again...it may not... by jburron
1. Bank machines are closed from about 11:30PM - 8AM. (I think this is to promote the use of credit cards, but it can get real frustrating if you need cash for something.)
2. Although there are many bank machines and 'foreign' bank machines in town I have yet to go to one and have my friends get any money out of them. (I've seen others pull it off, just no one in my company...an I bad luck or something?) There is always an error message...and even HSBC or Visa and other 'international' cards did not work!
Best idea is to bring USD and change it at a bank (2% spread). If you use your credit card here the spread is probably 4%, and getting won from banks outside of Korea can have a 5-8% spread....so watch out! The INcheon airport is not bad--just 4% spread.
3. For those of us with local accounts, remember there is usually a 600 won (USD 0.50) charge for withdrawals after 5PM--so get your money out before then unless you want to throw away some dough. Leave a Comment
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The Gobi Desert in Mongolia is apparently growing. The effects, however, are wide-reaching. As the winds flow west to east a yellow cloud moves across Mongolia and China. This cloud, although not all that appealing, is not as damaging as it becomes when it reaches Korea. You see, as the dust flies over the humid West Sea bacteria, mold and fungi inside it start to grow and when these organisms reach Korea they can be pretty ugly.
Usually the worst Yellow Wind is in March. Luckily I haven't seen it too bad here for a a couple of years, but in March 2002 it was pretty bad...all the city was in a yellow haze and cars (and anything else that was stationary) got a coating of the dust. Schools are shut down and children and old people are recommended not to go outdoors on the worst days--but that didn't happen this year.
More on this in the article link. Leave a Comment
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 "ee-gong-oh-sam
blah-blah-blah-imnida!" by jburron
Police cars here have their lights on all the time, so only if you hear your license plate numbers being heralded on a loudspeaker should you pull over.
Drinking and driving is a serious offense here and they have roadside screening all over the city...it is mandatory to blow. Take a cab!
If a Korean is being taken in by an officer they can hit the officer--all he can do is say: hey, settle down. If you hit one...I think that's a different story, and I'm not ready to test the theory. K-police will generally ignore foreigners unless we are impinging on a Korean. Two foreigners fighting? Well, they should stop, but then what? Most police just watch the show.
Now, if you are in trouble (meaning, you hurt a Korean) basically you're screwed. Unless you can get a translator (call your embassy!) quickly the Korean party will tell their story with you in a most unflattering light. The police's duty (when booking a Korean) is to 'help the subject give a confession of the crime'. Yes, that means they try to get them to admit to it, perhaps no matter what. As a foreigner you'll have more rights, but this is how they may want things to happen.
You may also notice TV crews covering 'the event' Korean way is to bow and cover your head with your jacket or something and submit to the interview. (Even foreigners do this!) Leave a Comment
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