Dear Korean Drivers

Dear Korean drivers, I have been driving for 5 years now is Korea, and finally, I have gone mad. That  said, I would like to share with you some driving tips before I go GTA on you.

1) When merging it is okay to approach the speed limit and blend in with the traffic. There is no need to stop, wait, and then proceed to bother everyone. You can do this by simply speeding up on the on-ramp and merging like it is supposed to be done. If you are on the road, please take the lane furthest away from the on-ramp and allow other drivers to do the same as above. I know you all love traffic jams but you surely will be in a car accident a few minutes later and will have all the time in the word to  relax so merge with some speed please.

2) Regarding accidents, perhaps since Korea is one of the worst driving countries in all of the developed world, and more children die in car accidents than any other way, you should learn to use baby seats or just seatbelts even. I know you love your kid but letting them hang out their windows while driving a 4 wheeled guillotine around is probably not the best way to show you care. So show them you care and make safety a priority.

3) And as for your own safety, I know all you adults love watching gag shows that are as funny as a dead baby on your GPS/TV's but, again, considering the driving record here in Korea, perhaps it is best not to watch TV while driving. I know you were watching TV at work and you don't want to miss anything, but your home is just 5km away-or 90 minutes-so please just wait until you get to the pork restaurant to start watching again. Also, please stop talking on your phone while driving. I love doing 30 in a 60, I really do, but some others behind me may not so show a little consideration for others and at least approach doing the speed limit.

4) Parallel Parking. How many first generation Korean drivers does it take to parallel park? None, they learn this the second generation. So do not even try to do this. Just pull in head first and leave your butt hanging out so people can't get by. I love that. Why inconvenience yourself when you can just not care about others. Brilliant. Every great country is founded by this very principle. I also reccomend double parking as paying a dollar at the parking lot that is surely just 10 seconds away is a waste and forget parking around  the corner. You can't miss anything that is on TV. So park wherever and not care. This shows great confidence. I wish I could do this. Point for Korea.

5) When turning off a street, try actually turning from the right lane if turning right and not from two lanes. Just a suggestion. Again, I love the narcissism here and not caring that you are blocking a lot of people behind you, but by slowing down in the left lane just a little and then turning so you dont have to slow down more is kind of harmful to the 3483973973957 other cars trying to get wherever. So please, get into the right lane, slow down and turn. Dont slow down just a little and turn from the left lane. I know, you were told by your parents that you were special and could do whatever you wanted without thinking about other people but I am just asking you try this.

6) When driving on the highway and even on city streets, the left lane is for people who want to drive the speed limit. It is not a lane for first class customers who want to leisurely get from A to B. That said, if you are approaching a light and there is a lane free, you do not need to pull into that lane if after the light turns green you are going to drive 20km under the speed limit. Guess what, others will just pass you and go into that lane anyway. Stay in your lane and follow 50 feet back from the car in front of you as you do. Thanks.

7) Ajjumas-what can I really say here?

8) Lastly, you guys break every other law so if the light is green and you are wanting to turn and see no cars coming, turn for the love of God. I admire the patience but some of these lights here in Korea take forever and are set up at turtle crossings in the middle of nowhere so just go.

 

So that is it for now. If you have any other tips for drivers here feel free to share them. It is never to late to learn how to drive-as we have seen here. Good luck.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

today  i saw a car crash it was in a apt area   no   cars around    Its clear this crash was caused

By the drivers refusing to yield .  both cars    were damaged alot . The people in the car   seemed

not to be hurt   They were   near 60 .  They must have used the chicken method of driving .

I mean drive right at a car   and hope the other car backs of and lets you go  . In usa people

played chicken in the 50s and 60s   drive right at the car at full speed  and see who is chicken and ba 

see who is a chicken and backs off .   Usually  someone was chicken and backed off a few times

both were not chicken and it was  a head on crash  It was some kind of game .  Oh I was

waiting for the light to to turn green so i could walk accross the street and a food delivery bum

was speeding on the side walk   I wonder how many people he hit this week   crazy I was ordred from

a pizza man and after he brought my pizza He  was in a crash and spent many months in the

hospital      

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Ya, that is what it is like here. People just cut in or just do whatever and expect the other peson to move.  I am waiting for a BMW to hit me so I can be a nylon patient like others here. Go to the hospital but walk around and go for smokes like all is okay-because they are. Just an insurance scam really but the norm. I was in one accident and at the police station, the guy who was rubbing his neck like he had been hit by a train, told my insurance guy if I paid him a few hundred dollars he would forget the whole thing. I said no way. He next said he would give me a discount. I said go jump in the lake. Unbelievable. And what happened was the guy went through a red light and cut in front of me. I swerved, missed him, but then cut back in front of him because a car on a side street was pulling out. I clipped the front end of his car. It was a scratch. Under the law this was my fault. The police said I should have just hit him doing 50. Ya, right. That was  the right choice.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Not that it in any way excuses the lack of standards and care, but I have also been wondering how much road layout assists the nonsense here - and not least the total lack of banning cars from certain areas.

For example, in my town cars can and do park anywhere - and I mean anywhere. This narrows already narrow and holed roads and often totally removes your ability to read what is happening at a junction.

Now while most sane people would still edge their way forwards because someone has parked too close to the junction, it appears the generally impatient drivers here just fire past the offending parked car and then, halfway across the junction, decide it may be a good idea to look. Or not, just carry on.

Also, we have an area nearby which looks more like a flea market than a town - incredibly narrow roads and so many close twists and turns it is bad enough trying to walk them.

Again, drivers insist on using these lanes and get themselves in all kinds of knots and trouble as there simply is no room - especially as people again park all over these lanes.

I cannot for the life of me get why people do not park close to this area - and walk. There is decent, free parking about 200m away from the start of the twisted lane area. Honestly, it would be far quicker, easier and more relaxing for them. No, if I am going to get a haircut I want to park right outside (and preferably block) the entrance to the shop. 

I guess, to be fair, drivers do this and park badly because they can. I am sure Europeans would soon get as selfish if we removed parking wardens and the police presence.

Will the Koreans introduce parking measures and no-car zones? It would help and seems necessary to me where I live, as here everyone has a car and everyone treats it like a cycle - I think they'd use the elevator to get it parked in the apartment if it would fit.

 

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

That is a great observation. I dont get that either. I do know a Korean in a car will do whatever they can to save a dollar that is for sure. There is a market nearby us and cars get to drive down them all the time. I said to my wife they should not allow cars as there is no room for them, and she agrees, but what can you do. The worst is when you need to take a side road for whatever reason and cars are parked on both sides of the road so there is only one lane and a care is also coming toward you. All the cars have to back up and so on. Really quite the headache. Kyungsung is like this. You are allowed to drive down all those little roads in the bar area but it would make sense to ban cars at night just so all the people can feel free to walk. You dont have sidewalks here so when you are down there walking, you are always huddling behind a parked car waiting for cars to drive by. Either use a parking lot nearby like you have  said or park further away but driving down those streets just for the sake of doing so is crazy. You almost need to walk around there with a rear-view-mirror attached to your head. I am always worried my ankle is going to get clipped. Good luck.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Ummmm...how many 'Korean drivers' are you intending to reach here on Koreabridge.net? 

That said after eight years of driving in Korea and returning to the States, the drivers here drive me 'mad'. 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

143 Busan, driving back home is nothing like here. It is about as different as eating mannerisms between the two countries. And I was not trying to reach any Koreans on here; this was just for fun. I do not want things to change-I like driving like there are no rules. Cheers!

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Here's the cherry to top off this thread. A few months ago I was reading in the newspaper that the federal government is going to make the driving tests easier because people were complaining that it was too difficult. No shit dumbass!!! It should be difficult.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Thats amazing. Already number one in the developed world for traffic accidents and they want to make getting a license easier? I already dont know how many of the people managed to get theirs as is. Very scary!

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

One last perspective as to why Koreans are poor drivers-poor parenting. Here, kids are taught to follow, not lead. They have to ask to do anything so they cannot think for themselves. So once they get behind the wheel, they are terrified. Every scare a KOrean? What do they all say-OMMA! Mother! Heck, I can't count the number of times I have seen parents cutting a kids steak at  TGIF or  place like that even when the kid is a teenager. The reality is, people here mature later than we do in the West. I lived on my own when I was 17. Here at 17, the opposite sex is still icky. Just a different culture.

I think the driving age should be increased here to like 21. Make them practice for a couple of years. That, and have the instructors actually teach them how to really drive. All the driving instructors are like 50 year old men. They learned to drive when people still rode (good pun-talking about driving) on horses here. Times are changing here quickly but they are caught in a time warp. Much needs to be done to improve driving. One way is definately not making the test easier as posted above. This is just one person's opinion. Happy motoring.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

this is more or less a dead issue   or may a say a dead body killed in car crash or handicapped

body handicapped in car crash     most koreans dont care about this problem   from normal citizens

to police to government  i see its a non issue  they dont see this as issue so they dont

care about this  nothing will be done or can be done  come back to korea in 20 years it will be

worse  more cars are coming     

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

A Korean friend of mine in her early 20's had 3 accidents, one serious within 6 months of passing her driving test. When I told her that was just ridiculous she replied at least she wasn't as bad as her mum. Who had had about 20 accidents, two write offs!

I think if the majority of people took their tests in manual transmission cars, which is the norm back in England, there would be a much higher failure rate. Which is a good thing. Although saying that I've been behind a person a few times in a manual transmission and they obviously had no idea how to use it!

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

This afternoon I was going to play soccer.  Now on this thread it seem out of place but the man who invited me happened to be a police officer and a section chief at that.  First of all when we pulled out of the police station I put on my seat belt and he only did after I mentioned it to him.  After our game he did not bother.  Then twice he almost ran head on into other cars, but on wasa narrowostreets so what can be said about this.  Then at least once he was in the other lane, fortunately there was no oncoming traffic, well I could go on but you should all get the picture.   

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Hey wait a minute what are we doing here?  We are expecting this country to take on our Western ideals of civility.  Well is this really any different from expecting a little more vacation time?

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Hey wait a minute what are we doing here?  We are expecting this country to take on our Western ideals of civility.  Well is this really any different from expecting a little more vacation time?

 

No expectations, more we are all surprised at some of the truly unbelievable moves in traffic here. I most certainly cannot think of any Western country that can patronise Korea about manners. 
 

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

"Hey wait a minute what are we doing here?  We are expecting this country to take on our Western ideals of civility.  Well is this really any different from expecting a little more vacation time?"

Vacation time doesn't kill people.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

@droid.

given that vacation time for koreans is quite low, and the productivity is quite low. "vacation time doesn't kill people"; it just might if they had more of it.idle hands and all that. (just a little twisted humour)  

"

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

driving and walking not much different  In usa if u run   into someone whihle you are walking run into you  say sorry  differnt culture different culture  but in korea how many people  run into you while walking say sorry  its just different culture   If I walked the streets in usa  like i do in korea  someone would give me a knucklesandwich   as they say in rome do as the romans  in korea do as the koreans

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Regarding acquiring a driver's license, some countries may simply exchange their domestic licence for a Korean one. I had a U.K. licence with one month left to run. I simply exchanged it for a 9 year Korean licence. No test - nothing!

Yes, the driving is terrible. I have been in almost 30 countries. Try driving in Paris or Rome! The number one problem is the lack of police enforcement. These guys just sit in their little offices drinking coffee and watching TV. There is one guy in Seoul who has racked up over 5,000,000 in speeding fines. Police know his name and address, but no one has tried to collect the fines. No deterrent, no lesson learnt.

It is symptomatic of Korean life. No one corrects their bad behavior. No one tells the kids in a restaurant to sit down and be quiet. No one asks the drunk to leave the bar. No one challenges them when they jump the line. No one says talk, don't yell. As teachers, as I guess many of us are, we see this every day. The first piece of discipline some kids get is in a foreigner's class. It is a selfish, me first society.

I have been here for 10 years and unlike a lot of folk, I loved it initially. Now however it is starting to grind me down.

Basically it is ignorance, in the sense of not knowing any better. The parents could change that. Teachers could change that.

As regards driving the responsibility for education and correction must lie with the police.

Get off your fat ass and stop it!

 

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

"I have been here for 10 years and unlike a lot of folk, I loved it initially. Now however it is starting to grind me down."

WORD. Nine years here.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Droid-right there with you. When i first got my car I didnt even notice how bad things were. Now, I notice every little thing-and these little things happen every time I go out. It is a never-ending barrage of "what the heck are you doing?" Driving here really takes a toll on having the ability to stay patient.  Driving here is like mobile water-boarding. Gets to you after awhile.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

My dream is to become a Busan taxi driver. I have started running red lights, going through active cross walks, speeding down school streets, and stopping where ever I damn well please. Do I get my taxi license yet? My theory about Korean driving is that there was no evolution to it, and so they suck. Someone else alluded to it above. In the west, we went from walking to riding a horsecart to riding a horseless carriage to riding a series of automobiles that have evolved incredibly. Koreans went from walking to driving the latest technology, with a possible step of riding bicycles in between. Also, you may have noticed that what seems logical to us is not always logical to Koreans and vice versa. We all have categories in our minds that we don't think about when we process information. I think Koreans simply have different ways of categorizing ideas, and thus they process the stimuli they experience while driving differently than we do. So what strikes us as cluelessness, narcissism, or lack of common sense really is (objectively) a lack of situational awareness that I think may be due to not being the heirs of the Greek philosophy that we are. (Some readers may object, but you can't be from a western country and not have some residual Hellinism in you. Even post-modernism is a very conscious rejection of Aristotle...thus even in the rejection, you are admitting you had the Hellenism in you. I digress.) The most important rule while driving is that the bigger, newer, more expensive car has the right of way. Why? Becuse if you have a big, new, expensive car, tou are rich and therefore a good person. If you drive a small, old, P.O.S. (as I do) you are poor, and poor people are bad. So, the accident is the poor person's fault, as you were not properly deferential to the rich person who is obviously your superior. (Nota bene: Not my personal opinion, but what I have observed.) I got my Korean drivers license in 1996. I have a lot of grey hair now and many nervous tics.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Hey, Matt,

Try some paragraphs man. So hard to read your stuff.

Do you write like Koreans drive?

 

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

I agree with Matt to a point. I made the observation way back that Korea is a country of first generation drivers. Many here cant swim or ride a bike but they are now driving mobile weapons of mass demolition. What can you do. Just be aware.

The point about big cars, I am rich get out of my way, is new. I can agree to this to a point but if you agree with this you are saying what you are also disagreeing with-people here are very narcissistic and arrogant. I have experienced this but most with nice cars here are older and drive like they are-the women especially.

When it comes to big cars and get out of my way-it is the singing/booking club girl drivers that you need to watch for. I have no idea how these guys stay in business. They never stop for anything-even cameras. Do they not get tickets? There is always a large group of these guys hanging out in Jangsan. The cop shop is right there as well but all good I guess. Prostitution is illegal in Korea (it is in the books-it is illegal) as is singing rooms that have girls in them and so on but the business is right there in front of everyone to see. All a cop would have to do is pull over these guys. But I guess they have immunity-being pseudo mafia and all. Just goes to show you how much power the police have here.

Happy motoring.

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Sorry. There were paragraphs when I typed it, but they disappeared when I clicked the 'save' button.

I drive worse than I write. I shamelessly drive taxi-driver style now.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Matt, I have friends who wont drive with me. Im a taxi on crack-and I love it. Speed doesn't kill people, stupid does. Be safe!

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

John,

I'm dead serious when I say I want to become a taxi driver. I'd probably make more than I do at my uni. Also, I think it would be awesome to see the look on Koreans' faces when they hop in a cab and see a foreigner driving (driving like a native!).

Also, when the Olympics come here, I could score some fares just by having a Union Jack on my antenna.

Or maybe a sign that says, "I am the English speak is a very good!" If that doesn't attract people, I don't know what will.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Sure, those drivers in the big black cars driving the bar girls every where are so important. Put the hazards on like it is life or death and just fly. Just sit in Jangsan and watch that main intersection there-they just fly through the light. I really dont ge how they dont have a million tickets because of the cameras every month. I have like 15 speeding tickets. How do they do it?

As for being a taxi driver, sounds good if you want to die of a heart attack. I flip out just getting me from A to B, I can't imagine what it would be like doing it for money. As for taxi drivers, that new company on the road is terrible. All the drivers are like 80 years old. I had one guy today driving in two lanes for over 1km. I finally managed to pull up next to him and realized he was trying to type something into his GPS. How about trying that before you start driving. Thanks.

As for making more money than at your uni-hard to say. Many do rent out there car when not driving so I would think it is possible. But you would have to be your own boss. The guys in the blue top type taxis make next to nothing because they have to pay a high fee every time they go out. But I like these guys-they fly.

Remember pedestrians, a green light means wait 10 more seconds for driver's with their hazards on to get through the light. And even then, look both ways before crossing.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

DEFINITION OF:

MANIAC,  Anyone driving faster than you.

WHACKO, Anyone driving slower than you

 

nyuk nyuk ;)

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Nice one Panama.

Has anyone thought how the streets here also cause accidents? i was driving through Songjong (spelling) beach are and the roads are terrible. If you are in the left lane all of a sudden it changes into a turning lane. So you pull over and go straight again but at the next light you are in a turning lane again. Absolutely ridiculous. So you have to again pull in to the lane beside you.  This happens everywhere.

Or when you go through an intersection in Haeundae on the other side the lane is like moved over so now you are driving into the middle of two lanes. Seem many accidents there. So do you go into the left or right lane. Easy for me to make that decision but  Korean drivers-maybe not.

Also lanes just ending is a problem. When you drive from Haeundae towards Centum and on that super busy street one lane there just disappears. Two lanes merge into one right as you hit the corner. There is no warning-it just happens. Very strange why the Korean gov would not change this.

Really, how hard is it to make lanes that dont end or run straight. Very frustrating-especially when you know what is going to happen-there is going to be a traffic jam. A driver will be unaware they were in a turning lane or the lane just ends so they have to cut in or merge-and we know how well people do that here. They pop in the nose and wait for everyone to stop rather than waiting for an opening.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

There are some good points above.

A paradox for me is while the driving here does indicate an individualistic approach to life, I really do not see this in the way Koreans otherwise live. In fact, I'd say their belief in authority and acceptance of same isn't far off their brothers in the North.It really does not surprise me the last bastion of suppression and acceptance is in Korea. It could easily be the same here if the 'right' leader came along and the Americans were kicked out, I feel.

Very, very few Koreans dare be different. In many areas they can teach the West a thing or two - silence on the bus or train or at airports, respect for elders, low violence and crime etc. 

As Mtslavery has said, I think this is all as simple as no-one yet TELLING the Koreans how to behave at basic manner level. Once they are told, they will do it.

A Korean friend told me when there was the big financial crash in the 90's, Koreans were told to turn their private gold in 'for the country' - and they did it.

I don't think many Europeans or Americans would do that, where the 'this is mine, to hell with you' approach is much more likely.

To be fair, these paradoxes are also what makes Korea a great place to be. Sure, they can have weird ways and habits but also some very, very good ways and habits, too.

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Whether on the road, in your apartment or in a restaurant, no one see you there. People here will just do whatever regardless. Having piano schools in apartment buildings, vacumming above people at midnight, kids running and screaming all over the place while you are trying to eat or cars doing whatever they want is one in the same mentality-individualism to the narsissistic (insecure) level of infinity. I mentioned this way back.

It does make Korea good ina many ways as you are also free to do whatever you want but when eating I want a certain amount of civility around me. I dont get that so I actually dont eat out anymore. If someone is crazy loud on their apartment I go up or down and tell them quite frankly to zip it. If a car does something stupid, I will get out and tell them so.

So there is good and bad to no one caring about you. Personally, I would prefer something in the middle of here and Canada as back home there are just far too many rules but what can you do. At least gum is not banned like in Singapore. We need that gum so we can try to kill it for hours while letting everyone around us enjoy all the sounds we can make with it. Happy motoring.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

I've been driving here 8 years.  If you take away the taxi, bus and tow truck drivers then there is more order to the chaos.  I've only had problems with taxis, buses and tow trucks..oh my.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Connect-you are very lucky. Today I was out and about. Was cut off my a scooter who was going in and out of traffic. Then he stopped fora cross walk with no people. After the light changed he drive so slow. Then, at Centum where you go up and onto the Jangsan tunnel road, an old guy was on his  phone. He was driving 20 up the ramp. When ti was time to merge he was doing 25-in an 80. I pulled up beside him and screamed for him to pay attention. He got off the phone. Then on the way home,  I was cut off by a police van. Going down toward Centum from Jangsan tunnel, he was in the middle lane and last second swerved in front of me in order to make the off ramp. No hazards or sorry, just literally cut me off. Then, as usual, driving toward Dongnae, everyone drove in the left turning lane because it is faster but then made all the traffic stop to get into the lane that runs goes straight.  No one here respects anyone but themselves. How after 8 years you have had little problem with drivers  is amazing connectkorea. Everyday, every minute someone does something stupid here. Just the way it is minute in, and minute out.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

The problem is that some of the drivers are too slow and all the others are going too fast.  Why is it that I am only one travelling at the correct speed?  

Know where you are going.  Stay in your lane.  And let the taxis/buses/motorbikes pass you by.  

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Yesterday I was walking in front of my school(a Uni) and a guy came barreling down the road with flashers on, like that made it ok to do over 100 in a school zone. Apparently just to spite him a guy turned right in front of him...

At this point I was only about 30 meters from the action when I heard the horn and tires squeal as the first driver swerved and missed the second guy by less than a foot...

I was just remarking to a student the day before as I saw a little(4 or 5 year old) girl walk this street alone how I would never let my daughter walk near there...

Sometimes you just want to drag a guy out of his car for everyone else's good and beat him like a rented donkey.

Oh and guess what he was driving... a black Equus or something of that style... of course.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

In front of my apt  I looked in a truck . There was a man eating , and holding a baby and driving a

truck himself . Doesnt Korea have any child seat safety laws ? anyway a baby would be

too small to fit in  a car seat /,   really aweful to see this lack of concern for a baaby . This

guy needs Singapore laws  where you can be caned . That means hit by a stick for punishment

Remember Mike Fay   he got hit with a stick for writing on a wall . this guy should be hit

100 times or more .   How can you drive a car , eat , and hold a baby , This guy needs to be

caned or worse .       

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Someone said they want to be a taxi driver . Well  a teacher  gets about 3 000 000  a month when

you figure       salary , bonus , air ticket ,  and free apt . I do not think many taxi drivers make that

much . But as a part time gig it would work .    YOu  could find people who wanted to study .

A few days ago  I took a taxi . This man spoke perfect english . He told me in his taxi he always

speaks english to Korean and Westerneers  alike . He gave me his name card .   He told me

many people want to take his taxi to speak english .  You got to love the Pusan taxi drivers they are

greeat    Not like the ones in Seoul . In Seoul I rmember  many non  koreans try to avoid the taxis

and take public trans    But in Pusan rarely did I meet a bad taxi driver but in Seould it was

every day    i think

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

There are no child seat safety laws that I know of. I know that a few years ago a law was passed that made car seats mandatory but the Korean people rose up in protest. Their argument-and this is a true stroy-was they did not have to live like Americans. The said they can do whatever they wanted with their kids. Back to the whole leave me alone, I am the bomb mentality. My wife tells  me this is how they show love-letting the kid do whatever they want. This is easier than actually teaching them anything or getting them to realize they are not the center of the universe of course. Maybe there are laws now but I dont think so. Even so, prostitution is illegal but that is everything so I am not sure if laws here even matter.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

there i s   a car show going on  Maybe its a good time to hand out driving manuals to the people

I saw on tv dramas so many car crashes in korea    Car crashes , bad  , rude reckless careless

driving is part  of korean driving culture       Whoever says korea has no driving culture

so many people were killed on tv dramas in korea   its just like having a cup of coffee 

If this  is not true show me some proof . Like police giving tickets or most of the people

obeying the law . Most koreans dont care about the poor and dangerous driving . Until they

do its a waste of time and it will not change   its a sad story   

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Koreans really need to learn to stop. I saw a girl get hit today. It happened on a side street that intersects with a bigger one. The kid was crossing when a car appeared from the shadows and hit her. Just rolled through the light, turned and boom. Koreans are always in such a hurry but to where I would really like to know? You have the time to go to the bank every day to check your balance, watch soap dramas, vacuum and so on so you can afford to stop at the corner when the light is red.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Koreans roads are not perfect. But where is? (http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/05/the-worlds-10-worst-drivers/)

The Korean license test became harder about five years ago, which means more good drivers are entering the system. So, things are improving.

The government is working to improve matters. There are more signs. There are better roads. There are more lanes. There are many ways to get tickets. (Believe me, I know!) The system is improving.

Korean families are buying child seats and making their kids buckle up. Why? Because they are listening to you. Koreans are trying to be better drivers. Why? Because of you.

Korean roads are not perfect, but they are improving.

So, enjoy it before it becomes too controlled and you cannot drive through a red light, speed, ride your bike without a helmet, park where you like, u-turn when it suits you, drive without buckling up , ignore one-way directions, move without a signal, park at an angle,  etc... 

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Absolute-I think you are mistaken. Koreans are not using baby seats. Their was a law but after people complained about having having to live like Americans the law was repealed. My bet is maybe 1 in 50 cars uses a baby seat. As for the driving test, it was posted on here that the test was actually going to get easier because people were complaining it was too hard. More signs? Not sure how that helps when people are too busy talking on their phones and watching TV. Lots of cameras though.

Me, I love driving here because I do everything you mentioned but when you are number one in traffic accidents and kids dying in them in the developed world, one would think getting people to be better drivers would be a priority. But I dont think it is. All good on my end but for the love of God, get out of my way if you see me coming. GTA coming through.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

I knew as soon as I saw the patronizing tone of the first post this would soon degenerate into a bunch of sanctimonious Korea bashig with little basis in reality. The OP has often been seen posting dribble of his own imagining which he would like to pass off as fact when actually it is little more than fabrication.

A quick call to the Korea Traffic Authority at 02-3150-0635 revealed that the law regarding child saftey seats is that they are required for children under the age of 6. Whether this law is enforced or not is another question and we can all fairly agree that Korean police are generally lazy which is why so few people ever get cited for breaking any number of other laws.

The absurdity of JV's assertion that this law was turned down because Koreans didn't want to live like Americans shows how far he is willing to go to cast the most ridiculous and dehumanizing light on Koreans. JV and his likeminded fellow Korea bashers, you people are absurd to an extreme that suggests your agenda is little more than to denigrate Koreans in the most dehumanizing way and to further assuage your own miserable feelings of western superiority. The racism stinks in this thread to a high degree.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Absolute (and others) do make some good points about being more free to drive here and yes, it will be sad if Korea becomes like Europe where most of us drive in fear of breaking some new, petty law. And losing your license for doing so a few times.

But what always annoys me is when people are given freedom, quite a few then show total disrespect and ensure, sooner or later, that the roads become controlled by over zealous police and populist politicians demanding more fines and restrictions 'in the name of safety'.

I love that in Korea you can pretty much park where you want - but that should not mean you show a complete lack of brains and do so by blocking everyone in.

Simply, it is up to Koreans to show the authorities they can drive without the need for punitive laws.

For sooner or later Korean pride (not wanting to lose face) will kick in and the more the rest of the world critiscises Korean driving standards, the more the government will introduce equally silly knee-jerk laws to restrict freedom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

I do not think Korea is free to drive  How   one likes . Korea uses CCTV everywhere .If you run a

red light you will get a ticket for running a red light  . Outside of city they got many speed

cameras . So  cant speed . In Calif  Once out of city if you know how to do it  you can bump

100 mph  . The road from LA to vegas is like the INdy 500   In Korea  you may drive as you

like but not speed pass speed cameras  and red light cameras . Korea tends to be a big brother

country with so many CCTVS everywhere .That kind of explains why Koreans drive as they do

As I mentioned you may drive as you like in Korea  and no one the people or they police will

check you except for the CCTVS . And the best thing they do in Korea is checking for people

who are drunk  stopping every car . However in USA you must drive carefully  first the police .

They are eager to give you a ticket . If you get too may tickets first your car insurance will be

very expensive then after a few more yourr licence will be revoked .Also other people in USA

will check you . If you drive badly they will give you the finger  or start chasing you in their car

or even worse take out some heat from the glove box . People are people . Koreans drive in Korea

as they can . People adapt to their environment . I not think Americans or other people want to

follow all traffic laws  its just they must or lose their right to drive .  Its not difficult to fix Koreans

driving situation . First raise taxes and hire more police and tell them to give tickets and once people

hear of this new policy , Koreans would follow the traffic laws .   

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Woodsman, how long have you been here? In 2005 or so the law was passed, then repealed one month later. It was that or the new law was pushed back to allow more time to get the car seat. The argument that Koreans did not need to live like Americans was real. Honestly, it had more to do with the costs of the baby seat and being told what to do but everything I said is true. Koreans wanted to do with their kids as they saw fit-and still do in fact.  Maybe they have a new law, though. I never said there wasn't. But I was here when all this happened. Look it up. And like I said, Koreans still do not use baby seats. Just look into the cars and see for yourself.

As for racism, perhaps you are reading into this a little too much and need to learn to relax. Korea is number one in car accidents among all OECD countries and children dying in them is the number one cause of death here. It is a real problem. Also, what bashing? I love driving here. I have said that over and over. The reality is, people drive terribly here. Get over it. You have taken the fun out of making fun of bad drivers. Racism and bashing-please! Go rail against the MBC report that tries to paint a picture that foreigners are all out to get Korean women. I think that is a little more ignorant and racist even, so that may be something you want to comment on. My Korean wife and family are all pretty upset about that so thank you for supporting foreigners who marry Koreans and Korean women who use their freedom to do what makes them happy, as getting together with foreigners is not a problem and is okay. Cheers.

As for Korea having cameras-ya, sure, they are everywhere. So are the signs that tell you exactly wher they are. And these cameras dont stop people from being bad drivers-they basically catch speeders. Speed does not kill, inexperienced drivers who need more practice before they start to drive amongst millions of cars on busy streets, do.

Driving in Korea is changing and drivers will only get better but for now, it is all for one and that is about it. No conscience yet of others really. I think Korea really needs to start ticketing more. The double parking, rolling through stop signs at corners, slow drivers because they are on the phone or watching TV and so on are all problems. I wouldnt dare drive back home like I do here. I would lose my license in a week. Here, I already have many, many speeding tickets; but I just pay 40 bucks and move on. Got to love it!

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

Woodsman, how long have you been here? Irrelevant red herring but I've been here a lot longer than most and probably you as well (1995).

In 2005 or so the law was passed, then repealed one month later. Unsubstantiated and most likely based on hearsay if even that.

It was that or the new law was pushed back to allow more time to get the car seat. Which was it? You can't have it both ways. Doesn't matter becasue you're just making stuff up.

 The argument that Koreans did not need to live like Americans was real. Honestly, it had more to do with the costs of the baby seat and being told what to do but everything I said is true. See above.

 Koreans wanted to do with their kids as they saw fit-and still do in fact.  Maybe they have a new law, though. I never said there wasn't. But I was here when all this happened. Look it up. And like I said, Koreans still do not use baby seats. Just look into the cars and see for yourself. The point is your habit of providing unsubstantiated statments as empirical facts when really all they seem to do is reveal your bias against Koreans as a general part of your personality.

As for racism, perhaps you are reading into this a little too much and need to learn to relax. Ad hominem attack that only weakens your arguments. The old you "need to relax" card shows you are incapable of dealing with empirical criticism of your feeble statments.

 The rest of your post is one long dodge. You are simply not good at critical thinking or arguing.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

After some retraining and study of news reporting of that MBC proganda team perhaps they would like to report of the killing of innocent children , old people  and adults on the streets of korea by the reckless dangerous drivers . Perhaps thats not important to them? They would rather make false and  misleading reports of western people for their own Politcal Agenda before the coming election.

Whats important? Koteans dating western  people or the killing of innocent people by reckless drivers . Wake up  and try to be a reporter not a propaganda agent 

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

To Wood (2 posts ago)-take it easy. The post was supposed to be in fun. I am not good in critical thinking? Did you read the original post? Critical thinking is not what I was aiming for. With over 3000 reads, I think it was received as it was intended-for fun. LOL

Annonymous, Korea always does with its media-they try to shine a light elsewhere. If they looked into the mirror they would see a country that was voted dead last among OECD countries for quality of living, last in social spending relative to GDP, tops in suicide, car accidents and so on. It is not a pretty picture here so damn you foreigners for being so likable that our women like you more and dont want to sit in and cook and clean for me. Whatever!

As for driving here, has anyone noticed there are more cops on the roads these days? Maybe it is for summer and all the tourists that will be coming into town? They are not doing anything but sitting on the side of the street in their cars but there are more on them.

Re: Dear Korean Drivers

I think the driving/traffic problem here stems from the same problem that we have at all public spaces in Korea (supermarkets, sidewalks, subways, etc). For lack of a better term, obliviousness. Being unaware or apathetic to what is happening in the surrounding environment. 

Yesterday a guy left his unattended car idling outside my apartment while blocking 3 parking spaces.

At costco last weekend I saw two people pushing carts walking side by side at the door that was not big enough for both to pass through. They approached the door at the same speed and just mashed their carts through without looking at each other.

Those two ladies standing at the bottom of the escalator talking while people push by them who never think to move.

It's not really a driving issue but more a cultural issue regarding space and perceived (or unperceived) public responsibilities. I don't know if it's possible to change habits in driving when the habit is deeply ingrained into the national consciousness.  

Either way, is there anything more maddening then unaknowledged shitty driving? I think the obliviousness is the worst part. When you are going 45 in the right lane and a car just mosies out without looking in your direction, and you lay on the horn, but the person has no idea that what they have done is wrong. arrgghhh thats worse than someone being a dick. 

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