It has only been two weeks since I arrived back from Korea, but I am already missing the country like crazy. But more on that later. While doing some research for one of my upcoming blog posts about my Korea trip (stay tuned!), I stumbled upon this in the Seoul Metro website, and decided it would be interesting to share. ^.^
Not too long ago, I remember one of our ministers saying that even though Singaporeans may be compliant (we follow rules well), we don’t have much community spirit. In Korea, the sense of community goes without question, and people actually do go out of their way just to help you. Even though some of the etiquette here go without question, and we do the same in Singapore, there are some that caught my attention immediately.
2. Shameless free riders. Do you really want to exchange your conscience for small changes?
I am not even picking on the English here but this made me laugh out loud. I could totally imagine being scolded by an ajumma in these exact words. Tried to find the Korean version but apparently they have a totally different set in Korean. Shucks.
4. Fold your newspaper for others.
I suppose this means while reading the newspaper. It can get quite squeezy on the train seats. Maybe I just take up a lot of space, or I end up sitting next to people who do that, but I’ve never had a comfortable seat in the metro. I mean unless I sit at the end of the row. Nonetheless, I don’t really think there is much space to read the newspaper on the metro. If people don’t fold their papers then it would totally intrude into the next seat.
5. Even if you are in a rush, please wait for another train.
I am amused that this is even in written etiquette. It really signifies the community spirit of Koreans, always looking out for one another. In Singapore, the only reason you wait for another train is if it is impossible to get into the current one. I took the train once in Korea during rush hour, and even though there was a tiny bit of space left in the train, the commuters just waited it out and took the next one instead. I guess it was so as not to inconvenience the other commuters who were already in the train. That was nice of them.
7. It only takes 3 seconds to find a person to offer your seat to.
Respect for the elderly in Korea totally goes without question. The elderly there are treated so well! I guess they kind of have the same aging population crisis as do most other developed Asian countries. They even have seats at both ends of the train specially dedicated for the elderly. If you sit there by accident, people do give you weird stares. Kind of the same idea as the “priority seats” in Singapore, where people actually avoid sitting there. I guess now we know it works!
Anyway, I really miss Korea and hope to go back soon. I am trying to apply for a student exchange there, so I hope I get it! Wish me luck guys!
