Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fault, and you may find yourself facing much worse odds than you anticipated when pass-
ersby jump in to defend their countryman (or men). The police, too, can be unsympathetic,
and the enduring practice of “blood money” means you can expect to face a hefty medical
bill from anyone who's suffered at your hands—even if they started it.
For women: Korean women tend to be very standoffish with men they don't know, and
foreign women should exercise the same discretion when they're here—it's too easy for
people to mistake what's meant to be friendliness as full-on flirtation in what is still a fairly
reserved society. Be careful about accepting invitations from strangers to an event or cof-
fee, as even this could be perceived as a “date.” Men eyeing you up, initiating conversa-
tions for no reason, or seemingly tailing you can be warning signs, just as they are back
home, and may be a cue to seek out the nearest place with a lot of people. Don't be afraid to
call attention to yourself (or a man who's bothering you) if necessary—shame is a powerful
inhibitor in South Korea and many locals will be happy to help you out. Local women of-
ten make sure they're with friends or conspicuously chatting on the phone to a “boyfriend”
when they're out and about at night.
Large street demonstrations are a time-honored tradition in South Korea and are com-
mon in the summer months. These can look and sound pretty rowdy and usually attract an
intimidating police response, with busloads of armored-up youngsters deployed to maintain
order around protest sites. While tensions do boil over from time to time, they are for the
most part highly ritualized affairs and no real cause for alarm, though it is obviously a good
idea to steer clear of known trouble spots.
South Korean police are generally honest and helpful, though perhaps less assertive than
most Westerners expect. They're often visibly reluctant to get involved in low-level or do-
mestic disputes, taking the view that the parties involved should sort things out. Some have
posited that this is partly the result of a desire not to appear heavy-handed after decades in
which the police force served as the chief agent of government repression.
While most police stations will be able to muster up an English speaker in emergency
situations, most of the complaints foreign nationals have about the police are rooted in the
language barrier. Aggrieved parties typically “argue” their case in front of police officers,
who may issue an order or make an arrest based on this “testimony”; this puts non-Korean
speakers at an automatic disadvantage, and it's vital that they secure the help of a local
friend or legal representation as soon as possible. Regardless of the situation, remember this
