Walking around Seoul is always an adventure, but not for the reasons you might expect. This is one of the most crowded cities in the world. Korean guys have a bad habit of walking around in public much of the time in a daze, unconcerned about smashing into others. (and then refusing to appologize!). I have had uncountable experiences where Korean guys look at me, with more than enough time to change course but then walk right into me.

Why this happens I have no idea. When i complain about this, many Koreans seem to rationalize their behaviors to no end. "Seoul is so crowded. We are too busy and in too much of a hurry to worry about smashing into people." i think these are poor excuses. But the only reason that it continues to happen is that i believe there are no social reprocussions for behaving like this. Koreans just don't seem to care and don't seem to know any better. My grandma would have killed her grandson if he'd been a korean behaving like this.

Over the past 2 years I have developed a protective strategy of raising my arms reflexively when walking in crowded public areas. Sometimes i will grab the back of my neck with my hand which offers the sharp end of my elbow to the spatially unworried Korean men.

This is the only country in the world where i have had to do this.