In Korea, as in the US, J-walking is illegal. In Britain you at least get a sense of empowerment when you press that grubby but ever smooth to the touch little button on the traffic lights. The little, seemingly shipped with bird keek, 'wait' sign lights up instantly and never for too long, before you saunter across the road demonstrating your right to stop traffic at a whim.
In Korea I find great irritation in crossing the road. There is no button. There is never a 'wait' light. There is only green and red. The indecency I feel when instead of the Charlie Chaplain esq green man, a count-down begins. You have a piddle amount of seconds to dash across the road before the vehicles (who are already growling at you like a rabid dog about to pounce by the way!) hurl themselves towards you in anger at disturbing their endless flow of traffic, or the warden lands you a $50 fine for crossing while the red light is on.
Worse still, because there is no little button to push you have to stand there idly while the lights flick through there predetermined sequence of start and stop. It causes a great build up of people at almost every crossing point. You literally could jump across the little ones. Yet people stand there, even with the rarity of there being no cars.
I like to brighten up this ordeal by trying to be the first one off the blocks. When that counter begins I want to be the first person to even flinch. I wanna have my first step down before the agimas have even processed that the lights have changed. I don't think I'm the only one either. I can sense it. I can feel the static at the anticipation of the green light. The crossing is our auditorium, the roar of the cars is my bloodthirsty mob, the other side my goal. I know I can't be the only one because some of the guys out there are just to quick at beginning to walk. The only problem is that as I leap forward in competitive rapture, I try to conceal my habit with a casual walk. Usually what was once an average one becomes a half canter with a straight back and hands in pockets weaving between incoming elderly and mums with buggies. No wonder most Koreans think foreigners a bit strange.
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There can't be a warden at every crossing, if there ain't no cars then cross you fool. Don't even look for a designated pedestrian crossing point, remember you're British man... A comedian once said that our passports were made of thick black leather so that we could slap johnny-foreigner customs bureaucrats aside and march where we please. Your timid compliance with petty and stupid foreign regulations is saddening, and a betrayal of your heritage sir. March where you want! I tell you this submissive attitude would never have happened if we had not adopted the weak pink design now standard throughout the blasted European Union. Bah!
ReplyDeleteNah, there's not a warden at every crossing infact they are rare. I'm not going to attempt to cross a main road when there isn't a green light it's pure suicide. The gasps from Korean friends as you march over a quite, clear crossing are amusing. You turn round to continue your conversation to realise you are conversing with thin air. If I ever do get a fine I'll gently explain that because I'm British I'm exempt. If I am unfortunate enough to get hit by a bus then at least I'm covered by the NHS....oh wait that's only inside the EU.
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