Have you ever experienced walking on the right side of a sidewalk when suddenly a rushing Korean run into your direction, literally? If you won't give way, you'll just hear that someone muttering something under his breath. Or have you ever had these cases like you were doing "patintero"(pah-tin-teh-roh) with the other person when you are walking?
I find this behavior very bothering (sometimes odd and funny) especially when I use the stairways in the subway. Some subway stations have escalors going up installed at the left (e.g. Deokcheon Station). What is surprising is that they even have this sign:
I told this to Tommy a few days ago and I just found out from him that they learn walking at the left side of the road in their elementary days. They even have this song that goes lilke this:
"People keep to the left and cars to the right. Let's cross the street after looking right and left."
So, it must be because of an old convention of walking on the left (I heard British people also have this). I read some news too that nowadays The Korean government is also trying to correct this old habit by putting up various campaigns. In the Philippines, I remember that unless you are walking on an actual road, it's usually safer to walk on the opposite side (oncoming vehicles). Filipinos usually walk on the right.
Left or right, I just believe that when two people approach each other, BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE would be the best choice.
I find this behavior very bothering (sometimes odd and funny) especially when I use the stairways in the subway. Some subway stations have escalors going up installed at the left (e.g. Deokcheon Station). What is surprising is that they even have this sign:
I told this to Tommy a few days ago and I just found out from him that they learn walking at the left side of the road in their elementary days. They even have this song that goes lilke this:
"People keep to the left and cars to the right. Let's cross the street after looking right and left."
So, it must be because of an old convention of walking on the left (I heard British people also have this). I read some news too that nowadays The Korean government is also trying to correct this old habit by putting up various campaigns. In the Philippines, I remember that unless you are walking on an actual road, it's usually safer to walk on the opposite side (oncoming vehicles). Filipinos usually walk on the right.
Left or right, I just believe that when two people approach each other, BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE would be the best choice.
Comments
the nuns in my (grade and high)school used to always emphasize to "keep right" so i got this habit, too.
these days, i would always hear tbs-eFM's campaign to walk on the right and "keep right".
I never had tuned in to TBS but I commend their effort for the campaign. ^^