Day 13 - What's the Matter, Officer? Dunkin Donuts Closed?

I have yet to have had a run in with the police (13 days and counting). But I have witnessed a few things that are peculiar. The other day when the light changed for pedestrians to cross the street, a police car pulled up with the flashers going... and stopped at the light. I hadn't crossed yet thinking the police car was going to run the red. Everyone else seems to run red lights. But, no, the policeman just stopped and waited for the light to turn green. The very next day, I heard someone yelling through a loud speaker. It was a policeman telling the car ahead to pull over... without his lights flashing. I have since seen several police cars. Sometimes their lights are flashing, sometimes not. I asked my colleagues about this, and they said that in Korea people don't pull over to get out of the way of emergency vehicles. The reason is because pop-stars will bribe emergency vehicle drivers to get them to their destination quickly. "They have very tight schedules." This happens frequently enough to poison drivers against emergency vehicles?

I have trouble believing that explanation. I mean if no one gets out of the way, is it really worth the bribe? I think Korean drivers pretty much do what they want. My first visit to Korea was for ten days. In that time I saw 4 cars run red lights. Once, I was in the car! "There are no police around", was the comment I heard just before entering the intersection. I have seen this behavior often. Cars will be stopped at a red. There will be no one around and the car will just proceed. I always wanted to do that. Here, it is the norm.

I do not have a car so I cannot really explain what it is like to drive in Seoul. It is not for the weak of heart though. The major thorough fare near my apartment has stop lights at some of the streets that are not four way lights. Let me repeat. They are not four way lights. Only the main street has a red light. The side streets sometimes have flashing yellows or nothing at all. I guess you go when you can. I don't think I will be driving soon.