::A Geek in Korea::

(From the Chosun Ilbo)

Yesterday, my wife and I were walking back from Bennigan’s, completely stuffed after a Power Lunch set. We had made a compromise. She was allowed to window shop at a department store if I was allowed to check out an electronics and appliance store on the way to the subway.

By the time we got to the electronics store, both of us had to go the bathroom to work off some of our meal. The nearest public bathroom was across the street at a large grocery store. We had to wait at a crosswalk for the lights to change. The corner we were waiting on, as well as the corner we were walking to, had a group of supporters for a local canidate.

They were all middle aged women wearing bright blue coats, gloves, and hats. When the lights would change, they’d bow to passing cars, wave, and try to get attention for their candidate’s causes. All of this was syncronized, but it wasn’t precise. It wasn’t like a cheerleading squad or a dance group. Really, it was just a bunch of women waving at cars.  Since all the candidates are given numbers and colors, getting people to look over at your supporters is enough to get people’s attention.Then, later, people check out the candidates platforms on posters placed on walls around apartment complexes around the city. This happens for a few weeks, then the election is over.

Anyway, after we were leaving the supermarket, we noticed that the group of supporters had left their corners to take a break. Some had gone into the bathroom, and others were taking a break in a van nearby. As we were walking across the crosswalk, a group of rival supporters with green sashes and hats showed up. They were stealing the same corner we had crossed to get to the supermarket!

They lined up and got ready to start waving. Same thing, different colors. The blue group came out of the van, and some came out from the supermarket to check out what was going on.

We were watching to see what would happen. Would there be a rumble for the street corner with the best hand waving potential? Were the blue group done for the day? Was this an arrangement worked out ahead of time? Did vans of supporters roll around the city trying to steal the best positions to wave to the most traffic?

So many questions! When we left, the green group was waving, and the blue group was sort of walking around listlessly.No rumble. THIS TIME. Who knows how fierce this campaign will get. If any hand waving riots break out, I’ll be the first to pass on the news.