When driving in North America, one uses the horn to tell people that you are in the spot that they are trying to be. For example, if someone is turning into your lane and they don't see you, you honk your horn. That is why it is considered a safety feature that is required on all autos. Sure, if someone is pulling out in front of you, you may honk as if to say, "Hey wait a minute, pull out behind me because I'm driving just a little too fast to avoid hitting you." At more stressful times and in busier cities, the horns are used more, of course. They may even be accompanied by a hand signal, as if to say that the offender is number one.
Sometimes, we give a little honk honk as if to say, "Dumb Ass" to someone who is doing something stupid.
Seoul is an extremely crowded city. Those of us who live here know that when people walk on the sidewalks lounge in a park, the Koreans are very good at tuning out the people around them. When it comes to driving, sadly this same natural ability can cause for a bit of a headache. The etiquette regarding use of the horn seem to be a little different here in Korea than it does in North America. Sure, the above-mentioned uses are part of how they are used. However, horns here are more often used as if to say, "Hurry the hell up" or "Get out of my way." "You're driving too slow" or "Warning! I'm running this red light, so don't step out into the crosswalk yet" are also common uses of the horn by bus drivers, taxi drivers, and your every day Sonata driver.
Flashing headlights may accompany the horn, just in case you cannot hear. If someone is creeping out and looks as though they will pull out, a driver may honk and flash their lights, as if to say "don't even think about it."
(I have a feeling that first sons are the worst, but this cannot really be confirmed.)
Sometimes, we give a little honk honk as if to say, "Dumb Ass" to someone who is doing something stupid.
Seoul is an extremely crowded city. Those of us who live here know that when people walk on the sidewalks lounge in a park, the Koreans are very good at tuning out the people around them. When it comes to driving, sadly this same natural ability can cause for a bit of a headache. The etiquette regarding use of the horn seem to be a little different here in Korea than it does in North America. Sure, the above-mentioned uses are part of how they are used. However, horns here are more often used as if to say, "Hurry the hell up" or "Get out of my way." "You're driving too slow" or "Warning! I'm running this red light, so don't step out into the crosswalk yet" are also common uses of the horn by bus drivers, taxi drivers, and your every day Sonata driver.
Flashing headlights may accompany the horn, just in case you cannot hear. If someone is creeping out and looks as though they will pull out, a driver may honk and flash their lights, as if to say "don't even think about it."
(I have a feeling that first sons are the worst, but this cannot really be confirmed.)
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