Every morning, I make a choice. Comfort, or one more hour of sleep. The answer is always the same. Sleep. People who truly hate the packed train wake up an hour earlier. Not that leaving an hour early gets you an empty car — there’s no such thing as an empty subway car in Seoul. … Read more
A lot of foreigners probably picture it like this: the Korean office worker chained to his desk until the boss leaves, then dragged out to drink soju until he can’t see straight, working until midnight and going drinking until 2 AM. And look — that picture wasn’t completely made up. Fifteen years ago, there was … Read more
7:00 AM. The alarm goes off. I know I should get up. I don’t. I hit snooze for ten more minutes. The second alarm hits at 7:10, and now there’s no negotiating — I have to move. My wife and daughter are still asleep. They don’t need to be up until 8:00. My daughter’s 7, … Read more