The Fascination with Trash and Old People

The Fascination with Trash and Old People

I present to you one of Korea's cultural phenomenons -- the fascination with trash. And old people. Mostly the "Ajuma" (old woman) are the ones always crouching down in the streets, collecting trash.

Here is what surprises me everyday about the trash situation in Seoul --

1) The Bar Scene: at night, trash and call girl cards are strewn about all over the streets (not to mention vomit and other questionable things)... but in the morning, the old people are up by 7am and picking up the trash with their brooms and bare hands. I'm pretty sure not all of them are hired by the government.

2) The Leaves: ever since the first foliage fall, every single day, every single wind blow, they are there to sweep it up. They also love to collect the stinky gingko fruit, too. Not quite sure what they do with it.

3) Trash Day: Usually every trash day, while I am walking out the door to class or out for a run, there's always an ajuma rustling in the back of our building, opening knotted trash bags in search for any treasures. They're mostly looking for cardboard, which I think they can turn in and receive money depending on the weight.

While walking to school one morning last week, I found the ultimate Ajuma, on a mission:

Oh, probably the trashman doing his rounds already...

Hmm...it's no trashman... this ajuma's been busy, and she just found the cardboard motherload

 These old people on a mission are usually equipped with these makeshift carts where they tie the cardboard they collect on the street. They're Public Enemy #2 after Taxi trivers, in that they will run over you with their carts and keep it moving.

I guess it's a good system for free street-cleaning services, but I always wonder why these old people are just so bored that this is what consumes their time.