Free Hugs...in Seoul!

[literallyjohn]

this is particularly affective because hugging is practically taboo there.

Comments

[the_skim]

oh wow! thank you for sharing that. it's a really wonderful thing to see.

[literallyjohn]

yes...quirky people give me hope :)

[literallyjohn]

first tree-huggers and now this? the next thing you know people will be asking each other how their day is going...and really wanting to know!

i shudder.

but seriously, yeah i can see it being a bit creepy, especially when most people just don't do it. people aren't very warm to each other. in chicago, if a random person says hello on the train people immediately get suspicious...and wonder what the person wants.

sad. so very sad.

[theshufits]

Hrm - that's interesting. Why is it taboo there? Is public affection also considered taboo?

[literallyjohn]

yes pda is pretty non-existent there. but then, asian pda is pretty invisible here too. i think more of us should make out in public. really.

while at the airport leaving seoul, i gave my cousin a hug before boarding the plane. she had this frightened look in her eyes...like she was trapped in a bad situation and didn't know how to get out.

i think the closest equivalent would be like someone holding a sign here saying "free kisses." or maybe the guy in seoul should have a sign stating "free bows." but that would seem a little preposterous.

[soothai]

yay for hugs!