Here’s a story from my Golden Week vacation:

Waiting in line to check in at the Korean Air desk, my grandmother reprimands me for waiting at a polite distance behind the traveler in front of me.  There was an open counter to the left without any waiting customers, but the attendant there seemed busy clacking away at her keyboard—indeed, she had placed the “Next counter, please.” placard on the desk.  But Grandma insisted I demand immediate service:

“This isn’t America.  We’re Korean.  We don’t wait in lines.”

While she was being completely serious I just laughed and remained in place, perhaps having waited longer than Grandma would have liked, but maintaining my integrity as a manner-minding American.

Why are Koreans so impatient when more often than not, they aren’t even concerned with being on time?