Not entirely. Just a couple years ago in the shipyard towns it was still common to be turned away from some of the bars that were Koreans only. No signs that I saw, just the being turned away at the door part.
What shocked me was translating signs outside some of the seedy western bars that said Foreigners Only written in Hangul, and Koreans were turned away. I still can’t fathom an bar in an American town prohibiting Americans.
Now after recollecting about my time there I remember the same. Also, I was told the seedier areas would have “hostesses” that would only entertain Koreans or only entertain foreigners. That always grossed me out. Whenever I hear someone talking about how racist, xenophobic or unjust the US is, plenty of shitty international etiquettes comes to mind that makes me shake my head. I couldn’t imagine that type of racism/xenophobia being openly displayed in the last 50-60 years in the US either.
I’m kind of thinking the same thing. Make the Korean government the bogeyman when it’s actually an internal policy. Games being played?
All MSC Vessels worldwide, CONMAR and CIVMAR, are still under a “gangway up” order that comes straight from MSC HQ/Admiral Wettlaufer. MSC is protecting their assets, nothing more. Our hope is that they will soon begin to defer to area commanders. If you read the SECNAV latest on the 60 day extension of the Military travel ban, SCNAV does state he may soon begin to do this. Stating that area commanders know best the COVID situation in their localities. If MSC HQ will defer to MSC FE than things may begin to open up for crew changes and liberty.
GOCO and COCO both are subject to it too. I suppose COCO could override it, but what company really wants to poke that bear if they don’t have to.
Yeah that’s most likely whats goin on. My friend didn’t respond which tells me he didn’t want to message about that. So I blamed Korea in error. As much as it sucks I can actually see the point. If just one of the crew brings it back to the ship it would cause a huge mess. But things really seem to be getting back to normal (or close) in town there so at a certain point there gonna have to put the gangway down. Hopefully on schedule at the end of this month.
If they override an MSC order than that may put them off charter.
I just heard from my friend. Like you guys thought it is an “MSC” quarantine. Sorry for putting in-correct info out there.
But…Korea (and that is definetly a Korean thing) still requires a 2 week quarantine in a Gov’t appoved facility (not sure what that means) for new arrivals. For the most part the company won’t be crew changing until that’s liffted. At least as of Friday. My bags are packed, just hopin for something outta the blue to happen facilitating an email telling me I’m flying. That said, I’m not counting on it.
Damn…ya know, it’s almost like racism/nationalism/xenophobia is not simply a thing that only “evil Americans” perpetuate against all the poor innocent people’s of the world. Who would of thought??? Shocked, SHOCKED I tell you!
Hold on smarty pants. Jumping to conclusions is about the only exercise some of us get these days and we’re not going to sacrifice our health for the sake of someone’s hurt feelings! 
Exactly. So it might as well be the word of god.
I spent time in South Korea too. With the lack of respect some of my fellow Americans showed I can totally understand the “Korean Only” establishments. Spittin dip on the street, in a spit bottle, or just plain old spitting in the street every couple seconds is very frowned upon over there.
Not only in Korea but all over the world. (with a few exceptions)
Chinese tourists are unpopular many places because of their habit of spitting (Some, not all)
China is trying to teach them manners BEFORE allowing travel to overseas destination:
(Maybe an idea for other countries as well)
PS> In Singapore spitting is prohibited:
Oops, fat finger like. Didn’t mean to.
Almost all of the Chinese crews were in the habit of going on deck aft early morning and then spit loudly and thoroughly, drawing it from way deep down their toes. It was a filthy habit which we detested and a sight we never got used to. You could even hear it on the midship bridge wings if you wanted. They said they were cleansing their body by that ritual.
By order of the chief mate they always had to wash the deck after their cleansing session was over, they would never do that on their own. Yak…
.
Amen to that. We have notices above waste paper receptacles in English and Chinese no spitting at the airport. With an Indian crew I reckon we could have got an extra knot out of the old girl if we had feed the toilet exhaust into the boiler front, that curry was strong stuff.
That is exactly the reason.
A civilian working at Camp Casey has been banned from all U.S. bases in South Korea for two years for visiting an off-base bar against restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, the military said Tuesday.
Abrams clamped down on civilians after a contractor who works at Eighth Army headquarters tested positive after he continued to go to restaurants in the local community despite restrictions.
Two civilians also were barred from Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, after security personnel found them in an off-base bar in violation of similar restrictions set by the Navy to fight the coronavirus, officials said earlier this week.
Just got word . The ship I refer to in Korea. Quarantine just extended another 30 days, so that would be May 21. But…most likely the extensions will keep coming. They’ve been on Quarintine since March 19th.
https://www.stripes.com/1.626932
USFK commander Gen. Robert Abrams has extended through May 23 a public health emergency, which gives him authority to punish civilians as well as service members.