Seoul 32nd in Hospitality
By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter
Seoul ranked 32nd in politeness among 35 major cities in the world, according to the July issue of the Reader's Digest Magazine.
The magazine's reporters tested 60 citizens in each city about how polite they are to others.
Only 40 percent of Seoulites were found to treat fellow citizens politely, lower than the world average of 55 percent.
Reporters performed three experiments: ``door tests' (would anyone hold the door open for them?), ``document drops' (who would help them retrieve a pile of dropped papers?) and ``service tests' (how many salesclerks would thank them for a purchase?).
About 50 percent of Seoulites aced the document drop, while 40 percent of store clerks said ``thank you' to customers for a purchase. Only 30 percent passed the door test.
The magazine found New York the most courteous major city in the world as 80 percent of New Yorkers passed the tests.
Zurich came in second with 77 percent of its residents passing the politeness tests, followed by Toronto with 70 percent.
Berlin, Sao Paulo and Zagreb tied for fourth spot, followed by Auckland and Warsaw both at seventh place.
Major cities behind Seoul in the magazine's politeness test are Kuala Lumpur (33rd), Bucharest (34th) and Mumbai (35th).
I am very surprised tha New York was number 1.
