I once got in a taxi in Seoul and went through the normal routine with the driver by telling him where I wanted to go. He didn't seem to know where my destination was located though, and started asking questions. I was only catching every other third or fourth word though because of his accent. It seemed as though he could understand my Korean speaking just fine though (I speak the standard dialect with a dash of Kyongsang saturi). He kept having to repeat himself over and over. I could tell he was getting frustrated. He was doing his damndest to speak without an accent...but it wasn't working very well.

He flat out asked me, "You're having a hard time understanding me because of my accent, right?" To which I responded affirmatively.

He said he had just moved to Seoul from Cholla three weeks prior and still hadn't learned his way around the city very well.

We eventually got it all figured out though.

When I lived in California, there were two Korean ladies who lived on the same street, and both of them were from Cholla. My wife was good friends with both of them and I ate many meals at their houses. They both were outstanding cooks.

It's very interesting story. Thanks...
Btw, Can you speak Kyongsang do saturi ? oh...that's good.
Umm..... I try to say for u about Korea's another side.
You know, Korea is very small country. Most foreigners are knowing Korea's feeling is only one. But it is not. We have other feeling every region.
Did you know that ?
Especially, Cholla area and Kyongsang area has very very diffrent emotion.
If you speak Kyongsang saturi in Gwangju area, you will not get a good treatment. Most Kyongsang do people don't want to live long Cholla area.
That's why our historic accident.
Umm...it is very long story, so I can't write with this post.
Cholla area is very fall out place in S.Korea as Negro area in America.
So, This area people wanna a development but we don't get support from central government. Did you know that ?
I don't know how long you are living in Korea but Korea has a lot of regional inequalities as minorities(Asian) in America.
Can you understand what I say ?

At least for an American I was treated very poorly in Kwangju on multiple occassions including when I was refused service at a McDonalds there for simply being an American. My Korean wife was absolutely furious and we never went back to Kwangju since.

However, the people in the countryside of Chollanam-do are some of the nicest people in Korea and my wife and I really love touring around Chollanam-do. Their kimchi is the best in Korea as well.

Thats funny, when I got to Korea and did the (army, you will go out and tour Korea tour that is mandatory when you get to Korea for 2 ID) tour. When we went to the shopping center, the lady at BK could not understand that I wanted a milk shake, she just waved me off and looked at the customer behind me and motioned him up (yes he was Korean).

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

Cholla do food is very famous in Korea.