The Korean Way: Exploits of a Batman Collector Abroad

By Tom Cherrix

Have you ever been at a local toy store, seeking that last variation of a third issue action figure and found, to your dismay, that they are sold out? What do you do? Give up? Never! Instead, you start a frantic search for anyone wearing a smock or name tag to help you out. Once you've located this savior, you start hammering out questions about what's in the storeroom and when the next shipment is coming in. Of course, approximately two minutes later, you realize that you have just asked the wrong person for help. It's not that they are stupid or don't know the shipping schedule (okay, sometimes it is that), but a lot of times, it's just that they don't give a bat's ass!

They are just there to earn their $4.25 an hour and probably don't know anything about "The Fever" that burns in a collector. After being led around the entire store twice looking for "someone who might know" and being referred to a twenty-year old part-time manager who only got the job because he had prior managerial experience at the office supply store, you realize that, not only are you not going to find the figure, but that you are sure there is a conspiracy against you.

I'm sure we've all had similar experiences, but what in Gotham's name is my point? What I am trying to show is, how, even when we all speak the same language, it's sometimes difficult to relay a message of importance and receive satisfaction from someone not in tune with us. so, with this in mind, I take you on an adventure in toy hunting that should make you feel a little less frustrated with the minor inconveniences we experience in our daily lives.

It all started with my first weekend in Korea. I was anxiously awaiting my first trip into the city. Here, I was told I would find leather jackets, mink blankets, Starter jackets and brand name basketball shoes at a cost so low, "I would go broke saving money"! Of course, I was already planning to forego the "adult" stores and spend all my time and money in the toy stores. There were a few problems with that idea however. First, I had to get into town. I didn't have a car here, plus, I didn't have a clue as to where "the city" was!

Secondly, I had even less of a clue as to where the toy stores were once I got there. Lastly, and of significant importance, how was I going to communicate what I was looking for? I wasn't too concerned though, I considered myself pretty resourceful. Wasn't I the guy who scanned all the flea markets, auctions, yard sales and 30% off shelves at Toys R Us looking for Bat-goodies?

Wasn't I the guy who knew collectors in all of the nifty fifty and several other countries? Wasn't I the guy who had a triple digit phone bill and a part-time job to pay for it? Yep, that's me, Mr. Resourceful. So, Saturday morning, I meet with a guy who has been here almost a year and who graciously offered to be my tour guide. We caught a bus, which is also a new experience to this small town East coast guy. After about 20 minutes of stopping and starting, lunging through streets packed with people, and cramming 100 people on a bus made to seat 50, we turned onto a street that looked as though it had some shopping potential and, unbeknownst to me, would eventually become my second home on the weekends. I tried to make mental notes of stores that looked like toy or comic stores so I could go back, but by the time the bus finally stopped at "our" stop, I had seen at least a thousand little shops and I couldn't tell the toy stores from the furniture stores!

Anyway, we get off the bus and plunge into the heart of the city, or at least the heart of where the Americans like to shop. I was shown an array of shops selling all the aforementioned "adult" items. Now, I did need a new pair of shoes, but I really needed something with a Bat-signal on it worse! The longer we walked, the more frustrated I became. Weren't there ANY toy stores in this country? Of course, we had only covered about five blocks, but "The Fever" was burning and I wasn't getting any relief. The next thing I know, my partner is ready to leave. Leave? Wait a minute, I spent 20 minutes and the equivalent of 75 cents on a crowded bus, and this is all you can show me?! Of course, I said this to myself out of fear that he would leave me here alone. I shuffled behind him towards the "American" bus stop and boarded again for the trip back to the base. I'm feeling a little depressed, but not defeated. On the way back up the street, I made some more mental notes. Of course, I'm working with a small pad and the notes were starting to jumble together, but I pin-pointed some shops that had toy potential. By the next day, I'm feeling like a veteran. I decide that "I shall return" and, this time, by myself and for myself! I head back to the bus stop and wait. it doesn't take long for me to lose patience waiting on the bus, so spotting a cab nearby, I approach him. He speaks English a hell of a lot better than I speak Korean and I know now that these guys just sit and wait for people like me, because he talks me into paying him 8 dollars for a trip that would cost only 75 cents if I had any patience. But, I was on a mission, so damn the torpedoes, or something like that. Yep, Mr. Resourceful strikes again. (I think)

So, he takes off. Now, as I said before, mass transportation is new to me, so maybe someone can help me understand...do all taxi drivers proceed through crowded intersections at approximately twice the posted speed limit AND against the light? Anyway, he takes me a different way, to avoid more traffic but hit more potholes, and stops at the shopping district. I relay to him that I want to go further up the street. He doesn't seem real happy, but I just spent 8 bucks and I want to do as little walking as possible. Mr. Resourceful is also a little lazy. I have him drive until I think I recognize a shop from yesterday, and then jump out for my adventure into the unknown.

The first thing I notice, is the lack of other Americans and absence of any signs that I can read, but that doesn't stop me. I immediately spot what looks like model kits stacked in the corner of a small stationery store. Not really sure what to do next, but too excited by the prospect of "discovery" to think straight, I opened the door and walked in. Apparently, I showed up just in time for lunch and the lady behind the counter with the take-out box was not exactly happy to see me. Either that, or a 6'1" foreigner who looked lost and couldn't speak a lick of the native tongue, made her nervous. I guess I could understand her apprehension, so I smiled and proceeded to dig through the stack. After only a minutes, Jackpot! I saw a Bat-signal! It turned out to be a 1:6 scale Batman figure circa 1989. Now, I'm not going to detail every toy I find, I ramble enough as it is, but maybe I can do a follow-up article on Korean toys, if there is any interest. Anyway, after scrounging through every corner of the store, under the watchful eye of the clerk, I was content that I had the only existing Batman toy there. Now came the time I dreaded, how do I ask how much and then how do I understand her if she answers?

I won't bore you with details, but the series of grunts and hand gestures we made could have passed for something out of "Quest For Fire". (Does anyone remember that movie?) So, with a great deal of difficulty, we agreed on the price and I took out my Won. I at least had the decency to get some local currency, and she seemed to appreciate that. I decided not to try to ask what was in the back, as that would probably have set off an International incident. I smiled, she smiled and I left, feeling pretty resourceful.

One store down, two thousand to go. I walked for over an hour, stopping in stores that we open and making notes of ones that were closed, so I could return. I made a few more deals on the grunt and gesture system, and finally arrived at the bus stop with about four different Korean Batman toys. Boy, was I a resourceful guy, not to mention tired, sweaty, and completely unsure of what had happened that day. I do however, know this, I have never had a more trying or satisfying day of toy shopping!

To make a long story longer, I return now about once a week. I have taken a Korean conversational language class to help with "hello", "how much?", and "thank you". One store owner even recognizes me and doesn't look nervous when I walk in! I still get lots of stares and kids touch me to see if I'm real, but overall, it's quite an interesting, eye-opening experience!

I know there are a lot of dealer/collectors who have connections in other countries. I also know that there are a privileged few who get to travel to foreign lands just to add to their respective toy collections. What I want to do here is, give you an idea of what it is like to suddenly be in an unfamiliar country where you have to overcome culture shock and language barriers to keep the collecting fever burning.

Realize, of course, that overseas to one person is home to another. All of this does not apply to just Americans. I have to speak from my perspective, but I am sure some of our friends around the world would experience the same problems in the United States if they were not prepared.

Until next time Annyong hi-keyseyo!



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