Why South Koreans don’t apologise when bumping into others

SEOUL: Experts say this apparent inattentiveness to others' private space is rooted in Korea’s collectivist culture, where individual privacy often takes a back seat.

During William Smith’s first experience riding the subway in Seoul several years ago, he initially felt that some Koreans were rude and didn’t respect other passengers’ personal space. People would push past him and walk away without apologizing.