Calling woman 'ajumma' leads to subway stabbing

Surprised no one has posted about the ajumma going Michael Myers on a subway on Saturday.

https://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?ud=20230305000103

Luckily no one appears to have been seriously injured. But who would've thought we have psychos packing knives here?!

I saw that. Nothing much to debate or argue about here. Obviously
someone who has serious psychological problems.

I remember when some psycho carved up the US ambassador. They
opened his face with a box cutter. Huge, deep gaping would.

It pays to be polite.

Obviously a crazy woman with severe mental problems.

What would be a polite (normal) thing to call a middle aged woman that you're not familiar with instead of ajumma?
"Imo"?
"Ajumeoni"?

What would be a polite (normal) thing to call a middle aged woman that you're not familiar with instead of ajumma?
"Imo"?
"Ajumeoni"?

That's the dilemma.

While the psychokaren in question is a relatively young 37 years old, she would still fall into the ajumma camp, which is the standard term for all married or 30-40+ women.

But I guess you could get by with a sheepish "저기요" if you wanted to take a submissive stance or deescalate a situation. Or you could whip out the foreigner card and give an authorative "HEY!" or better still "야!" and people would probably distance themselves from you like you'd just shit yourself.

"저기요" makes me feel like I just called the lady over so she could take my dinner order. 

"저기요" makes me feel like I just called the lady over so she could take my dinner order. 

If you say it in your best condescending/dismissive tone, it's basically an insult. Helps if you look the person up and down and scoff before saying it.

Basically like a side-piece insulting her lover's wife in any K-drama.

While the psychokaren in question is a relatively young 37 years old, she would still fall into the ajumma camp, which is the standard term for all married or 30-40+ women.

Women want to be called ajumma about as much as men want to be called ajeossi. It's best to avoid either with anyone under at least 50.

Women want to be called ajumma about as much as men want to be called ajeossi. It's best to avoid either with anyone under at least 50.

Yeah, those terms should only really be used when referring to a person over 30-40 to someone else. and usually in a negative or informal context.

Using it to the person themselves is when you're trying to shame them or start something.

Reminds me of a scene in the Korean Movie "The Big Scene" where a female cop is interrogating a well-off young couple and the girl gives her sass, including calling her ajumma as a show of contempt. Though the cop gives just as goid, including a nice "미안해요" over digging up the girl's tampon and how this supposedly clean and fastidious couple liked to bang during her period.

It isn't just because of implied age that the term "ahjumma" has become negative. It's also become associated with the negative stereotype, kind of like Korea's version of a Karen. While you have "개저씨" for men within the same age bracket who act out of turn, Korea just stuck with "아줌마" as an insult towards women in general. Depends on how it's used and in what context, but yeah, my students clued me in pretty early on. Told me never to refer to any woman as an ahjumma lol.

I avoid calling anyone anything here. Even the term "아가씨" isn't innocent these days.

I honestly do what curtain says if I'm trying to get a stranger's attention and just go "실례합니다" or "저기요". It's the safest thing, imo.

With all that being said, an office worker once called me "언니".

He was a man and twice my age. 

With all that being said, an office worker once called me "언니".

He was a man and twice my age. 

That's odd. But also a legit thing when out clothes shopping, young women call the store owner "언니" despite said owner being at least twice their age.

Kind of like you call any dude "선생님" or any older person "사장님/사모님". Shit be confusing, yo.

Yeah, the guy was just trying to have a little fun with me, but it caught me off guard.

What would be a polite (normal) thing to call a middle aged woman that you're not familiar with instead of ajumma?
"Imo"?
"Ajumeoni"?

Something gender neutral like excuse me would probably do the trick. Speaking of tricks, Bruno Mars says ladies are pimps too.

Something gender neutral like excuse me would probably do the trick. Speaking of tricks, Bruno Mars says ladies are pimps too.

so did Jay Z,  go and dust your shoulders off