You think traffic is bad in Honolulu? Seoul is packed with cars, and has a parking shortage. While most modern buildings have underground parking, with real-estate prices in the stratosphere, parking space is a valuable commodity.

Most restaurants have valet parking, but it seems the valets are usually running several blocks to park your car.

A typical two-bedroom condo has two parking stalls, but what if you have three cars, or guests?

Koreans have come up with a novel solution.

It is common practice to park your car in a space perpendicular to cars in marked stalls, blocking the legally parked car's door on the driver's side.

How will the car in the marked stall get out? Koreans get around the problem by leaving their cars in neutral (engine turned off, of course). The person who wants to get out will push your car forward or backward so that they can pull their car out of the marked stall.

Insurance companies probably aren't thrilled about this practice, but it's the most efficient way to subvert the city's parking crisis.

To make things even more complicated, there could be other cars just like yours parked in front and back of you. If a car parked in a stall wants to get out, he or she will have to push other cars away one by one, and then move your car to get out. It can become a stressful chore if, when you're late for an appointment, you need to get out and push several cars in your dry-cleaned outfit. And sometimes, you might find your illegally parked car a block away from where you originally parked.

The typical practice when double parking like this is to leave a note or a sign with your mobile number on the dashboard. There will be cases where pushing other cars will not solve the problem. A driver who needs to get out will call you on your mobile asking you to move your car. Sometimes, drivers will forget to leave their car in neutral and actually leave the car in park.

Not answering this type of call will lead to an argument or a not-so-kind voice mail.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'BRIDE FROM VIETNAM'

Episodes 13 and 14

Tonight at 7: Jun-wu, grateful for Jin-ju's help as he recuperates, asks her out on a date. The family is happy with Jun-wu's progress. Ji-young tells Young-min to move out.

Tonight at 8: Jun-wu gives Jin-ju a wood carving he made of her. Young-min announces his decision to move out with Ji-young, to Ok-kyong's dismay. Ok-kyong tells Ji-young's mother she'll disown Young-min if he moves out.

'KANGNAM MOM'

Episodes 11 and 12

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: The moms and the students hear that Jin-woo's mom worked as a singing hostess, but Sang-won covers up for her. To ease Miss Han's anger, Sang-won moves out of Jin-woo's place and camps out on the roof of the school. Min-joo, after realizing that she can no longer afford to raise Jin-woo, asks her mother-in-law to raise him.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: The Chairman offers to get a studio for Sang-won, and asks him to forget about the theft incident. Soo-mi's husband leaves her. His reasion? She is too obsessed with the kids' education. Jin-woo is sent to live with his grandmother, and both Jin-woo and Min-joo are having a hard time coping.

'THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR'

Episodes 7 and 8

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Soo-chan is no longer a suspect, but he has a hard time looking for a job after he loses his position as a professor. He and Duk-gil have to move out of their home and Mi-hee suggests that they live in her storage room.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Soo-chan applies to work at J Corporation. A couple moves into the neighborhood. Mi-hee feels bad for Duk-gil and ends up taking care of him in many situations. As Joon-suk is pressured to marry Hye-mi, he finds himself leaning towards Yoon-hee.

'KARL & SU-JUNG'

Episodes 3 and 4

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Su-jung spots Man-su, but collapses while going after him. Before Man-su can do anything, Woo-tak shows up and takes her to a hospital. Man-su, testing Su-jung's feelings for him, disguises Woo-tak as a millionaire and sets him up with Su-jung.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Su-jung's interest is piqued when Woo-tak is introduced as Man-su's sponsor. Su-jung is disappointed when she learns Man-su invited his gang of pals to the golf game.