Dancing Ajummas

One of the more interesting/weird things I have seen in Korea is the method for campaigning for local government office. Imagine my surprise when one morning at 8am, while I was in the car on the way to the bus terminal with my host mom and we approached the big intersection near my house to find about 20 ajummas dressed in matching neon outfits dancing choreographed dances to very loud Korean music on each corner of the intersection. They not only had matching neon shirts on, but white gloves, white pants, white visors (an ajumma clothing staple), etc. The sight was by far the weirdest and most horrifying thing I have ever seen at 8am. After some questioning I learned that these women were helping a politician campaign for a local position. That morning was the first day that they were allowed to campaign. Over the next couple of days a bazillion large posters featuring faces of old Korean men (and occasionally a woman) began appearing all over the place. Ajummas came out in droves to dance and bow to passing cars on street corners. Apparently this method of campaigning is relatively new. I know my surprise is not just a cultural difference, because my whole host family thinks it is strange. While the whole thing is mildly entertaining, I still can't seem to get my head around the reasoning behind the dancing ajummas. As I said to one of my friends...How do you decide who is the person you vote for? Do you vote for the person who can convince the most ajummas to wear ridiculous outfits and dance on the street corners for you?
Very bizarre.


Bowing ajummas.


Dancing ajummas.


The best banner for a politician I've ever seen.