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Korean women take their babies almost everywhere. Only in the last decade or so have western-style
strollers started to become popular. They're still considered a sign of wealth. Keeping up with the
Joneses knows no boundaries, it seems. The more traditional mothers still carry their young ones on their backs. These "baby backpacks," called podegi, developed from the shawls that women used to wear during the cold Korean winters. Podegi and their modern replacements, chunei, strike me as a good bit more suited than strollers to a crowded nation. They also don't get stuck in ruts and potholes -- a problem we saw several parents struggling with on the dirt paths the following year at 2001 Kangnung (Gangneung) Tano. But I suspect they're not too healthy for mum's back.
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