Korean Job Discussion Forums

[byrddogs]

5 year Korea veteran and current 2 year China expat here. The two are similar in many respects.

While I liked SK well enough. The first couple of years were pretty exciting. The last 3 were much less so. I only stayed that long in all honesty because of a girl. I lived in Seoul and it certainly wasn't cheap there. I was able to work my way up to the top of the public school payscale, but I had hit the ceiling.

I've been in China (Shanghai) for 2 years now. There is much more variety in things to do/see and places to go in this country. It's cheaper to live here. I make more and save more here. I personally find people in general more friendly and helpful. There is a different expat culture; more varied backgrounds.

I'd recommend a jump over here to anyone that has become bored with SK. I've met many people that came here after working there. Most everyone had good things to say about their time in SK, but they also said they prefer it here.

I've no desire to return to the ROK. I work at a Korean school here in China, so I get my daily dose of Korea/Koreans without having to actually live there. I'd say that the only thing that I miss about living there is being able to go down to the Han River and ride my bike whenever I wanted.

[edwardcatflap]

[World Traveler]

[Smithington]

I have a few more questions. Which cities are closest to Seoul. I'm guessing the likes of Dalian, etc. If I go to China I'll be leaving my girlfriend here so I'd like to be able to visit Seoul, and have her visit me in China.

Also, one reason I want to take a break from Korea is (among other reasons) I'm tiring of Korean manners (eating habits, the whole phlegm thing, spitting, always having to listen to people hacking, coughing and snorting, etc.) Unfortunately I've heard China is even worse in that regard. But are there parts of cities, regions, where people are more refined? Are there upscale neighborhoods? Or is the whole place akin to one big Korea on steroids?

Finally, is there an equivalent of Itaewon in any Chinese cities? A place to get away from the more disagreeable aspects of the culture once a week.

Thank in advance,
Smith

[creeper1]

1. Dalian (or Yanji) is closer as the crow flys but what does it matter? Seoul is going to be an international flight and not particulary cheap. It sounds like you are not ready to go to China. If you want to, I　ｒｅｃｏｍｍｅｎｄ severing all contact with Korea.

２．　Ｔｈａｔ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｒｙｉｎｇ　ｐａｎ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｅ．　Ｉ　ｓｅｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｒｅｇｕｌａｒｌｙ　ｃｌｅａｒｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｎｏｓｅｓ　ｗｉｔｈｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｅｌｐ　ｏｆ　ｔｉｓｓｕｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｃｏｎｓｔａｎｔ　ｓｐｉｔｔｉｎｇ．　

３．　Ｏｎｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｒｇｅｓｔ　ｏｆ　ｃｉｔｉｅｓ　Ｉ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔ．　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ａｎ　ｅｑｕｉｖａｌｅｎｔ　ｏｆ　Ｉｔａｅｗｏｎ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｉｎ　Ｂｅｉｊｉｎｇ　ｃａｌｌｅｄ　Ｓａｎｌｉｔｕｎ．　

[wishfullthinkng]

[EZE]

I have worked in both, and even with a salary of 12000 RMB, the pay wasn't as good as Korea. I find Koreans to be more polite than the Chinese. The amount of linejumping is significantly less in Korea. Work conditions were similar.

If it had been my first time teaching ESL in Asia, I think I would have had a blast in China. But after teaching in Korea, in the back of my mind, I knew Korea was a nicer place with a higher standard of living.

So Korea gets my vote.

[schwa]

Isnt this a bit worrisome in China? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21005228

These pics are from Beijing this week, but maybe similar to other cities too?

[EZE]

[rollo]

Almost anywhere is better than Beijing. the best cities are off the top of my head. Hangzhou, Yantai, Dalian, QIngdao. Nice expat scene, very modern, clean air, lots to do and nice scenery.

working in Hong Kong. the pay is very good but you must have some serious teaching credentials, housing is expensive. the city is wonderful but a teaching degree at least and experience to even be considered.

[KimchiNinja]

[nukeday]

I wouldn't say "almost anywhere is better than Beijing," but on my second year here it can be a tiresome place. I actually think it would've been really cool 10 years ago when there were 10 million less people.

There are much worse cities to be in though. While I'm sure the places rollo listed as nice places to live, here are some places I prefer Beijing over:

Qingdao (nice scenery sure, but suffering the same traffic and declining air levels as Beijing), Xian (overcrowded, narrow streets teeming with cars and zero nightlife), Tianjin, Jingmen City, Guangzhou.

[creeper1]

[World Traveler]

Korea has very polluted air- certainly it is more polluted than in the U.S., Canada, Australia, etc. In fact, Korea has some of the most polluted air of anywhere in the world (as a country overall).

Countries with the highest CO2 emissions
Avg. emission per km2 of its land (tons)
United States: 597
China: 636
South Korea: 4758

I should note that CO2 emissions is just one measure of air pollution and just one type of air pollution. Anyone want to dig up some more stats? But yeah, Korea's air is definately not cleaner than the air in the West. Are there some areas of the world worse than Seoul? Sure. Are there a lot of places better, too? Again, yes. Everyone can make their own decision on where to live. But to act like Korea doesn't have a pollution problem is not correct.

[Konglishman]