Job Discussion Forums

[Davelgil]

Hi all,

I've been reading about ESL opportunities abroad, and I am having trouble decided between China and Korea. I've read many good cases for each, but I figured I'd explain my personal situation and maybe get some recommendations from you folks.

I work for a chinese owned company, and have traveled there on occasion. I am more familiar with the culture and I have a few friends in the country. I get the feeling that, on a purely personal level, I'll feel more comfortable living in China.

However, I hear that the jobs are much better in Korea. Better organized, better paying (money is always a serious consideration), and a greater ESL community as a whole. From what I've read, I get the feeling that I'll feel more comfortable WORKING in Korea.

So that's my take on it. Any advice is appreciated.

-Dave

[mlomker]

[leftcoastlobster]

Hi,

I lived in Korea for 5 years, including 1 year in Seoul, and have lived in Beijing for the past year and a half.

There are some good jobs in Beijing that pay about as much as those in Seoul, but it takes more looking and better credentials to get them, I think.

I think which you prefer depends on what floats your boat, so what I say here is just my personal opinion, but it seems to be one commonly shared with most people I know who've lived in or visited both cities.

So, here are some of the reasons I prefer living in Beijing:

People: As you may know, Korea is called the Hermit Kingdom and the chasm between locals and foreigners is far, far less palpable here in Beijing. In general, I've found people here to be much more open and friendly to foreigners.

Food: I love Korean food, but Beijing wins hand down for me simply because of the variety - from all over China and the rest of the world as well, and the relatively low cost. There are more and more places to buy international food products as well, sometimes even cheaper than back home.

Culture: There are lots of things to see and do here. Aside from the Great Wall, Forbidden City and so on, there are lots of cultural events, touring performers from other countries, art exhibits, Chinese festivals, and so on. There's more to do than time you'll have on your hands to do it if this is your sort of thing. Otherwise, there's a big party scene and lots of international and local university students to drink with as well.

The bad things that get to me sometimes are bad weather, air pollution, crowds, and lots of spitting, but those are all in Seoul as well, so they're not much of a factor for me in deciding between the two.

Like I said, this is just my take, and it has been about 4 years since I left Seoul, but I'm pretty confident that things haven't changed that much that I'd change my preference.

Besides, if I ever miss Korea, I can just go out to the university area where all the Korean students flock together, or one of the parts of town where lots of Koreans live and have some kimchi jiggae and I'm good for another couple months.

Hope this helps,

LCL

[Tiger Beer]

I've spent an enormous amount of time in Seoul. Only a short visit to Beijing.

What struck me the most in Beijing however was that the drinking culture isn't anything like in Seoul.

In Seoul, there are bars/clubs nearly in every niche and cranny of the city.. with the expat ones focusing around Itaewon/Hongdae.. but HongDae has a very large young Korean population with money to spend roaming around and really enjoying it - as the foreigners, you are just a small aspect of it.

In Beijing, in contrast, the bars/clubs I found seemed to be foreign-dominated.. and not so easy finding just regular normal Chinese girls to meet and talk to.. who didn't just happen to be a part-time prostitute of some nature trying to afford her night out on the town or was a regular at it.

I also found Seoul to be a million times more lights and energy and action and everything else happening.

However, I have a good friend who lived in Beijing for a few years before coming to Seoul.. and he swears Beijing is cooler because the Chinese themselves are cooler people, more interesting, and more open.. so I'm not sure..