Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Felix the Cat]

I was a hagweon lackey in Daegu back in 2002-03, and haven't been back to Hangukistan since. I'm now finishing law school in the States (concentrating on international trade and business), and looking for jobs. One of the more attractive offers is from a largy Korean corp., in their legal department. Nice compensation package, nice travel benefits, but it's in Ulsan. I don't remember hearing much about Ulsan, but I do remember telling myself the only places I'd want to live, if I could do it again, would be Seoul or Busan.

Soooo, what's it like? Anyone have experience working in Korea, in a capacity other than teacher? I have some apprehensions about what corporate culture would be like.

[Passions]

Ulsan is in the countryside ghettos.

Good luck!

[amo_jh]

Only thing I know of Ulsan is that the place is filled with always whining Hyundai labor union workers whom all Koreans seem to hate. Also heard that Ulsan has the highest GDP/capita out of all cities in Korea, due to those crazy Hyundai laborers.

[Tiger Beer]

BRAAAZIL!

Sorry, I just remember you from the 2003 days when you posted a very very little! Being a Brazil-ophile-aholic and all...is all I recall.

Anyways...regarding Ulsan. UGgghh...I'd be so sick of Korea from Day 1 if I lived in that city. I've been to about 25-30 cities/towns in Korea...and I'd personally ONLY live as far south as Daejeon. Seoul being #1...and anything near it a distant 2nd. Daejeon being city again, would be right after Seoul.

[spencer23]

Hey,

Me and my gf live right in Ulsan near okdong and its good. Ulsan has Lotte department store, Lotte cinemas, Hyundai Department store, Outback, Bennigans, 2 pizza huts and Marche Move n pick. Over at Shinaedong there is good shopping, CGV and Megabox Cinema plus a lot of different resturants including Italian and Japanese.

Near Okdong you have Lotte Mart, Homeplus, TGIF, VIPS and also if you like nature Ulsan Grand Park is in Okdong. There are also a few good discount stores in Okdong. .

The ocean is only 45 mins away but to tell you the truth the beaches in Ulsan are not that good, the only one I recommend is called Ilsan beach, It is really easy to get to, the 401 bus takes you straight there and only costs 1000 won each way. Ilsan beach also has the only Subway sandwich store in Ulsan.

Remember also that Busan is only 1 hour away. Also Gyongju is only an hour away which is capital of the Silla dynasty.

I really enjoy Ulsan. Many people will say that it is a place for bar flys but seriously there is heaps here. Remember Ulsan is a city of 1.3 million so it's not a small place.

There is a website you should take a look at called ulsanweb.com it has all the details about Ulsan on it.

I hope this may help

[Rock]

Ulsan brings back fond memories, and I think you'll like it there. IT'S QUITE STATE OF THE ART downtown, but which is the size of about two blocks, ha, ha. YET THERE ARE SOME MAGNIFICENT PARKS, one along a river, one called 'Grand National Park' or something or another. Then there's the nightlife.

Two bars, both lame but nonetheless there. Watch out for the Russian one. Fate foretells fool's gold.

About your latter question, sorry, can't help you. Not a tech-no-crat. Yet my experience with foreign engineers there, and elsewhere, is that you're pretty much window dressing, will be ignored, not included.

But I'd take a shot at Uslan. Just remember though, IT HAS THE DIRTIEST AIR IN KOREA, AND YOU WILL SMELL AND BREATHE IT!

[Felix the Cat]

Yep - post-Korea, I traveled SE Asia, and then essentially worked my way up to the States from Argentina before starting raw skule.

To be honest, I'm not sure whether this job would be in Ulsan or Seoul. It is Hyundai, in a segment of their business based in Ulsan, but I can't imagine why the legal department wouldn't be in Seoul. Ulsan sounds grim, and I thought Dayglue was bad enough.

[Felix the Cat]

Rock, I thought Pohang had the worst air in Korea.

[Rock]

[spencer23]

Everyone says the air is bad in Ulsan(don't get me wrong it is not the best in the world) but each time i visit Seoul it seems to be much more polluted then here in Ulsan.

[meangradin]

OP, send me a pm if you want to talk about Ulsan. Personally, I love it.

BTW, the air is fine in Ulsan: it is Seoul I would worry about.

In short, it is a booming city and this wealth is being poured back in to the city in the form of development, so in the future, it will be even better.

[desperation]

[ruffie]

I live in Ulsan, and I can tell you that the air here is beyond belief dirty. I've been In Korea for over 4 years, been all over, and never seen or smelled air like this. It will make you sick and depress you. Ulsan may be a city of 1.3 million, but it was just a fishing village 20 years ago and the mentality remains as such. Expect to be stared, pointed and laughed at by the minute. The population is largely families, new money car workers with very little sophistication or regard for the environment or the people around them. There are huge mountains of trash everywhere. Culture in Ulsan is essentialy the odd boyband concert at the stadium.

Take everything bad about Korea, remove the good, and you have Ulsan.
You have great credentials, and probably healthy lungs. Hold out for something better, anywhere but Ulsan. Unless you want to live in a place that lists a perto-chemical plant as one of its must-see scenic spots.

[desperation]

Yes, I secomd rufie's sentiments.

[meangradin]

Wow!

I am not doubting the previous posters' experiences, but it is stunning how we can live in the same city and have such radically different opinions. I have lived in Seoul, Daejon, and Ulsan (in Ulsan on and off since 2003) and I much prefer my life in Ulsan to the other cities.

But hey, that's just me.

Ruffie, do you live in Bangeojin or Onsan? What school are you at? I think Ulsan University is one of the best jobs in a Korean University, and the pay in Ulsan is very high (for F visa workers). My only criticism is that real estate has become incredibly expensive.