Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mercury]

International Living Study Says South Korea Best Country to Retire
Thursday September 20, 9:15 am ET
After six consecutive years at the top, Panama falls to fourth place in the rankings.


BALTIMORE, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- International Living magazine - a leading resource for helping people live, travel, and prosper overseas - has released its 15th Annual Global Retirement Index.
South Korea jumped 23 places to take the top spot as the world's top retirement haven. It is praised as an affordable combination of modern features and old-world charm.



Top 10

1. South Korea
2. Ecuador
3. Italy
4. Panama
5. Australia
5. Malta
7. Spain
7. South Africa
7. Malaysia
10. France
10. Thailand

Other Notables

12. New Zealand
19. United States
27. Ireland
29. United Kingdom

South Korea offers the perfect mix of centuries-old traditions and contemporary lifestyles. Moving to South Korea means you can still have all of the amenities you grew up with: cable TV, high-speed Internet, and modern home appliances," says Laura Sheridan, International Living's managing editor. "You can also teach English part time and enjoy an unlimited amount of alcoholic drinks like beer and rice wine".

South Korea also benefits from top-notch health care, a diverse climate, and affordable real estate, according to the report.

The top 10 is a diverse group with countries from 6 continents represented. Trailing South Korea were Ecuador, Italy, Panama, Australia, Malta, Spain, South Africa, and Malaysia, in that order.

Panama fell from the top spot in part because the price of real estate there has risen dramatically - particularly in Panama City - and because the government has recently restricted tourist visas to just 30 days, making it more difficult for seasonal part-timers to live there. International Living still considers Panama a top destination, however, ranking it fourth in the Index.

The report analyzes 29 countries, and ranks them in categories including real estate costs, special benefits offered to retirees, culture, safety and stability, healthcare, climate, infrastructure, and cost of living. To see the complete list, visit http://www.internationalliving.com/retirement .The United States ranks #19 in the report. The U.S. receives particularly bad marks in the area of special benefits for retirees. It scores well in both safety and infrastructure.







* Actually this is a joke, mexico was first.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[monkeh]

"The report analyzes 29 countries" and the UK came 29th, seems we can't do anything right What are the 'rules' for permanently living in Korea? Just wondered, as it's not something you see much talk of.

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]

South Africa at number 7!!!

Yeah sure, just take away the 50 murders and 150 rapes a day and yes, it could be a good place to retire I guess.

Who made that list, Robert Mugabe?

[jennateacher]

I used to Live in Ecuador. I left it because it was not safe anymore. I left after a few people I knew had home invasion robberies. I went to the hospital twice with food poisoning. (If you go to the hospital you need to take a family member and lots of cash so they can run across the street to the pharmacy and buy the supplies and medicines you need.) I had dengue. There were two coups d'tat, and the vice pres took off to Costa Rica with the national slush fund. Great place for retiring.

[SPINOZA]

I'd question those findings because of Korea's unfavorable geographical location mainly, but also because it's an extremely obscure country. Korea has very low tourism, so why on Earth it should be of #1 retirement potential, God only knows, I'm afraid. It also has very little "old world charm" considering most of its old world charm was destroyed either by the Japanese or during the Korean War.... and property is not reasonably priced, actually, considering per capita GDP in Korea is 50% or less of that in the US, UK and Canada.

I would strongly recommend Korea as a place to live and teach English, but the notion that it should occupy #1 slot in the consciousness of those retiring requires a leap of faith. Retiring folks with the inclination (and funds) to retire overseas usually want (a) easy access to home, (b) beaches, (c) good weather, (d) an abundance of interesting things to see and do, (e) English-speakers (the US, Europe, Commonwealth being the most popular amongst Brits, for instance) and Korea loses out to at least 10 other countries in my opinion.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Moby]

I'm retiring to Korea.

[Julius]

[PeteJB]

Me too. It has Namhae

[itaewonguy]

hahahhhahaahahahahaahaha

that was funny!!

korea just has to be number 1 doesnt it.. I wonder how much the magazine was paid to write that up hahahahhaha

hahahahahhahhaa
so many pictures come into my head!
what the hell would they do really???
hahahaha

[SPINOZA]

[Moby]

KOREA #1!!!

[Sarpedon]

Read the fine print!