Korean Job Discussion Forums

[safeblad]

Everytime someone asks about living somewhere other than Seoul this guy brings up his rule.

[Milwaukiedave]

I strongly disagree. I lived in Seoul only some of the time I was in Korea and while it has it's advantages, it also has some big disadvantages: it's more crowded, there's more pollution, more cars and it's colder in the winter.

If your going to come up with a formula, you should at least factor in the negatives.

My opinion is the people who complain that everywhere outside of Seoul sucks are the younger people who like to get drunk and go clubbing. From an older (mid 30's) person's perspective that isn't something that is important.

[peppermint]

I lived in the middle of the bar district in a smaller city in my first year, and in a residential part of Gagnam (completely intentional typo) for my second. Guess which I preferred?

[Masta_Don]

I was thinking about posting something similar to this thread just today. I came to realize, after visiting a friend in Andong this past weekend, that all the fear and paranoia of the foreigners who leave out in those parts is, at least partially, justifiable. All I ever hear them do is bitch about taxi drivers, nosy neighbors and cars slowing down to shout "HELLO!" and I figured they weren't cut out for Korea. But now, after witnessing a bit myself, I believe them. Two days of it didn't bother me but it's doubtful I could withstand a year. Guys, if Korea really bothers you, then move to the city. If the city really bothers you, get out (just a catchphrase, don't get all huffy-puffy).

[The Oracle]

In Korea, there are two roads most distant from each other: the one leading to the honorable house of freedom, the other the house of slavery, which teachers must shun. It is possible to travel the one through manliness and lovely accord; so lead your people to this path. The other they reach through hateful strife and cowardly destruction; so shun it most of all.

The Oracle has spoken.

[Cohiba]

Sounds like a pretty good rule if you ask me! Who is this Cohiba
guy anyway? Must be some sort of handsome, devil-may-care,
poet-warrior type who plays the game of life by his own rules and
has no objections to bucking authority and saying what-is-what on
this little peninsula.

[Otherside]

I agree with him so far as " 'In Seoul' and 'outside of Seoul' are two like two different countries.' " Not necessarily good or bad - just depends on what you like and are looking for.

The equation is a bit of a joke...but then I think it was meant as such.

[hubba bubba]

Maybe you guys haven't heard of a place called Busan, sometimes called Pusan.

[Smee]

Hmm, pretty even split so far.

I disagree, and I don't live in Seoul, and I've mentioned why in a ton of different threads.

I just want to point out, to the poster that mentioned Andong . . . I've been through many Korean cities and visited countless little towns, villages, hamlets, whatever . . . and the city of Andong was by far the most obnoxious in terms of "Hellos," catcalls, shouts of "외국인이다," stares, and other similar things. Standing at the street corner waiting for a light became a hassle because people behind me would start with the "herro" parade or with different combinations of "hey," "you," "guy," 나이스투미츄." Since coming to Korea I've resolved to ignore such behavior . . . some foreigners respond to every piece of shit that throws English their way, but I try not to encourage that behavior, and I teach my students how to properly greet people. Even after spending a good deal of time in Korea outside of Seoul, this is one Korean habit that I find infuriating and inexplicable. I get that we look different, but why the reflex to shout when we pass by?

It's true that in places outside of Seoul that people stare, shout, and act obnoxiously sometimes (hell, sometimes it seems like more than sometimes). I'd just like to point out that similar things happened to me in Seoul, and that behavior like I mentioned above in Andong is kind of extreme.

[crusher_of_heads]

[vox]

Cohiba's rule does not apply beyond a certain distance from Seoul.

Seoul actually radiates a 'why bother' sphere of hopelessness +1 no saving throw to all cities in its immediate vicinity, raining despair and futility on all cities that would otherwise attempt any cosmopolitan competition. That's why you get places like Yongin and Incheon.

But after a critical distance the sphere of hopelessness loses its power and you get places actually quite happy with their own little cultures and trying their hand at Vietnamese, Italian, Thai etc. restaurants or trendy veggie restaurants, etc. etc.

The sphere of hopelessness needs to be factored into buddy's rule. And life outside it can be grand.

A good comparison would be trying to justify life at various heights of Earth's atmosphere, as opposed to the deep space of an off-world colony on a new Eden like planet.

[Cohiba]

[adventureman]

Why listen to anything that guy has to say? He's just some drunk in his 40's who's still trying to live life like a fratboy.

[squirrelandgman]

Where can you buy sherry?

[Cohiba]

Hannam Supermarket, basement of the Volvo Bldg., Hannam-Dong

Near Itaewon