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Freakstar
Joined: 29 Jun 2007
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 Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject: Worst and best of Korea |
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I've been in Korea for almost 3 months now and my first impression of Korea is that Korea can be a great place to live for someone who is open-minded and not easily offended. And when I say Korea, I guess I really mean Seoul. I've been to Daegu and Pusan and imo, they both sucked balls.
BEST:
1. Cheap, yummy street food - take it or leave it, but I love 2,000 won duk bokki (spicy rice cake), gim bop (Korean style sushi rolls), boong wuh bang (red bean pastries shaped like a fish) and mandu (potstickers).
2. Korean girls - sure, the really hot ones have attitudes, but damn, they're nice to look at! and some can be pretty receptive. 
3. Service - from the shoe cobbler on the corner to the pretty ladies at the department store, service is almost always friendly even though they're not expecting a tip and get no commission. though of course, there are exceptions.
4. Shopping - bought a pair of shoes for 10,000 won the other day at a subway stop and they're super comfy and go well with my suits. pretty well made and sturdy too...and even if they eventually fall apart, they only cost 10 bucks.
5. Beer bonding - the ability to bond with someone quickly over a night of drinking and bad karaoke. Maybe cuz I'm a gyopo it's easier, but after two nights in a row of hardcore drinking with my Korean coworkers, I was deemed worthy. (also helps if you are in a senior position with grunts below you since they have to kiss your ass).
WORST:
1. Weather - summer heat/humidity was bearable but pretty bad. have yet to experience a Korean winter but not looking forward to it.
2. Mosquitos
3. Overpriced foreign food and general lack of good foreign food options
4. Korean banks - no international check cards for waygookins? wtf?
5. Overpriced real estate - a 8 net pyung one room is going to cost me 800,000 won a month? |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Look at your list in another four months... after the 'honeymoon'. I bet you'll be surprised. |
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safeblad
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: Worst and best of Korea |
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if you are really a gyopo you are fucking retarded |
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PBEnglish
Joined: 24 Nov 2006
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: Worst and best of Korea |
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I have to agree with another poster, you're in the honeymoon phase right now. I've been here over a year now and I loved everything you mentioned on the list, but at about the 5th month mark, something changed, and now quite frankly, there are more negatives than positives to Korea.
| Freakstar wrote: |
I've been in Korea for almost 3 months now and my first impression of Korea is that Korea can be a great place to live for someone who is open-minded and not easily offended. And when I say Korea, I guess I really mean Seoul. I've been to Daegu and Pusan and imo, they both sucked balls.
BEST:
1. Cheap, yummy street food - take it or leave it, but I love 2,000 won duk bokki (spicy rice cake), gim bop (Korean style sushi rolls), boong wuh bang (red bean pastries shaped like a fish) and mandu (potstickers).
2. Korean girls - sure, the really hot ones have attitudes, but damn, they're nice to look at! and some can be pretty receptive.
3. Service - from the shoe cobbler on the corner to the pretty ladies at the department store, service is almost always friendly even though they're not expecting a tip and get no commission. though of course, there are exceptions.
4. Shopping - bought a pair of shoes for 10,000 won the other day at a subway stop and they're super comfy and go well with my suits. pretty well made and sturdy too...and even if they eventually fall apart, they only cost 10 bucks.
5. Beer bonding - the ability to bond with someone quickly over a night of drinking and bad karaoke. Maybe cuz I'm a gyopo it's easier, but after two nights in a row of hardcore drinking with my Korean coworkers, I was deemed worthy. (also helps if you are in a senior position with grunts below you since they have to kiss your ass).
WORST:
1. Weather - summer heat/humidity was bearable but pretty bad. have yet to experience a Korean winter but not looking forward to it.
2. Mosquitos
3. Overpriced foreign food and general lack of good foreign food options
4. Korean banks - no international check cards for waygookins? wtf?
5. Overpriced real estate - a 8 net pyung one room is going to cost me 800,000 won a month? |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder where you are living that your 8 pyeong apartment costs 800,000.
I used to rent a place in Seoul for 350,000. And that was slightly higher than average for that size. |
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PBEnglish
Joined: 24 Nov 2006
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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That's not me, that was the OP who said they're paying that much for their apartment. I'm interested in that myself though.
| Ilsanman wrote: |
I wonder where you are living that your 8 pyeong apartment costs 800,000.
I used to rent a place in Seoul for 350,000. And that was slightly higher than average for that size. |
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Freakstar
Joined: 29 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Ilsanman wrote: |
I wonder where you are living that your 8 pyeong apartment costs 800,000.
I used to rent a place in Seoul for 350,000. And that was slightly higher than average for that size. |
I would never pay that much for an 8 pyung apartment. But I've seen places in Gangnam area that were asking for that much. Ridiculous. |
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Freakstar
Joined: 29 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| Look at your list in another four months... after the 'honeymoon'. I bet you'll be surprised. |
yeah it'll be interesting to see how i feel about things in general when i reach the six month mark. but so far, so good. |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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I was addressing the OP.
| PBEnglish wrote: |
That's not me, that was the OP who said they're paying that much for their apartment. I'm interested in that myself though.
| Ilsanman wrote: |
I wonder where you are living that your 8 pyeong apartment costs 800,000.
I used to rent a place in Seoul for 350,000. And that was slightly higher than average for that size. |
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The Perfect Cup of Coffee
Joined: 17 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Freakstar wrote: |
| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| Look at your list in another four months... after the 'honeymoon'. I bet you'll be surprised. |
yeah it'll be interesting to see how i feel about things in general when i reach the six month mark. but so far, so good. |
Once you get to the 6 month mark, just think about the extra month's pay. That alone kept me from pulling a runner. It's satisfying watching the boss hand over 2 month's pay + airfare if you go that route. Think severance pay, and it'll make things bearable when stuff starts to piss you off. |
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blaseblasphemener
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| a one bedroom apartment in Calgary goes for more than that. |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:41 am Post subject: |
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That is Calgary. This is Seoul.
| blaseblasphemener wrote: |
| a one bedroom apartment in Calgary goes for more than that. |
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whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:57 am Post subject: Re: Worst and best of Korea |
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| Freakstar wrote: |
| I love 2,000 won duk bokki (spicy rice cake), gim bop (Korean style sushi rolls), boong wuh bang (red bean pastries shaped like a fish) and mandu (potstickers) |
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Thanks for translating for us. We had no idea what those were... |
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jeffkim1972
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Location: Mokpo
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:14 am Post subject: |
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kimbap is not a Korean style sushi roll. It has no seafood.
Calling it that would be giving it too much prestige.
Kimbap is just what it is. cheap food. more liked rolled up bibimbap. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:58 am Post subject: |
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jeffkim...
Kimbap can come with seafood....it has many variations....sorry... 
But...carry on.  |
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