Korean Job Discussion Forums

[renzobenzo1]

What's your opinion?
If you are not the type of person into outdoor activities is Seoul a more desirable place to live in than say a smaller-medium sized town or city?...
Or do smaller areas give off more of a neighbourhood feel which could be good or bad...
Take into account all aspects like night-life, entertainment, amenities, people, expats etc.

Somehow I feel left out of the action not being in Seoul but is this misconceived?

[Faunaki]

I live in Seoul. I can't see outside. I have no idea if it is raining or snowing. I only see bars. When I open my window at night during summer a super putrid smell of decay leaks slowly through.

I'm working on moving.

[blurgalurgalurga]

Seoul's fun, but the air is brown. Even on a blue-sky day, the horizon looks like a pooh-stain on a pair of pants.

[bbonthec]

I highly prefer Seoul. It's great here, and has everything you need. If you get a job in the 'burbs, it's fairly clean too. I wouldn't wanna live downtown, that's for sure, but living on the outskirts of Seoul (near a subway station) is the perfect place for me.

[twg]

Seoul is filthy and is bad for your health.

Everywhere else is dull in comparison.

Your choice.

[yetanotherSarah]

Dull really depends on the person. Cities are great for those need to be entertained. Those who don't can be anywhere else and happily occupied.

Washing my face after coming back from day trips to Seoul is really telling of the air pollution there. Absolutely nasty. And I only live about 80 minutes outside of downtown Seoul.

[Freakstar]

Seoul is the only city in Korea that I'd live in. It offers the best and worst of Korea, and it sure beats Pusan or Daegu.

[VanIslander]

No.

[VanIslander]

No.

[VanIslander]

and no.

[Don Gately]

[SarcasmKills]

Seoul really is the best place to live IMO.

Convenience being the main factor. Everything you need is easily within reach.

Outdoor activites are a hop, skip and a jump away.

Some people like to live outside of Seoul because of the special treatment they receive as being a novelty in a smaller town. But once they get over that they realize that they're bored. If you're a bit anti-social as well, then yes, the country is probably better for you.

As for these pollution complaints, well, Korea as a whole isn't very clean in that respect.

[cdninkorea]

I might consider living in Busan, but besides that it's Seoul Or Nowhere. It has the most western conveniences, best transportation network, most job opportunities, exciting nightlife, and seems to be best for dating too (not informed on this last one, so feel free to correct me).
It's more expensive here yes, but the job opportunities make up for that.

[VanIslander]

[Cohiba]

Remember "Cohiba's Rule":

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogeneous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: French, Greek, Indian or any other ethnic
foods. Markets that sell sherry, pate, pastrami, ricotta cheese.
Specialty shops that sell dart accessories, cuban cigars or
cowboy boots.

The FFF Equation: FFF=Fun For Foreigners.
If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at1/distance.
So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.

I, unfortunately, live in Incheon where the FFF factor
is almost in the negative range. I know!