Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OnTheOtherSide]

Howdy folks.

So, i'm going to teach in Korea and i've been set on teaching in Seoul for a while now. I think I would have an interesting experience in Seoul and enjoy it, but the more I read about it the more I am thinking that I might be happier in a smaller place.

Basically, I am not a huge partier or drinker, and it seems like that's what Seoul is all about from what I read. I barely even go out these days and bars and clubs just totally aren't my thing anymore at all. I've never been to Seoul of course, but from what I gather, Seoul is like an insane beehive and the main thing it offers is drinking, partying, dating and a happening social scene. Which would be really fun for some people and i'm sure I would like it, but I think I am a bit beyond that phase in my life and I want a quieter scene. I am in my late 20's, but in some ways my lifestyle is more like that of an older guy.

On the other hand, I don't want to be in a place where I will be absolutely bored out of my mind with no other English speakers, no resources, and no social life at all in complete culture shock. Is there a happy medium? I want a place where I can go out and party an be anonymous if I want to a few times a month maybe, yet have nature, quiet and privacy available too most of the time. A place where I can go on quiet bike rides through nature, and also meet a lot of interesting people and party sometimes too. A place where people are social and ready to mingle with a foreigner, yet not rude, loud and aggressive. Is there such a place in Korea?

Some of the main things I want to do in Korea: I want to take Martial Arts classes, probobly Hapkido, Muay Thai or Tai Kwon Do. I want to meet interesting people and have fun. I want to explore the nature with hiking, rock climbing, biking etc. I want to save big bucks. I want to meet some women because I am a single young guy. I want to be able to meditate and perhaps explore the local Buddhist scene, and live a relatively low-stress lifestyle.

I am starting to lean toward Pusan or Taegu. Or I might just try to find a quieter area on the outskirts of Seoul. I am also looking at Jeju Island which looks absolutely beatiful, although I think Jeju might be a bit too small and boring. I've read about "small town Korea" and how a white guy like myself would stick out like a sore thumb and feel like an alien with nobody to talk to. If it came down to it, I think I would take Seoul over that. But hearing about the stressful, fast-paced vibe in Seoul, I really dont't think that is for me either. Where's the medium?

If anyone can recommend a city or a part of Seoul that you think I might enjoy that would be very, very awesome. Thanks a lot.

[Otherside]

Maybe try one of the "Seoul satellite cities." They can vary depending what you like, but I've heard good things about Bundang, Ilsan and Anyang and personally I like Suwon a lot. These are pretty big cities (500,000 - 1 mill pop) and have all the amenities needed. Also, you are about an hour from Seoul yet much closer to the "real" korea.

There are also some much smaller cities in Gyeonggi province (the province surrounding Seoul), and they can offer a very laid back lifestyle with lots of outdoor activities. Being located within Seoul's orbit has the benefit of people being somewhat used to foreigners, but you will get the odd-stare (more if you are in a smaller town, but nothing like many other parts of Korea).

[DongtanTony]

My gf and I worked in Gumi city last year...just 20 minutes outside Daegu on the mugungwha train. About 500,000 people...great network of teachers and foreign workers...Gumi is one of the largest industrial sectors in the country...lots of engineers go there from all over.

Gumi has a great foreigner restaurant/bar...The Waegook Cook...great specials and they'll organize special events and outings...white water...ski trips...mud fest trips...a bunch of stuff.

Also...there's a paintball company in Gumi that does foreigner outings every other Sunday...some Waegan military guys sometimes make the trip up to show off their custom equipment and whip up on the teachers.

One Karate instructor in town does free lessons to the teachers...he's a bad mama-jama...great guy though...nightly from 9:30--11:00.

A couple of local mountains...Gumosan...and I forget the name of the other one...Cheonsangsan I believe...but two quality day hike areas...Gumosan will take about 5-6 hours up and down.

Being close to Daegu and Dongdaegu stations allows easy access to other parts of the country...Gyeongju...Pohang...Busan...Gwangju...etc...

We had a great time in Gumi last year...quiet when you need quiet...parties when you need parties...and a fair amount of resources for a "smaller" Korean city. Corporate...uni...public...and hagwon jobs...if you search Waegook Cook on google...and get in touch with the owners, Derrick and Suki...they also do some recruiting on the side. I can't vouch for their business acumen...but they are good people.

Go for Gumi!!!

[PeterDragon]

I'd say just go for Seoul. Seoul's a very big city with room for all types. All the properties you described above exist in Seoul right alongside the partying and drinking. I'd particularly recommend Kangnam, or Hongdae and the general surrounding area. But really, any part of Seoul other than Itaewon has plenty of room for the laid back non-party expat crowd. Itaewon itself is pretty laid back on weekdays, but when the weekend hits, every psychotic freakjob, Korean OR expat seems to flock to the place like moths to a tab of luminescent LSD.

[genezorm]

in a related question... does anyone know any destinations in korea that have all the modern conveniences but the feel of a traditional korean city....
i want a place that has nice western toilets....but old school mud huts in the same area

[pkang0202]

[JustJohn]

I have very similar preferences to the OP. I'm in a smallish town a ways north of Seoul and I'm satisfied with it, but I'm sure other places would be more ideal for me.

I would probably recommend some place a little outside of Seoul, though not sure because I haven't tried it myself. I find myself wishing I was closer to Seoul sometimes because it seems like everything happens there. In fact, you would probably be happy in the right area of Seoul if you don't have anything against big cities, but I think somewhere like suwon might be better access to hiking and such without being boring or anything.

Dongducheon might be a good bet if you don't mind being way outside Seoul. It has a bit of it's own stuff and is out where the air is cleaner. The hiking out there will be a little less crowded as well.

[OnTheOtherSide]

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone, I think i'm going to try to get somewhere just outside of Seoul. It seems like the best way to go.

I havn't heard anything very good about Pusan or Daegu. In fact i've mostly heard bad things about these cities from the posts i've read. Do these cities pretty much get a big thumbs down from expats? That's what it seems like. Does anyone have any info on these places? Or how about Taejon and other smaller cities? How do they compare to Seoul really and why is Seoul so much better? To me a city of 2-4 million people sounds big enough to have a lot going on. But it seems like it's all Seoul, Seoul, Seoul over there.

And I havn't seen much info at all about Jeju Island but they seem to have a lot of available jobs. Anyone been there? How would it be living there? Being a tourist city it seems like it would have good foreigner resources? I read somewhere that the people and culture of the island is very different than the rest of Korea. I would imagine it would be fairly isolated, but would it be an interesting place? Thanks

[Michelle]

[JustJohn]

P.S.

Live as close to a subway stop as possible. Get a T-money card, and using the subway is fast and cheap. That way you can get into Seoul easily whenever you need to.

[loose_ends]

Go to Busan. You have the beach there. It also has a laid back coastal feel. Plus it is a big city, but doesn't have a metropolitan feel. I think it might be what you are looking for according to what you mentioned in your OP. Also, you'll be able to have a sex life there beyond the desperate foreign co-teachers.

Small town Korea is straight whack. You will regret it if you do it.

[OnTheOtherSide]

[PRagic]

Laid back AND exciting? Try just about any chair in just about any basement barbershop in Korea.

Had to see that one coming. Too easy.

[uberscheisse]

for laid-back i would say busan folk are a little bit more 'real' than folks in seoul, and there are beaches galore - which helps create a laid-back atmosphere.

for the guy who was talking about mud huts, andong and anything in gyeongsan-buk-do would satisfy.

just steer clear of kim yong hwah, otherwise known as "monster", (perhaps former) director of REI language institute. he will screw you, no lube and a handful of sand tossed in for extra stimulation.

[OnTheOtherSide]

Very cool. I am definantly looking for "real" people. Currently, I am in Southern California and i've had enough luxery cars, pretentious people, plastic surgery, insecure competition, flaunting of wealth, fake posturing attitudes, obsession with career goals, rushing around with a "time is money" attitude, etc.

I've already been around that for years and i've seen right through that whole game. I refuse to play it and don't want to be around it anymore. Although from what I hear, that game is definantly being played in Korea too......

I am ALL ABOUT trying to find the place in Korea that is the most "real" and laid back without being boring and isolated. I always hear these amazing descriptions of Thailand and I would love to go there. But as we all know, it pays very poorly so it's a no go for right now. So I'm hoping to find a place that is at least somewhat like that in Korea. Right now it sounds like Busan might be the best choice.

Another question I might ask. How would you all say Taegu compares to Busan? How do the people, way of life, the attitudes, things to do etc. compare? If you had to choose between the two, which one would you choose to live in and why? Is Taegu better than Busan in any way? Thanks a lot folks