Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeterDragon]

Last weekend two friends of mine and I decided to get in a car and just drive in a general Southern direction from Gyeonggi-do, see what we'd find.

We wound up stopping for the night in Daejeon, then going to South Central SK, bar hopping and trying out restaurants in the area surrounding Jirisan National Park. Finally, we went to Yeosu and checked out the little island just off the coast, the one connected to Yeosu by footbridge.

Long story short, this has GREATLY changed my opinion of Korea. Prior to this I'd only seen Gyeonggi-do and Busan. My general opinion of Korea was that it was a likable "fixer upper"--- a place plagued by horrible traffic, overcrowding, pollution, and an extremely mercenary, cold brand of Confucianism, with good people and good experiences under the surface for those willing to fight through the obstacles.

The pollution dissipated to tolerable levels by the time I got to Daejeon. Although the Daejeon drivers were as psychotically aggressive as the commuters in Seoul, the roads in Daejeon were extremely wide. Also, unlike Seoul and much of Gyeonggi, the road system didn't seem like it was deliberately designed to cause crashes; the lights and signs made much more sense.

Once we got past Daejeon, we started seeing cityscapes that weren't ugly--- a lot more traditional Korean buildings, and far fewer boxy buildings. The Western-style buildings we did see looked nice, as opposed to looking like the rejects from the worst brief fads from American architecture. (Anyone who's seen "experimental" North American architecture knows exactly where Koreans get most of their bad ideas.)

Once we got to the Jirisan area, the people actually started getting friendly, and the several restaurants we stopped at had some of the only Korean food I can unironically describe as "delicious", including an amazing chive, shrimp and squid omelet, and some mushroom noodle squid soup that was to die for.

I assumed the people around Jirisan were friendly only because the place was so touristy, and friendliness = won in their pocket. But once we got down to Yeosu--- a place with no tourists--- the people remained extremely friendly and outgoing. And the air actually smelled sweet---- no stink in the streets.

People looking for sophistication and a globally cultural experience might not enjoy the experiences I had over the weekend--- the parts of Korea I went to were extremely provincial, even moreso than Geyonggi, and far far more exclusively monocultural.

However, I'm not too taken with globalism or cultural refinement. I'm a small towner who misses the rural North American experience. If you're like me, you may be pleasantly surprised. It turns out there are parts of Korea that have the charm, friendliness and beauty one normally associates with small town North America or Europe.

[jvalmer]

You don't really see a country until you travel outside of the capital, into the so-called "provinces"? It would be like a Korean going to New York and thinking all of America is just like New York.

[PeterDragon]

[kiwiduncan]

Interestingly, my travels were in the opposite direction to your trip. I went up to Seoul for a few days from Yeosu and really appreciated my return trip to the big smoke.

Sure, Yeosu has far cleaner air than Seoul, and prettier rural scenery, but Seoul is actually better for mountain biking and Bukhansan National Park offers mountain scenery that hasn't been beaten by anything I've hiked in Yeosu in the last 6 months.

Yeosu people are pretty friendly, but then I find that the average Seoullite is much more open and friendlier than the posters on Daves make them out to be.

I still have to check out Jirisan though.

[PeterDragon]

Jirisan is the absolute boonies, you'll feel like you're in the Appallacian mountains. Not sure I could actually live there unless I spoke fluent Korean, but it's amazing to visit. I can definitely see how someone who lived in Yeosu would be refreshed by all Seoul has to offer, and Seoul is certainly friendly by big city standards.

I just don't handle the urban scene very well; never have. Even now I'm living on the absolute outskirts of Gyeonggi, and enjoying it more than I would Seoul proper of Incheon.

[IncognitoHFX]

Maybe that's why I never entered the "hate phase" of being in Korea. When I got here, I immediately went to Jirisan and travelled through a dozen "nowhere" places out in the country side and became very comfortable. Just this weekend I went to Cheonan and Eonyang, which is still part of the Seoul Metro rail system, and even there I found the atmosphere to be quite a bit different than it was in Seoul. Of course, having access to a car really helps this. I pity those who can't get a drive here.

I really enjoyed my trips out East, as well as down South. My friend and I might head out to Yeosu next weekend as we'll have nothing but free time. I'm a small towner like yourself, so I often fantacize about living in this small places out in the country and I would if it weren't for the commitments and friendships I have here in the Greater Seoul Area.

I guess I take my time outside of Seoul for granted. I never hated Korea because I know that there is some beautiful and fascinating stuff in it, but if I lived in Seoul my entire year (or more) and never got to see all the stuff outside of Seoul like I did, my opinion of Korea might be quite a bit different. When I read negative posts here, I sometimes wonder if I live in the same Korea as everyone is complaining about. Korea isn't that bad if you're an outdoorsman who likes to climb mountains and go for long walks in nature. It might be terrible if you're a city person who hates the countryside.

Oh, what a glorious feeling it is once you get out of Gyeonggi-do and stop seeing the fog on the horizon and start smelling the air -- not to mention the ability to pull the car over a pee by the side of the road just like back home.

Excellent post. All those of you living in Seoul that hate Korea -- maybe you should see the country you live in before you point the finger.

[VanIslander]

[Gamecock]

No, don't listen to the OP. It's all a myth. The countryside isn't beautiful down here in the south and the air isn't clean. And the people aren't friendly!!!

Stay in Seoul, I say, Stay in Seoul!!!

[PeterDragon]