Korean Job Discussion Forums

fozziejr2 · Joined: 05 May 2008 Location: soon to be korea (august 08)

Been here for a week and a half now (Busan area) and between work and numerous other things I can already tell I won't be able to do as much in the next year as I expected. This probably already has a post somewhere on here, but I am not so good at navigating all these forums. But what are some absolute must do's while I am here? I really enjoy mountainous, scenic areas, as well as anything that is unique or unusual, or huge festivals where the masses collaborate. Speaking of which, there is a big one here in Busan next weekend for those of you who are interested. Any of you ever been to this rock festival?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject:

I must:

1. Never eat Korean food.

2. Never listen to Korean pop music.

Follow these two rules and everything else will Ok. Wink

Benicio · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:42 pm Post subject:

1- Learn some survival Korean.
2- Take up hiking at least once a month.
3- Go to a beach outside of Busan: Jinha is nice.
4- Have at least one night of crazy partying on T Street.
5- Get together with friends for an all night bonfire on Tadaepo Beach.
6- Walk on the cliffs of Taejongdae.
7- Go to a baseball game.
8- Go to Keoje Island.
9- Go to Yongkungsa Temple, north of Songjeong Beach.
10- Go to one of the big temples on Buddha's birthday, usually in May.
11- Go skiing on an off day when most Koreans won't be on the slopes.
12- DO NOT get into the habit of drinking soju. It is poison.
13- If you get into any physical altercation with a Korean, even if you did not start it, get the h*ll out of there as fast as possible. Self defense is not really legal here.

Benicio · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

14- go to the Busan Rock Festival on Tadaepo Beach Aug 2-3. It's free.
15- Avoid the thoroughly insane bar skanks who are looking to ruin your life (I'm not talking about every girl in the bar, just the insane ones). Have some standards.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Jinju Lantern festival
Andong Mask festival
Temple on Buddhas birthday
Jeju Island
Mountains in the summer
Cherry Blossom festival
Boryeong Mud Festival (I havent been to that one but everyone else seems to like it).
Yeongdeok or Uljin to eat fresh crab
Gaesung day tour to North Korea

Make Korean friends, eat Korean food, learn some culture and language... Immerse yourself there... It can be so rewarding if you give it a chance! Take people up on their offers to meet for coffee or day trips... hang out with the locals. It can take a while to enjoy and appreciate this kind of thing, but in my experience it was totally worth it.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:20 am Post subject:

#3 Shed one's self of insane bar girl who wants to take one to church, over to future Mother-In-Law's (who looks like Yoda... shades of the future) for some good K-food, then out to dance to some good K-pop. Shocked

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Give Bossam a try, it's pretty tasty pork, very tender. It's also probably worth learning the alphabet (hangul) because it's far easier than you think it would be. I enjoy studying Korean so you might try that, though the language takes a long time to learn.

I think just finding a niche is important. I go to the gym a lot.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:48 am Post subject:

i · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

If in Pusan, I don't think you'd want to miss Gyung-ju. Not too far, if memory serves. One of my favorite trips several years ago. Lot of ancient tombs and a huge temple.

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

-Occasionally let loose an out of control angry tirade at some Korean who pushes in front of you in a qeue.
-yell "PABOYAH!!" in the face of silly korean middleschoolers that scream stupidities at you.

Done now and again, both of the above will help keep you sane and happy here. Laughing

i4NI · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

kittykoo · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Location: Canada

I have to disagree about the Andong Mask Festival. For those of you who have children, I would advise taking your vacation at that time (mid-October or thereabout) and going for the whole week of festivities, or alternately, on the last day (a Sunday, at least when I was there) there is a day-long pageant with skits performed by actors wearing the traditional masks. They come into the audience and encourage the children to interact with them, and for the kids it is an unforgettable moment of contact with their culture. For that alone I would take my kids, and there are lots of other things to do there.

Kyong-ju is a fabulous place and well worth a visit, especially at plum blossom time (end of March). A lesser known dynasty capital, Puyo, is also filled with historic spots and temples. There are a number of sacred mountains in Korea and any of those are worth visiting any time. I went to Mt. Tae Baek in winter and it was the most fun I have had mountain climbing.

Visit a traditional tea shop when you get a chance. The staff in such places are usually pretty knowledgeable about teas, and you can find out some useful information. The tea can be pricey though, so stick to local varieties. There are a couple of good ones in the underground shopping arcade near the port in Busan.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

Get drunk in Itaewon. Go to The King Club and The UN Club.

Go shopping for pirated dvds and video games at the Yongsan Market.

Get drunk with an ajossi.

Visit a Jimjilbang (public bath) or better yet, stay the night there.

Ride the 300 km / hour KTX trains. I know. This one sounds boring, but hey! we don't have bullet trains in my country.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan