Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mee]

If anyone has lived in japan or has any impression to share, please feel free to share them here as i'm interested in comparing the two.

I'm seriously thinking of moving there.

Please let me know your impressions of the culture, standard of living, people etc compared to korea.

we can get into cost later.

[Sadebugo1]

Oh, my goodness! Much has been said about this before, but it's worth repeating. Japan is infinitely superior to Korea!! Sure, the employment situation may be better in Korea at the moment, but your life outside work is much better in Japan. Socially, culturally, etc. there's no comparison between the two.

The people . . . I found that even though Japan's culture is much different than Western culture, they are capable of relating to you and understanding your viewpoint. In Korea, it was completely the opposite.

I spent four years in Korea and six months in Japan on a TDY with the US government. During those six months, I found myself rueing all those years I wasted in Korea when I could have worked in Japan instead. In Korea, I worked in a public high school and a university with five months paid vacation every year and Wednesdays off. Still, Japan is so much better, I would have preferred to sell pencils on the street in Tokyo rather than have the best job in Korea.

Nuff said.

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[laogaiguk]

This has been done way too many times. Use the search cause I ain't doing it again. In short, Korea has a bit better money, Japan is better on every other front. Period (I lived in both for more than two years each)

[koreandefence]

I am really interested in comparing Apples and Oranges, anyone help me out?

[mee]

Soo..evidently the nightlife is better too then, i'm assuming??

Well, then i'm a goin

[cangel]

I spent 7 years in Japan before coming to Korea (for the $$$) and in almost every conceivable way, Japan trumps Korea. The job package here in Korea is better but in all other things, Japan wins hands down. Not even a fair fight. Of course, this is my opinion so please don't get all huffy and puffy and tell me to go back to Japan... Blah Blah Blah...

[ciccone_youth]

When I first visited Japan last August as a vacation, I immediately regretted not going there to teach instead.

I was dreading coming back to Korea... but it's all good now.

[mee]

i just booked my flight.

an associate said 'so this is like escape from korea(seoul), huh?'

i had to laugh at that

[mee]

i'm not saying that korea or seoul can't be enjoyable. i think if you have a teaching position here and a good network especially when you get your foot in the door and start meeting good people and they start sharing and opening thier lives to you as well and their culture, you can make this maybe even a great metropolitan place to live. I mean with the free apartment and such. I stay in this place that's not so great and in an area that i do not prefer so that also adds to the feeling of ickiness too and i got a not so good first impression. So it is a combination of things that can influence your experience. I'm sure there are still many people who enjoy korea too.

But for me, i'm just looking for something else right now.

[mee]

what happened to the korean soul? korean culture? where and what is the korean identity, pulse, ambiance? i can't even feel it. maybe it comes alive during world sporting events, who knows.

i even see the korean wave as being very influenced by the japanese or more correctly, it is japanese. it's not original.

maybe because of korea's physical position, it's been raped from her so it doesn't even know anymore. all those wars and stuck in the middle.

I think koreans before were much more volatile and passionate, now they emulate the japanese demureness to a fault due to it's highly renown culture. they don't even get this or do it right.

the last remnant of korean culture that's organic seems to be the cuisine which a lot of it is quite good.

What i do find hypocritical is their overly proper, mousy or mannerly act (copying the japanese) and the metro male especially among the younger generation and their ridiculously goofy shows with koreans acting like complete fools which is fine, i mean it's entertainment.

i just don't see people openly laughing or joking around. as a matter of fact, i haven't seen hardly any of it in this city.

it's like they are trying to compensate for or hide a deep flaw they possess. i can't put my finger on it.

it seems they do anything they 'think' is supposed to be the best, coolest etc. but they don't let it naturally give birth within themselves or let something else give them inspiration.

There is absolutely no originality at all as a whole. Originality isn't having to go it completely alone, everything is birthed from something else but i don't even see that metaphorically or literally. Well, lg phones or washers? hardly cultural

though i've met individually some really nice and good korean people.
Even at the missha counter, she saw i was lost and she was so gracious and gave me extra samples than usual.

or when two girls at emart were so nice and excited i spoke english and almost seemed to look up to me. my heart melted, it was so sincere and naive.

even some korean men have been very helpful whenever i would ask for directions or assistance.

Still their is something about the overall feel of this place i just don't like!

But then this is one city in a whole country. I'm sure different locations have thier own vibe. I think cities like seoul attract superficial and arrogant people anyways probably.

there are more humble places with some more real down to earth people i'm sure.

ps. i'm speaking of the adults. I'm sure the children and youth are just like any other children in the world, full of potential and life and wonder. I think those who work with kids get a beam of sunlight into your life everyday.

[mee]

i just realized something, if this city was a real natural city, there would be pantomimes or something on the streets not just beggars and the street vendors.

there would be artists or offbeat people doing their thing.
None of it. And i'm sure koreans have their own like that, but maybe they are stifled.

[EzeWong]

Korean culture isn't in your face I find as Japanese is. Japanese culture is much more evident and has stark differences. Korea has a lukewarm medium I think between western and eastern cultures.

The reason you probably aren't feeling Korean culture is because everything isn't too disimilar from home. Japan you will find they really embrace tradition as well as the modern to extremes. I love Japanese culture, but theres something special about Korean culture I can't find in Japanese culture.

Generally, the Japanese tend to be more warm, and friendly to everyone. But to me, I've been so used to it, that I find it almost fake to a degree. don't get me wrong, I've never met a Japanese I didn't like.

Whereas Koreans will get in your face, hitting you and laughing their ass off drunk in the streets. You will get a lot more candor from Koreans and the bright side of this I find is that you find they will like you for who you genuinely are.

I have good Japanese and Korean friends. Japanese are great aquaintances, but Koreans are amazing friends.

Sounds like you are searching for something mee,

Well I hope I can give you some advice. As a zen practice, when you meditate, you practice with a "beginners mind". Don't practice in hopes of achieving something. If you do that you've already lost it, because once you found it, you won't realize it. But if you practice without seeking treasure, once you achieve it, it becomes wonderful.

So don't hope to find great cultural things in your time in Korea. They will come to you without even realizing it, and it will be small things. I have a personal metaphor. They had this mushroom soup today. God it was great. I went for seconds, scouped up the bottom, what did I Find? BEEF! wow that made it even better. If I had expected to find something new the second time, I would not have been so happy. But because I wasn't looking for anything, finding that beef made it wonderful.

[mee]

i don't sense ANY culture. Just shopping, eating and working. lol

[EzeWong]

lol that's what culture is, different ways of living life.

Are you Korean mee? because if you are it might be too similar to what you're already used to.

I'm Chinese, so when i went to hongkong I felt little difference from my life back in the states despite the stark differences.

Don't expect to find too much. All humans shop, eat, and work. It's all we do honestly day to day in our lives. What part of Korea are you in btw?

[Ukon]