Korean Job Discussion Forums

Synn057 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject: Location, Location, Location.....

Long time lurker and former resident over in the China forum (years ago).

So I might be heading to Korea in May and it appears I will be in one of the following locations:

-Suwon
-Gumi
-Giheung
-Cheonan

I have heard a bit about Suwon but the rest are all a blank to me. Got any insights oh well traveled pros?

__Synn

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

NEVER live anywhere except Seoul (or close to it)

Remember "Cohiba's Rule" (Now better than ever!):

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 cuban cigars, European pies, cold
cuts or rye breads. Just to name a few things.

The FFF RULE: FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/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 near Seoul where the FFF factor
is almost in the negative range. I know!

Synn057 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the humorous reply. I think I will incorporate the "Cohiba Postulate for FFF" in my future travels.

Now lets pretend for a second that I don't have a choice about not living in Seoul.... and that one of these locations was my future home. Are there individual factors (such as vibrant foreigner scene... nearby attractions) that would improve a place's FFF?

__Synn

Straphanger · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Chilgok, Korea

The Gumi crew is awfully strange, but they're cool as hell.

Panda · Joined: 25 Oct 2008

maingman · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea

BuSan ?

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

Why wouldn't you have a choice to live in Seoul? Did you do something? Shocked

Synn057 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject:

The job I am looking for isn't based there.

__Synn

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

THese are my opinions.

Suwon: Just south of Seoul, has 1 million people and is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do. Spitting distance to Seoul and it has a descent foreigner scene. Probably your best choice for foreign friends and the like. As well as nightlife.

Gumi: 40 minutes by train from Daegu. Nothing much in Gumi though.

The other towns must be small cuz I've never heard of them.

I'd pick Suwon. If it helps, I have a good friend there who could show you around.

Suerte,
Jesse

jinks · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: Formerly: Lower North Island

Cheonan is OK, it is further out from Seoul than Suwon, but one of my colleagues is a party girl and she often goes into Seoul on weekends. Keep away from gloomy Gumi, it's in the Daegu area (Daegu is COOL), but it's a pain to get in and out of Daegu from Gumi. I don't know about Giheung.

Synn057 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input. I was informed that Gumi is sorta like "Silicon Valley minus all the hippies".

afsjessie:

I might take you up on that offer in a few months. Mind you, I got plenty of time before I would head over there and thus plenty of time to pester you all with questions.

Lets hope Suwon can happen.

__Synn

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Suwons cool. Thfe fortess is nice. It's close to most things up north and with easy access to Gangwondo.

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

Out of all of those, the only place I'd consider living is Suwon. I still wouldn't live there but it seems like the best option.

Synn057 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject:

I guess a good follow-up then is if I find myself in one of the smaller cities, whats the proper protocol for meeting foreigners?

When I was in China, I had the advantage of knowing how to play their dice games. The first weekend in Shanghai I walked into a small bar alone and made friends with the local employees quickly (one was passed out in the bathroom by the time I left).

Next time I walked in, the owner called another foreigner he knew and BAM, I had a foreign friend.

Thanks for your help guys.

__Synn