Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nicam]

I've been planning on moving to Seoul after my contract in the boonies of Geoje is up, but as a former California resident I am utterly paralyzed by the cold. It's actually sad. I can barely bring myself to leave the house these days (thanks in part to a sexy electric blanket), and when I do the tears stream down my face and it's like a constant assault on every fiber of my being as I walk down the windy streets wondering if masochism is the primary driving force behind human habitation in subzero temperatures. I really really think Seoul is where it's at, but am considering Busan instead because of the more moderate climate.

I guess my question is, since Busan is coastal, is the wind chill that much more extreme that it cancels out any relief one might feel from the comparatively higher temperatures? Would the difference be noticable enough to justify moving to a city that is a distant 2nd choice?

Has anyone been in this situation and gotten used to the crazy weather up north? Does anyone wish they would have avoided Seoul because of the cold?

Did some research on wind chill on the worldwidewebs, but to little avail...

[victorology]

People tell me Busan is a lot colder than the temperature indicates because it is on the coast and because of the wind. I have never lived there so I can't say. If Busan is a distant second choice, then I would just moved to Seoul.

[Tiger Beer]

I lived in both cities.

Busan is SLIGHTLY warmer in the winter and SLIGHTLY cooler in the summer. However, the weather is more or less the same, and I wouldn't choose one over the other solely because of it.

However, when you are actually in Seoul (or any large city), the large buildings create a lot of warmth, and cut down on the strong breezes. So while temperature-wise, it's cold, it seems you spend a lot more time in the protection of subways or buildings or streets with buildings which block the wind - compared to say Geoje-do, which I'd imagine is fairly open to strong breezes all the time during the winter?

[Ya-ta Boy]

I've lived in Seoul for 3 years and Jinhae (just down the coast from Busan) for 4 years. The south coast is significantly warmer. I found I didn't need a real winter coat in Jinhae. In Seoul I most definitely do.

I vote Busan if the cold bothers you so much.

[VanIslander]

[esetters21]

[VanIslander]

[Xuanzang]

Seoul was in the -10 degrees Celcius region this morning. Considering the distance...yeah Seoul is much more colder than Busan. Busan hardly ever gets to freezing or has snow.

[strange_brew]

[Chet Wautlands]

I'm from Northern Ontario and I lived in Changwon last year. Changwon is 30-50 minutes from Busan and is MUCH warmer than Seoul where I live now. In fact, Seoul often feels colder than northern Ontario because it is very dry and windy.

If cold really, really bothers you, don't come to Seoul. On Sunday night I got off the bus and saw a woman holding her baby while waiting for a bus. The wind was freezing!! Her hands must have gotten numb because she dropped the baby which shattered to pieces on the ground.

[nicam]

[sojourner1]

Changwon on the South coast was much much more milder Winter than up North this year. Up North, you'll face extreme cold and problems like freezing pipes. You need a ski mask and the wold works or you'll get too cold just going out for 5 minutes.

In the South, it barely ever freezes and when it does, it's mild; not deep freeze. There's a huge huge difference between the 2.

[PeteJB]

Gwangju gets the beautiful snow, darn those Jeolla scurvy.

[Darashii]

It's bootyful alright...and friggin frigid.

I am so glad I didn't take those jobs up in Gyeonggi.


But if you're really worried, just move to Jeju. Why on earth are you on the mainland at all?