Korean Job Discussion Forums

wejazzjune · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Location: Canada

For anyone that has traveled or lived in both capitals, do you find that Seoul (or Incheon) is as noisy, polluted, and dirty as Bangkok? Of course, I am ignoring the positive sides to Bangkok, but the qualities which I mentioned really made me dislike my stay there. I'm worried that living in Seoul or Incheon would be a very similar experience. Any advice?

lille · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Seoul

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster, the bars are temples but the pearls ain't free.

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

Depends where you are in both cities

toonchoon · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Location: Gangnam

i found Bangkok to be really dirty. lack of infrastructure (streets are shotty, no sidewalks or really horrible sidewalks), horrible air pollution (much worse then Seoul's, in my opinion), and generally a really bad odor to the city (nevermind the bad smell of Seoul in places, Bangkok is a more foul smelling city.) I like Seoul, it's KOREA, and NOT a dirty, miserable SE Asian city.

then again, if you want sex, drugs, alcohol etc and don't care about what I typed above, then might as well consider Bangkok again over Seoul.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Seoul has real women where Thailand might have real women who were men.

nomad-ish · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject:

i find bangkok more dirty than seoul, but i love it there (i think thailand in general). i feel really comfortable in bangkok and the people seem more friendly.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Bangkok is noisier and much dirtier, and in certain areas there are more hassels. However, scores of restaurants everywhere full of food I actually want to eat made by people who actually know how to cook generally makes up for this.

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

travelingfool · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Location: Parents' basement

Seoul has a much better layout and transportation system. It's definitely more organized and modern. Seoul doesn't have that nasty smell that anyone who has been to Bangkok knows what I am talking about.

That being said, IMO Bangkok is much more fun with much friendlier people. It's also a lot more diverse in terms of demographics and especially places to eat. The problem with Bangkok is that is that are so many people trying to scam you. The taxi drivers are the worst. They never want to turn on the meter.

All things being equal I would much rather spend a year in Bangkok than Seoul.

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Thai food is more complex to cook with all the spices and marinating. It's actually quite similar to Chinese food. The rice noodles and fried chicken/pork dishes, sweet and sour sauces, hot and sour, etc. Bangkok's shopping is better as they have more Western brands present. For tolietries, food and clothing.

jdog2050 · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

my main gripe with Korean food is the general lack of RESPECT for what they're serving and who they're serving.

I don't think you can claim to care about your customers if you put hot dogs into kimchi chiggae. You might as well bey giving your customer the finger.

Thing is, I don't know *why* so many Korean restaurants do this, but I think it's because, post-war, Koreans got so used to just accepting any food served to them as a blessing, that they stopped being critical. That's nice and all, but when you see that this country has the highest bowel cancer rate in asia, well...