Korean Job Discussion Forums

MillerLite · Joined: 27 Jan 2009

Okay- essentially I have a choice between teaching at a public school in Changown or a hagwon in Gangnam.

I come from a large city so I'd like a metro feel to where I'll be living, but, I'm really interested in exploring more of rural Korea and not just the confines of the city. I also appreciate good nightlife with a lot to do, foreign community is kind of a non-factor for me.

The public school job seems a lot better so I'm leaning towards that.

I know a bit about Gangnam, but if I lived in Changwon would I just find myself getting bored with maybe a lack of social scene/nightlife and commuting to Busan all the time? Location is a big factor for me, I just don't want to spend the year regretting it.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

You said you were a urban city guy so there's your answer.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Exploring rural Korea is probably a lot more fun than living in it.

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

Choose Gangnam.

You can always explore rural Korea on the weekends.

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

Changwon isn't exactly rural Korea but if you want nightlife, stay away.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

toonchoon · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Location: Gangnam

MillerLite · Joined: 27 Jan 2009

Thanks for the replies. The public job seemed better but didn't want end up too remote.

I know Gangnam is a pretty popular spot for the metro action and sounds great, but, wasn't sure what the take on Changwon was. I've heard what's considered a 'small town' by K standards can still be a somewhat bigger city compared to Seoul and the US.

Has anyone lived/living in Changwon give a little more info in terms of what it's like for a foreigner compared to larger cities?

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

As I said before, I've lived in Changwon for over 7 years now. It's a city of about 500,000 people and has all the amenties and things that you need. It's actually the second richest city in the country so there's alway new thing opening up here.

If you want to ask people who live here some questions, go to the foreigner teacher bar website, www.obriens-bar.com (click on Changwon as there's one in Busan, too). Theres a chatroom to ask questions.

Other than Seoul and Busan, I don't know of anywhere that has more long term teachers living there. That's got to say something about the place. It's also one of the few planned cities in Korea so it's a lot more spaced out and has plenty of parks which some place don't have. There's probably about 250 teachers here and a large number of foreigen engineers as well.

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

As I said before, I've lived in Changwon for over 7 years now. It's a city of about 500,000 people and has all the amenities and things that you need. It's actually the second richest city in the country so there's alway new thing opening up here.

If you want to ask people who live here some questions, go to the foreigner teacher bar website, www.obriens-bar.com (click on Changwon as there's one in Busan, too). Theres a chatroom to ask questions.

Other than Seoul and Busan, I don't know of anywhere that has more long term teachers living there. That's got to say something about the place. It's also one of the few planned cities in Korea so it's a lot more spaced out and has plenty of parks which some place don't have. There's probably about 250 teachers here and a large number of foreigen engineers as well.

Chet Wautlands · Joined: 11 Oct 2008

You won't see tractors in Changwon. People might stare at you more than they do in Seoul, but it's not bad at all.

I lived in Changwon last year and I enjoyed myself. This year I live very close to Seoul and I'm liking that too. While there are enough foreigners in Changwon, the main social activity is drinking. I didn't find too many people who were up for much more than that.

Davew125 · Joined: 11 Mar 2007

I've lived in Changwon and Seoul and unless you like REALLY big, crowded cities then Seoul can be a bit much and it was the lack of any open space at all that got to me in the end.
Changwon is NOT rural Korea, i'd think of it as a good district in Seoul but without the 14 million people around you stealing all the clean air. It has pretty much any thing you need - bars and restaurants, sports clubs, mountains to climb and the like, and You wont get stared at much more than in Seoul. I much prefer this place, but that's just me.

if you want to know anything more specific then let me know.

shifter2009 · Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Location: wisconsin

The Won isn't even remotely rural in my opinion. You want rural Korea, go to Namhae or someplace like that. If you include the fact that Changwon is really part of one bigger city including Jinhae and Masan, its an area of over a million people. With Obriens, the International Pub, All that Jazz, Joyce's all being within the area you have plenty of night life choices if you want them.