Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

is it safe to go to SK now?
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
sushi_girl_21



Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:30 am    Post subject: is it safe to go to SK now? Reply with quote

Hi eveyone,

I don't know if this is the right forum to post but i am due to go over to Ansan to teach at an elementary public school in 2 weeks and the news about the North Korea wanting to test launch their long range missile is a bit of a worry. My parents are worry if a war broke out and that i could be stuck there?
Are there any threats to Foreigners teaching in South Korea? Any comments will be a big help.

Thank you in advance guys.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
hugekebab



Joined: 05 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is always something like that in the news. The risk has been demonstrably small when taking the last 40 years into account.

Korea is just like anywhere else, except you will have less chance of some nasty violent shit happening to you here than you would in the West, but then again you have more chance of dying in a car crash here so there ya go.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
sushi_girl_21



Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Hugekebab,

Thanks for the comment. So you're saying the chance of North Korea attacking is very low?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jeff's Cigarettes



Joined: 27 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Truth be told, no one knows the risk of another war breaking out here on the Korean peninsula. If war did break out you could very well be killed within a very short period of time especially if you're in Seoul or environs.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Cerriowen



Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Location: Pocheon

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Every time the US has an election, NK growls and hisses. This time the US had a major election, and a major shift in power. NK is pitching a fit to equal that.

They are going to bluster and threaten, and then demand consessions to back down. That's what they have always done in the past.

While it is serious, I don't see any major advantage for NK to attack, because even China would be pissed off at them. Without China's support and intervention, the US would steam-roll them (or... nuke the crap out of them).

Also... the embassy here has a website where you can put all your info in (address, phone, email, etc) so they can keep tabs on you.

The US (and all the other western countries to my knowledge) hasn't advised people to leave.

IMHO, I'd say your chances of getting run over by a taxi driver is higher than NK nuking and your being trapped in SK.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
sushi_girl_21



Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for all your comments.

This is my first time in a foreign country by myself (im female BTW) so i am very nervous and this thing with the North Korea is not helping.

Thanks again.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jeff's Cigarettes



Joined: 27 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

^^Newsflash; China would love to have the Korean Peninsula.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
pidgin



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

sushi_girl,

I'm sorry but I think you might want to reconsider especially if you have not yet invested anything in this relocation plan.

This is the kind of worry that indicates or separates those that do well here and those that do not, imo.

Don't take this the wrong way, just use your two weeks to explore other avenues/options (at home or abroad) and don't put yourself in a situation where you feel scared or continually worried.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
afsjesse



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

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You'll be fine sushi!!!!!

I was nervous too when I came here. There is a real risk of something happening related to North Korea. However I would not let this deter you. As FDR once said "There is nothing to fear but fear itself"! that and a few thousand artillery shells aimed at Seoul..... but hey, Nukes are pointed at you all over the world so really what's the differece?

Enjoy Korea!

Jesse Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Cerriowen



Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Location: Pocheon

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeff's Cigarettes wrote:
^^Newsflash; China would love to have the Korean Peninsula.


Sure... but they wouldn't be happy w/ NK starting something w/ the USA. They;d prefer to just take over when KJI kicks the bucket.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
browneyedgirl



Joined: 17 Jul 2007

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're more likely to be in car accident in SK that attacked by an invading army.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:20 am    Post subject: Re: is it safe to go to SK now? Reply with quote

sushi_girl_21 wrote:
Hi eveyone,

I don't know if this is the right forum to post but i am due to go over to Ansan to teach at an elementary public school in 2 weeks and the news about the North Korea wanting to test launch their long range missile is a bit of a worry. My parents are worry if a war broke out and that i could be stuck there?
Are there any threats to Foreigners teaching in South Korea? Any comments will be a big help.

Thank you in advance guys.


Ah, every year around this time someone makes this post.

No, it's very unsafe, and war could break out at any moment. The Americans have enough gas masks and bomb shelters for their own nationals and enough transport to bring their people home, but the rest of us will be left to fight for ourselves and join the streams of refugees as the South gets quickly overrun, just like on MASH. If you choose not to take up your sharpened stake and fight with the South Koreans you'll likely be branded a traitor or subversive, so I hope you're up on your improvised weaponry. If it happens during winter you'd better hope that you have lots of warm clothing and are good at foraging for fuel. Of course, if you're caught up in the chemical and biological weapons attacks, you may be better off perishing quickly then tortourously trying to drag your deseased self to Japan. And if the North Koreans capture you, you can expect days, weeks, or months of torture as a suspected American agent. Finally, when America is forced to respond with tactical nuclear weapons, you could be faced with fire from both sides. In short, is all this really worth $1,400USD / month?

Sweet dreams tonight!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Big Mac



Joined: 17 Sep 2005

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've stopped worrying about North Korea.

North Korea is not interested in fighting with South Korea. If anything, they are more interested in fighting with the United States. They see South Koreans as puppets of the imperialist Americans. They believe that if they weren't so brainwashed by the Americans they would be on their side.

Kim Jong-Il is just really good at something called brinkmanship. He likes to push things to the edge because he gets something in return from scaring everyone.

Don't worry.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ukon



Joined: 29 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

N. Korea makes these threats in hopes of getting more food aid via bargaining(give us aid or will make you sorry one way or the other).

The fact that they beg for food and aid let's you exactly how much of a threat the North.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jvalmer



Joined: 06 Jun 2003

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ukon wrote:
N. Korea makes these threats in hopes of getting more food aid via bargaining(give us aid or will make you sorry one way or the other).

The fact that they beg for food and aid let's you exactly how much of a threat the North.


Whatever this guys says. Also, like to add that Lee hasn't been giving free money to the Norks, unlike the 2 previous presidents. And either way, the Northern yahoos in Pyongyang still act the exact same.

The worst it will probably get is maybe a DMZ patrol being shot at. And the last time that happened (2002 during the world cup), was when the SK president was pro-North.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International