Korean Job Discussion Forums

Lapper · Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Location: Northern Canada

I get the feeling a South Korea teaching experience is very much dependent on the city.

I currently have the choice between Busan, Gwangju and Cheonan.

Has anyone lived in at least one of these? From what I've been reading it seems Busan should be top of my list based on what I like - city, outdoorsy stuff, culture, proximity to ocean.

To give you an idea of myself, I've lived in San Diego (loved it), NYC (loved it) and northern Canada (loved it).

Any help and pointers would be appreciated.

I realize this question may have been asked 500 times, but I'd like the opportunity to discuss.

Thanks!

laserprinter · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

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!

uhfotis · Joined: 01 Jan 2009

I 1000% disagree with Cohiba tho I understand where that perspective comes from. Seoul is western.. If you want to live in a western city and pretend like youre still at home go for it. Personally Busan is my favorite city and I highly recommend it for a newbie. Its big enough that it has a great foreigner community, the weather is much better than Seoul, it has beaches. Its actually retained quite a bit of korean-ness, and with the KTX line its super easy to get to Seoul for visits.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

Go with Busan, it's a huge city with everything you need and there is plenty going on. Gwangju is a pretty big city, but pales in comparision to Busan on practically every level. Cheonan is a small/mid sized city of 400,000, and is a University town. The only reason I'd go with Cheonan is that it's "close" to Seoul (i.e. 30mins by high-speed train). But if you are going to go with it for that reason, rather wait for a position in Seoul.

michaelambling · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Location: Paradise

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

I'd choose Cheonan. Not a very nice place to live, but it's most compliant with Cohiba's Rule.

nycgrl99 · Joined: 11 Jun 2008

Busan! 2nd largest city in Korea and best seafood ever. But it gets really cold in the winters.

heynice · Joined: 15 Jan 2008

Cheonan is not the place to be if you like the ocean...Busan is just as nice as Seoul in terms of FFF, without the hot stink of summer pollution. Busan is on the water and has a wonderful variety of seafood. It also has a high speed ferry link to Japan.

Go to Busan

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

Busan is farthest from Seoul. I'd say it's the worst choice, especially if you're not a fan of seafood.

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

What about Gangwon? Is that where crazy people go? Or where people go crazy?

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

If you are very self-sufficient, a good traveler, not at all picky about food, keen on learning Korean and like life with a bit of rough around the edges......then you can live happily outside Seoul.

However, I advise every, that's every, first-time teacher in Korea to do a year in Seoul first. Even if you think you're pretty hardy. You could have a simply terrible 1st year if you choose the country/small city.

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

Seoul is a dump. Daegu is a dump. Busan is a dump with a beach. Pohang is a dirty great dump with a great big steel plant dumped right in the middle of it taking its general shoddy dumpiness to even greater heights. Masan is a dump. Ilsan is a Dump. Changwon is a planned dump. Jeonju is a dump. Get the idea? Basically, it doesn't matter where you end up, it'll still look the same as everywhere else i.e. a dump with a concrete tower somewhere in the middle and whose sole function is to provide visitors with a platform from which to marvel and behold the magnitude of sprawling dump beneath them. Think of a straw that's been stuck in a dog turd and you'll get the idea.

Korean cities are largely devoid of any civic space and contain very little of anything that is asthetically easy on the eye. If you like prefabricated buildings, draped in tacky neon-lights and street vendors on every corner selling shit-on-a-stick, then you've come to the right place.

Tongyeong is okay though.

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

So'k.

But seriously, the cities are pretty uniform. You also have to remember that Korea's a pretty small country and wherever you end up, you're never really more than an hour from a city in any case. I'm out in the sticks in pretty small town and love it, but there again, I am in my late 30's and don't need to be out partying every weekend if that's your reason for wanting to be in one of the cities.