Korean Job Discussion Forums

[icyx]

Hi everyone -
I'm trying to decide which city to move to and wondering if anyone can help out with suggestions. Mostly, I'm looking for a fun city - interesting neighborhoods to walk around in (akin to what I imagine Itaewon to be?), student districts with fun bars or cool shops, cultural events that aren't entirely lame, etc. Basically, a city with personality, somewhere that's fun to explore on your days off. While I think Seoul encompasses all of the above, I think I'd like to get out of the super-touristy capital and try somewhere with marginally less foreigners. At first, I was thinking a suburb of Seoul, so that I could enjoy the city easily but get away from its craziness at the end of the day, but now I've been thinking of Busan or Daegu. I'm good with both big and small cities. Suggestions?
Sorry if this is beating a dead horse, but the search function seems to be down for me and the stickies are marginally outdated. Thanks for any help :)

[afsjesse]

Busan has the markings of all of the traits you stated. Plus it's really close to alot of smaller towns that are historically and culturally important. I'm refering to Gyeongju and Tongyeong specifically.

Daegu wouldn't be bad either. There are alot of hiking trails around the mountains of Palgonsan Park that are really breathtaking in the autumn and spring.

If your really looking for a good adventure, my personal choice would be Gangnueng. There's a couple of pretty good festivals that are held there every year, the Dano Festival and the Cuttle Fish which is in nearbye Donghae. Plus you'd be in Gangwondo which is AWESOME! for hiking, camping, fishing, rafting, skiing etc...... Plus the city itself is historical and has alot of cultural landmarks and Gyeongpo Beach which is spectacular.

Good LUck!

Jesse

[Cohiba]

There is Seoul. That is it. Everything else does not even compare
if you want anything cultural whatsoever.

- End of thread -


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_city

A primate city is the leading city in its country or region, disproportionately larger than any others in the urban hierarchy.[1] A 'primate city distribution' has one very large city with many much smaller cities and towns, and no intermediate-sized urban centres, in contrast to the linear 'rank-size distribution'.[2] The 'law of the primate city' was first proposed by the geographer Mark Jefferson in 1939.[3] He defines a primate city as being "at least twice as large as the next largest city and more than twice as significant."[4]

Not all countries have primate cities, but in those that do, the rest of the country depends on it for cultural, economic, political, and major transportation needs.

The presence of a primate city in a country may indicate an imbalance in development � usually a progressive core, and a lagging periphery, on which the primate city depends for labor and other resources.[5] However, the urban structure is not directly dependent on a country's level of economic development.[1]

[RACETRAITOR]

Not even any mention of Cohiba's Law?

There are tons of places to walk around in Seoul, and usually you won't see that many foreigners. Itaewon isn't a great place to walk around, though Haebangchon is considerably more interesting.

[Cohiba]

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!

[Ukon]

While there are other cities in korea that are fun....Go Seoul! If your looking for a good time, go seoul.....It's what Tokyo is to Japan and New York is to America.

And try to be IN Seoul, not outside it or even near it....Avoid any recruiter who tries to convince you to go to Incheon instead.