Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kikatwist]

I've read that if you are going to compromise your dreams of teaching in Seoul, Suwon is the best suburb around. Does anyone have any insight on city life there? What is the foreigner population like?

[HighTreason]

Well, I was in Suwon for my first year and a half before my school transfered me to a school in Seoul somewhat against my will. Now that I'm looking for a job again right now and am giving extra priority to jobs in Suwon. I loved it. Much better than Seoul in various ways.

Number one, people there were much more friendly than I have found Seoul people to be in general. One theory is that their opinions of foreigners have not been so corrupted by stupid foreigners and military types in places like Hongdae and Itaewon and whatnot, but that's just a theory. They are very noticeably nicer, though.

Another advantage is that there is much more nature there. It's still a city, but whereas in Seoul you see nothing but concrete all the time, in Suwon you see a lot of concrete and occasionally some farms and trees and things!

The foreigner community is much more close knit. There are very few foreigner bars and hang-outs in town so everyone goes to the same places and everyone knows each other and says hi when you see each other. You won't find that in Seoul where foreigners tend to avoid each other for whatever reason...

Also, housing is much cheaper which means you are likely to find yourself in a much better apartment than you would in Seoul. I was very surprised when I was moved out of my Suwon apartment with separate, roomy bedroom, living room, and laundry room to my Seoul apartment which is literally only one small room and doesn't even have a laundry room (just a washer in a closet) so I have to put a drying rack in the middle of the room to have to avoid when walking around and to look bad when people come to visit. Other things are cheaper, too, such as gas prices and taxi fare.

Since you seemed set on Seoul from your post, I'm pretty sure you know the disadvantages, but for me they were mainly that it is harder to find foreign food. There are some very authentic Indian restaurants near the Samsung complex, and of course you can find the chain pho restaurants and there are some Japanese and Chinese restaurants, too. No Mexican restaurant to my knowledge though Also, live music is very hard to find there, too. I won't go on since you are probably already familiar with the advantages of Seoul.

On the plus side of the above downside, though, Seoul is very close by train from Suwon Station (like 20 minutes). When you do get there and experience the things you can't find in Suwon, it's much more special.

Well, that's my two cents.

[andrewchon]

Suwon produces the best strawberries in Korea.

If you like water melons, go to Gwangju, Jeun La Nam Do.

They are to die for.

[DCJames]

Suwon is a big city. You could be placed in an old poor area like the suwon Station area or you could be placed in a newer development like Yongtong.

[climber159]

Suwon is NOT the best suburb around Seoul; Bundang (Seohyeon area) and Ilsan are. I know. My opinion; but, I think it's a good one. Suwon was okay the few times I was there and there are plenty of buses that will get you to Seoul relatively quickly.

[andrewchon]

Hang on climber159! How dare you call the capital of the Gyunggi Province a suburb of Seoul! Prepare to face the hostility of Gyunggi's inferiority complex for your Seoul chauvinism. Wait... that blasted AnYang continues the urbanization to... Suwon. Damn.

[English Matt]

[Silk]

If you are only going to Seoul occasionaly during the day on weekends then Suwon is great. If you want to go to Seoul for night life then a suburb like Bundang is closer.

[asylum seeker]