Korean Job Discussion Forums

duckman · Joined: 23 Nov 2003

I'm a 23 yo Californian male, with the typical traits of my species (laid-back to the point of asleep) some atypical (good with languages) and I'm going over to Korea sometime soon. But before I settle on a place to settle, I thought I'd ask you informed folks -- where should I go to? Is it harder in general in a small town? Rural? Big city? What places are excessively, deflatingly, Westernized? I'm big on aesthetics, and I have no idea where to go on the internet for lotsa pictures of various Korean cities to look at and insert myself into, then like it there, or not. Suggestions? Ah yes, counterculture a plus (does it even exist in Korea?) But I'm equally cool with doing the traditional rural thing, so. Thanks.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I'll give you my opinion, but that is all it is.

If you want some access to Western stuff, then you will be happiest in Seoul. It has some ethnic restaurants. Not a lot, but more than Pusan. I don't think any of the other cities have any at all. Seoul also has a club scene. I've never heard of any other city having any. Seoul also has bookstores. Not a lot, and not all that good. None of the other cities have much at all in the way of books. TV: if you want English channels, it will depend on the cable company and the neighborhood you live in. Even if you have some English channels, there are only a few. A very few. Lots of the foreigners here don't have any English channels.

As for aesthetics, pretty much all the cities look exactly alike. But then I think all American cities look pretty much alike.

If crowds bother you, you won't like Seoul. But then the whole country is pretty crowded. You might want to choose a less densely populated country.

I have not personally noticed any difference in friendliness between people in large and small cities. I find Korean people quite friendly everywhere. People in Seoul are more used to seeing foreigners, but I didn't think it made any difference in how they responded to me.

My personal favorite for a city is Taejon (Daejon). It is centrally located and is about the 4th largest city in the country with around 1 1/2 million people. I used to live in the northern part, which is newer and has more open space. Not being an industrial city, the air quality in Taejon is better than many other cities. One other thing I liked about it is that by the time the typhoon winds get there, they have pretty well fizzled out.

In the end, it doesn't matter much where you live here because you will be living in Korean culture. That can be lots of fun. However, on some days it will drive you crazy.

Good luck in your choice.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Don't get hung up on location, go after a decent job.

Plastic B · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Daejeon no more

Agreed, Daejeon rocks! But Pusan is more hip and happening. It reminds me of a sort of 'wild west' town, not least because of Texas Street, which, ironically, is full of Russians.

tsgarp · Joined: 01 Dec 2003

Soddom good, Gommorah bad

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

small towns for me bro.. away from the nth's nukes Rolling Eyes

deep southerner here

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

chrisbem1 · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Location: south korea

I live in Daejeon too, and it's pretty good because it's central, so you can visit everywhere else on the weekend if you want. Of course B. is here, so maybe you want to go somewhere else......

Busan is really cool too, but I have to say that Seoul is a bit much for this Canadian lad (20 million people is more than 1/2 the population of my country). I'd say everywhere is probably right for somebody, so think about what you think would be best for you.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

FlagWaver · Joined: 12 Apr 2003

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

I agree. Find a nice job and make good Korean friends wherever you are.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:40 pm Post subject:

You are looking for a place less Westernized yet with a counterculture?

I too then recommend Busan (old spelling: Pusan). It's got distinctly Japanese and Russian subcultures, some good nightlife areas and even a biker gang of English teachers!

It's one of the largest port cities in the world with great seafood (fresh, cheap and plentiful), many travellers, mountains close by to hike, small towns and islands (like mine!) nearby. The winter temperatures are much warmer than Seoul, and the air is cleaner, yet a new bullet train will make your jaunts from the big city to the metropolis only last a couple of hours.

Plus in the summer it sure is nice to be a mere subway ride away from Haeundae Beach, with sand and surf so close by, a feature rarely matched in a big city. And yes, there is one great big English bookstore for your non-Amazon needs.

And like I did, you can bypass Incheon airport and fly directly to Busan's international airport.

Check out the local website pusanweb.com

Whatever your decision, Welcome!

harpua · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: haebangchon

what about anyang?

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

coolsage · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:54 am Post subject:

I have a decent gig here, but not for a moment would I consider living out my days in this place. Korea has been good to me, but it is a stop, no more, toward a destination more user-friendly, more climatically-friendly, more food-friendly, less nationalistically- unfriendly than the Termite Kingdom. If you can live a life here, more power to you. For me, it's a more southern destination, a place lacking in spitting, puking, falling-down drunks. If 40 years of Japanese occupation could not convey some sense of manners here, it's not going to change by virtue of my presence. I could not face each morning for the rest of my days stepping through last night's debris. I've learned to work around that stuff, because it suits my Big Picture; but stay here? Not a chance.