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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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 Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: Pusan Vs Seoul |
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I am planning on teaching English in either Pusan or Seoul and would like to know what people think of these cities and their districts.
I am a person who enjoys cinema, art, books and music.
Seoul seems more diverse, yet I am drawn to the coastal nature of Pusan.
I have never lived in a city of great size before and expect the usual culture shock! I am hoping I can buffer this with the chance to see some interesting Korean art/cinema, while meeting interesting people as well.
All advice, thoughts, directions, links welcome!
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mcviking
Joined: 24 Mar 2009
Location: 'Fantastic' America
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| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't know much about Seoul, but Busan has a fun night life and the beaches are great, altough if you aren't much of a drinker you will be pretty bored unless you are really into hiking. Not oto much of a music scene either, a few open mics here and there. If art and music is your thing then a city the size of Seoul should have something up your alley, but I have found that waygooks in Seoul are a bit more stnad offish compared to other areas, but hey that's what happenes with a city that big. |
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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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From your post I gather you are residing in Busan. I enjoy drinking, not every day but on the weekends for sure. Have you (or anyone reading this) been to any Contemporary art galleries in Busan or Seoul? 
Yay for beaches! |
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Trinidad
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| MaiaMcDonald wrote: |
From your post I gather you are residing in Busan. I enjoy drinking, not every day but on the weekends for sure. Have you (or anyone reading this) been to any Contemporary art galleries in Busan or Seoul?
Yay for beaches! |
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. Also clubs such
as photography, drama, public speaking, sailing are 99% in
the capital city. If you want to experiment with a very Korean
culture, which unfortunately means "closed", then choose the
countryside. If you want to make money and have the lifestyle
choices similar to a western country, then there is no other
choice than Seoul.
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! |
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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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| Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Excellent advice! FFF must be up in the 60-80% area at least, bummer for you being so far out. I guess it is also dependant on contracts. Seoul sounds great but beaches sounds better. Mind you it will be cold when I arrive, so seeing a good film and eating treats will rule over standing on a beach freezing my a** off. |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:18 am Post subject: Busan |
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I think I recall a post from 'cohiba' stating she'd never been to Busan, & would seriously consider checking Busan out, in view of all the positive posts coming to its defense.
The advantage of Busan, is you can pop over to Japan for the weekend or Chuseok/other long weekends. It has many international flights, but obviously, it's not as well connected as Seoul. Winters are milder, in Busan, although typhoons are more frequent than Seoul. I like it. I've been there several times. Seoul is 3 hours away by KTX if you need a change of urban scenery.
Both cities have their good & bad areas, so thoroughly research your potential new school, BEFORE signing the contract. |
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jonah47
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:16 am Post subject: I would take Busan |
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They have a Starbucks.  |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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I often wish I lived in Busan instead of Seoul. But then I remember how obnoxious-sounding Busan dialect is.
I still think I'd like it more than Seoul though. And the 'Cohiba Rule' doesn't really apply to Busan because there are lots and lots of foreigners in Busan. And you can go to the beach all summer, which is nice. |
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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Its all good news so far, regarding fun factor!!! Starbucks and drinking.
I would be really keen to hear about art and film?
I love 'old boy' a recent Korean film, quite twisted and very brutal.
I must find out if I can pack my own coffee too? Its the small things that make a difference when far from home
I am slowly answering some of my own questions as I search forums, blogs etc. and will post any great threads for others who find art and film in Korea of interest! |
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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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MaiaMcDonald
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the post Chrisj, excellent photos on what must be a great camera.
I look forward to taking my new Leica out for a walk when I arrive |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| MaiaMcDonald wrote: |
| Excellent advice! FFF must be up in the 60-80% area at least, bummer for you being so far out. I guess it is also dependant on contracts. Seoul sounds great but beaches sounds better. Mind you it will be cold when I arrive, so seeing a good film and eating treats will rule over standing on a beach freezing my a** off. |
Lol Busan has good cinemas, Korea's biggest international annual film festival and plenty of foriegn restaurants including Itialian, Mongolian, russina, uzbeki, Chinese (there's a chinatown) Japanese etc.... Where do some of you ppl get yer 'info' from lol....
It is also very beautiful in some parts as the pics the other poster linked proves.
I think the waeygook social scene there is suppposed to be decent too, very close nit... |
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