Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Peter258]

Now I know there have been topics like this before, but the search function is not giving me a "search in title only" option, making it too difficult to find those old threads.

So my question is, if I didn't like Seoul that much(I spent a vacation there a few years ago), what are the chances I would like Busan? I can't really explain why I didn't like Seoul. It was a combination of many small things, such as the air(I hear it's bad in Busan too, but not as bad as in Seoul).

I know that Busan has a few beaches, which I like. That's the main advantage Busan has over Seoul as far as I know.

In general I'm more of an outdoors kind of person. I also like warm weather, and Busan is generally warmer than Seoul.

About me:

I like to..

-relax on the beach
-surf
-Yoga(Bikram or hot yoga)
-train in MMA(boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu, and wrestling)
-travel (I'd like to be able to make trips to the surrounding countries)
-nightlife

I'm assuming that Seoul has a better night life scene. I'm more into the bars than nightclubs, since I'm not too big on dancing.

Some of you may be thinking that somewhere in Thailand or Okinawa, Japan would better suit me considering my interests. I'm considering those locations as well, but it's just that the opportunities and pay are much better in Korea.

[Harpeau]

Thanks for your post. A couple things to consider:

You can't really judge a city based on spending a vacation there. Just my opinion. My first vacation in Seoul was horrible! (The air pollution was really bad back in the Spring of 1997!!) Having had said that, the air quality has improved tremendously over the last 2 or 3 years do to natural gas busses, etc.

Today, I love Seoul. (Though a few things drive me nuts!) Busan is warmer and has the ocean. If you live ther, live close to the beach. It's nice, it's warmer, it's less stressful (maybe??) But you need to remember that Busan is one giant Korean fishing village. Though things have improved very much. A little less staring, etc. It seems much more relaxed and less competitive. People are more into their bodies and get out and do things physically. One of the few downsides is that it is a terrible walking city. It didn't get bombed during the Korean conflict and thus all the streets are very narrow. Congested and you feel like you're going to be hit by a car any second now! Seoul is a much better city for getting out and walking around in. At least, those were my impressions.

Seoul is getting better. There's now more yoga, biking, martial arts, etc. It's a bit more international as well. There seems to be a lot of money here (& Daegue), but there is a lot of stress and people walking around like zombies.

In conclusion, Busan is warmer and Gwangnali Beach does rock! If you move there, get to a place that has good air quality. All the best with your quest.

[Kurtz]

So are we comparing Seoul to Busan here? Well I've never lived in Seoul so I can't really compare sorry but as an outdoorsman in Busan I say the outdoors life here is OK but you have to make a few allowances.

Busan has pretty good weather I think, the winter is not too harsh but it seems to scare most punters off the mountains of which there are many, but not many prove much of a challenge.

Summertime here is too busy. The mountains are full of people at all hours, and I avoid hiking/cycling in them unless I leave at the crack of dawn.

Surfing. Well I saw a decent swell over summer on Haeundae beach and they closed the beach down!! The beaches are really jammed packed here in summer and aren't really too flash anyways (OK that's relative, I'm Australian so I'm very picky). There is a decent beach up the coast a bit called Jinhae (I think) which is more laid back, people cooking samgyeopsal and there is less development (currently).

I saw a lone surfer on Songjeong beach the other day, a one foot break about 20 metres from the beach...wow man! Don't come here thinking you're in for a cool surfer lifestyle, but if you're into windsurfing, that's a different story.

Seriously, I think Busan would suit you more as you can be outside for basically the entire year.

Nightlife. Nothing on Seoul, but there are a few good Western style bars and a smattering of OK restaurants but hey, living it up here and still saving heaps so come and join the party as I can't think of a country that provides such an easy life and still provide very good saving opportunities.

OK enough said, gotta plane to catch.

Good luck.