Korean Job Discussion Forums

[michi gnome]

I might have a job and apartment in Korea town Los Angeles.
Never been there, but since I've lived in Korea a few years, know some language, etc, I might fit in.

Curious to hear what people think of the place. Would you live there? Is it somewhat affordable? Can a I get a cheap bowl of bibimbap? Or is it one great big steaming heap of dung?

I'm a midwesterner, and have only been to L.A. once, & am considering this job, which would last for 1 year. The position is in Disaster Preparedness, which with the way the world is going, will surely be a growth industry.

Thoughts?

[Bloopity Bloop]

Honestly, your question is too difficult to answer. LA is really a love it or hate it kind of place. I personally hate LA. It doesn't register as a city to me because you are required to drive everywhere and if you take a wrong turn, you could be in a bad situation (I used to live in the city with the highest murder per capita city in the States so it's not like I'm some chickens**t sheltered dude afraid of minorities--LA can be really shady).

In addition to the many trips I've taken there, I have a few friends who live in K-town and many more who have gone there regularly or have lived around there their entire lives. It's pretty ghetto and can be dangerous, so if you're uncomfortable with that, then...

You can definitely get cheap Korean food, and you can also drive to other cities in LA county for quality Korean food (like Garden Grove--CHAM SUT GOL for unlimited BBQ). However, you'll be in California, so you have a mind-boggling array of other ethnic foods to choose from as well. There's no greater variety of food in the world than in the States, I think. I don't mean this as a slight to other countries, please believe me. I'm just sayin'...

LA has many faces. Where in LA did you go?

I'm leaning towards giving you more negative info about the place because it's more important than going on about how great it is. Wouldn't want you to end up in a disaster situation

I personally would not live there, nor would I live in LA. But I don't think my answer is that important with regards to LA. As I said, you'll either love it or hate it.

The best thing you could do would be to take a weekend trip or something and scope the place out yourself. If you're in the States right now, you can get a cheap round-trip ticket on Southwest to anywhere else in the States for under 200USD I believe.

Hope this helped, at least a little.

[joltaxt]

Born and raised in SoCal. Man, you must really not have done your research because this is a no brainer.

The thing about that area (and LA in general), is that LA is so spread out you can always just drive/commute from a nearby town if you don't like it. It isn't like NYC where you'd feel so much more isolated to one part.

Did you know that in Korea town, if you drive a few blocks one way you're in the bonafide ghetto, and if you drive a few blocks the other, you're in Beverly Hills?

If safety is that big of an issue, just commute from a nearby suburb. There are plenty of them.

And I'm ASSUMING you are taking a car with you......

[greasypeanut]

quote from my friend who is korean and has lived in k-town all her life: "the mexicans are taking over, my family wants to move"

dont take it as a racist thing either.

and an opinion from me, someone whos from so cal, almost newhere in LA is crap. the only places that arent crap you wouldnt be able to afford anyways, dont take this as an insult either, only the truly rich can afford to live there.

[Bloopity Bloop]

[joltaxt]

Hahah, the Mexicans are taking over Ktown too now?

And that is definitely not a racist statement. Anyone from SoCal (or California now actually) knows wholeheartedly what that means)

[joltaxt]

[Yaya]

Ktown in LA is a dump, and a dangerous one at that. I had the misfortune to live there for a couple of years just to see what it was like, and I hated it. I'd think twice about going there.

[Bloopity Bloop]

[michi gnome]

no i do not have a car. is l.a. public transit that bad? i hate having to rely on a car, so this might be a deal-breaker for me.

have lived in, or at least near, sketchy areas most of my life.
lived in new orleans when it was murder capital for a few years.

would prefer not to live in sketchy places, but that's economic reality.

have learned some interesting things in my research of Korea town.

1. that the riots in '92 caused a huge exodus of Koreans to other neighboring counties. The gap was filled by Mexicans, and the neighborhood is actually predominantly Hispanic now. Did not know that Korea town was practically the epicenter of the riots.

2. the Asian economic crisis in the late 90's, coupled with a new transit line & urban revitalization, brought an influx of Koreans, as well as folks from other parts of Asia, back.

interesting history here

[Bloopity Bloop]

[joltaxt]

[joltaxt]

[michi gnome]

thanks for all the advice.

i knew there were alot of people from S. Cal. living in Korea.

had a feeling there would be some strong opinions about L.A.

the job is what is making me consider living there, no other reason.
could care less about some of the stuff the place is known for, such as celebrities etc.

i don't know though. i prefer cities with more historic architecture & brown brick buildings to live in, but would trade that in for a warm climate for a while. would be nice to avoid sprawl & strip mall culture, but doesn't seem possible.

[Bloopity Bloop]