Korean Job Discussion Forums

slisenbe · Joined: 12 Feb 2010

Hey!
I am starting to work with some recruiters and they are asking me where I want to teach. Any advice or suggestions of what cities would be good or not good to teach in? I don't want to be right in the middle of a big city, but I don't want to be in the middle of no where. I want a somewhat quiet place where there are things to do.
Thanks

pangaea · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

That's pretty vague. Do you want to be on the mainland? An island? How far from a big city do you want to be and do you have a specific city in mind? "Things to do" is not very descriptive. What kind of things? Are you looking for museums, cultural attractions, beaches, water sports, specific outdoor activities? If you give a little more information about what is important to you in a city, we can give you a better idea of where to go.

slisenbe · Joined: 12 Feb 2010

Well I guess like 30 min or so out of a bigger city would be nice. I tend to enjoy myself no matter what I am doing, so as far as activities go I like hiking, sight seeing, and experiencing the culture. I wouldn't mind being close to a beach but that isn't that important to me. I want to be on the mainland. I am just trying to get an idea for right now.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Triban · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: Suwon Station

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

In Japan

^_^

Whitey Otez · Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: The suburbs of Seoul

Recruiters will place you in the hardest-to-fill places if you say you'll work anywhere, but they'll toss out your resume if you insist that you only want to work in Apgujeong. A lot of people anchor themselves to where they were first placed (except people who were first placed in Suwon, then they hate their life and can't wait to get out of the country Laughing

).

You should consider for yourself:
1. Are you a loner? Can you spend your free hours in alienation?
2. What things are important to your quality of life? Beach access, foreign community, shopping districts, night life, English language church, good international restaurants, and/or recreational biking; these things make your experience in Korea better or worse.
3. What things are you willing to let go? Coming in, maybe you don't care about a foreign community because you expect the Koreans to embrace you with open arms. Video games are for babies. Church is for sheep. Drinking is for the unimaginative. Bicycling if for fourth graders. Yes, a quality Thai curry is wonderful once every blue moon, but it isn't a deal-breaker. Maybe you'll shop for goods on the Internet.

These are really your own personal decisions. Successful people in Korea can come in and go with the flow, making connections in their first year that set up their next years. Most people that hate their life in Korea are rigid or held high expectations.

jiberish · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: The Carribean Bay Wrestler

All I have to say is that once they tell you where a prospective job is. Google earth the EXACT location. Recruiters will say what you want to hear to get you to sign a contract.

My first job I specified City or very near the city. They said told me about a job in Incheon and said it was a big city and it was only about 30 minutes to Seoul. So I looked it up, seemed ok. But after I arrived Incheon is kind of like a state. There was a big city but I was nowhere near it...