Korean Job Discussion Forums

[snowysunshine]

My husband and I have just arrived in Yangju, and have yet to see any other foreigners. I am used to living in Anyang, and Shihung, where there are more people around. I'm also more accustomed to working in hagwons, where you most often automatically meet people. Now, we're in Yangju, which seems quite small and rural, and in a PS, with no other native teachers.

If any of you are in Yangju, and know where some people hang out, or would like to get together for dinner some night, please let me know!

[bakagai4649]

If you hop on the 1 train north towards Soyosan there's all kinds of foreigners in Dongducheon. Its only a 15-20 minute ride from Yangju. there's a lot of western restaurants and black market american stuff from the base up here. Or you could head the other way to Uijongbu in the same amount of time they have the same kind of things just bigger and better but I don't know the area to well.

[definitely maybe]

[snowysunshine]

Thank you for the information!

You are right, Yangju is big, and we're not really close to anything. We didn't realize when we first got here, hopped in a taxi to go to Uijeongbu, and when it turned out to be 15 K, I then realized how far in the middle of no-where we were.

*sigh* I miss Anyang! LOL

[alice0216]

This is a bit late, but I have been in Yangju for a month now. if you are still looking for other foreigners to hang out with, let me know.

[coffee]

How big is this city? Some refer to it as rural area, yet others refer to it as a city?

I might be posted there for a teaching gig sometime in the fall. Can anyone please answer the following question:

- Are there any gyms around?
- Is it easy to get around the city?
- Are the locals open to foreigners, especially a tall dark skinned invidual?
- Cost of living?

feel free to touch on anything else that may further inform me.

thanks

[alice0216]

I have only been here a month but I really like it so far. It is a large city with great expanses of agricultural property all around so it can have the feel of city or town depending on where you are, but I like the fact that I can see mountains and green space everywhere. Much of my area (Gwangsa-dong) is now under construction, so it might look very different in a year. I take the buses and they are convenient to get around, unless you need to buy large items. Cost of living is pretty cheap. My apartment was larger than I expected, maybe in part because I am outside of Seoul and it's less expensive. the locals have been very nice. You might be noticed more because of your skin color. I do see some foreigners with darker skin here, but I get the impression it's more of a novelty than white skin. I heard there is a gym under construction in one of the office buildings. I'd be surprised if there wasn't; the Koreans like their gyms very much.

[coffee]

[definitely maybe]

Uijeongbu, Yangju, Pocheon, and Dongducheon have a large population of 3D workers from Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, not to mention a fairly sizeable number of troops in Dongducheon and Uijeongbu. The local population may mistake you for a factory worker or soldier, but I wouldn't expect them to be utterly shocked. A kid might point and say something at some time, but I have childrens point at me and gasp "foreigner" on a regular basis in the apartment building where my family and I have lived for three years. I have often been in the building longer than the kid and his family, but different is different here.

If you're coming to Korea and living a more rural area, you need to expect some odd encounters every now and again. I think a lot of it has more to do with surprise and general curiosity than disdain though. As for Yangju in particular, I think it won't take long for the people in your neighborhood to figure out that you're a teacher. People will make it their business to know who you are, and it's only a matter of time until they ask you where you work, etc. You'll be fine.

[coffee]

definitely maybe Thank you for your feedback.