Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wjf1]

I have been offered a position in Seoul, but I am unsure whether to accept because of the pollution. I suffer from mild Asthma (I have never had an Asthma attack) and I wouldn't want to put my health at risk. Do you think the pollution in Seoul would be a problem for someone with Asthma?

[seonsengnimble]

The air isn't great, but it isn't horrible. The air is better than in the US during the fall when the farmers burn their fields.

The one thing in Korea, in general that you should be aware of is the lack of restrictions on public smoking. In large chain restaurants, there is no smoking, but in most smaller businesses, smoking is pretty common.

[Louis VI]

Go to Busan and get the fresh ocean breeze daily.

[AsiaESLbound]

Mainly in pedestrianized areas such as shopping areas, nearly every man smokes all the time while walking and vehicle exhaust of cars, trucks, and motor bikes inching around you in the congestion make air quality dismal in localized pockets, but it's not all bad as wide boulevards and less populated areas along with the many mountains seem good. Construction work zones can also emit anything in which you will walk right into the work site and brush shoulders with laborers, their suited managers in white hard hats overseeing a project as you stepped around their tools and supplies, because space is often so limited they can't close it off like they would at home. You will be contending with heavy smokey car traffic as you walk in the streets, but Koreans seem to be defensive drivers where they will stop to let you cross. I honestly wish you could get a small mask with an air bottle from the pharmacies for this kind of walking around, because there are some gritty bad air places many people need to visit for their shopping, work, and entertainment.


It's cool visit and shop high population areas, but not too funny when you live, work, and commute in that mess breathing thick pea soup. I live in such a place, but can walk 15 minutes to a place where it's no resident population,and it's all green, and natural. Most areas are not congested and polluted to extremes, but air in bustling markets is quite thick. Hiking and using outdoor gym equipment is my favorite outdoor activity. It's the best living amenity Korea offers, and it's free. You will also get a laugh out of all the women working out on the hottest Summer days dressed in full Winter gear with cloth masks.

[air76]

The air quality in Korea definitely affects those with respiratory concerns, but it isn't just Seoul....a lot of smaller towns with huge factories can have horrible air quality as well. If you want to 100% escape air quality issues you'll need to get a job in Gangwon-do, which shouldn't be hard as most people don't want to go there because it is too rural.

At any rate....you will survive in Seoul, but if you are apt to have breathing problems anyway, you will most certainly be sick more often in Seoul, and more than just being sick more often it is that it is harder to get well once you get sick.

[uklathemock]

[Kissmykimchi]

Here's a pic

It looks like a nuclear winter with the yellow dust swirling.

http://kissmykimchi.com/2008/03/yellow-dust.html

[Bloopity Bloop]

I don't notice any air pollution.