Korean Job Discussion Forums

[iwillteachyouenglish]

Hello People,

I am likely coming to Korea to teach. However, I am hoping to photograph many Korean snakes while there. I have not signed a contract yet, as I am trying to determine where to position myself.

Questions:

1) Is it possible to take day trips out of Seoul into natural areas at all? Curious to know if any snakes have been seen within a couple hours of Seoul.

2) Can you recommend a better town where trips into nature would be easier to arrange? Remember, I won't have a car (unless I can rent one reasonably cheap?)

Generally, I am looking for someplace where I can travel out into nature every weekend and search for snakes. I don't really care if the areas are pristine or not, so long as they support snakes populations.

Thanks!

[DeMayonnaise]

Is this serious? There isn't much "nature" in Korea. Pretty overpopulated and not many animals.

[D.D.]

I suggest you get the info on Korean hogwans and take pics of the hogwan bosses and I am sure you can name your album " Korean snakes"

[tigershark]

Who is this guy?

[Daami]

[AsiaESLbound]

Korea has great hiking trails which I use 3 or 4 times a week. You might get a glimpse of the odd jet black squirrel with pointed ears and cute little chipmunks. I haven't seen any snakes, but you will see a few species of birds, all black bumble bees, and various small insects. I also seen brilliant fire orange bellied frogs in a drainage area.

There are reptiles, but must be rare. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reptiles_of_Korea

[cassimira]

I disagree that there's not much nature.... it just seems that you're less likely to see nature and people coexisting to the extent that you see in some American cities. Take a train ride a reasonable distance (The wonju-->Eumseong route is particularly lovely) or drive on some back roads, and you will quickly see that LARGE swaths of Korea are still old-fashioned-style farmland or untouched, densely vegetated mountains.

However, I do agree with the previous posters that most of this nature isn't easily accessible from the city, although there are several national parks around Korea that are serviced by daily buses... most of them would be more of a weekend trip than a day trip, as you'd have to spend several hours bus time for some of them.

OP, if capturing nature photographically is really important to you, you might want to avoid Seoul, and look for a posting in a more rural, or centrally located (to Korea), area. Maybe look at Cheongju and surrounding areas... smack dab in the middle of Korea, reasonably large foreigner population, and within 2-3 hours of several different national parks. Also, I've heard Wonju is lovely in a similar way, although I have little personal experience with the city.

Or, you might always look into buying a car. Decent used cars go for cheap around here.... we currently are driving a perfect condition, large, very comfortable car we got for only 600,000 w. Not bad, considering we can probably re-sell it for close to the same when we leave, if you keep it in good condition. Not sure of your nationality, OP, but if you are american, getting a korean driver's license is easy-peasy.

[schwa]

[wormholes101]

I used to live about 1hr 30 mins from Seoul and saw a snake once. It was on a hill, late afternoon, sunning itself.

[iwillteachyouenglish]

Daami: Do you remember where in Kangwondo you saw the snakes.

Same question for wormholes and schwa, do either of you remember any details at all? Trail name, approximate location, or any landmark?

I will attempt to track down any and all leads, as there is very little information about korean snake locality.

Thanks!

[schwa]

Check out this page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reptiles_of_Korea

At the bottom theres also a link back to a discussion on Daves from about 5 years ago. The main contributor has deleted his messages but you still might glean some usable info from it.

[samd]

I saw one in Jirisan National Park, it was eating a frog which was stuck halfway inside the snake's mouth.

[Missihippi]

I've heard that korean snakes are really small and hairy, which is odd for a reptile.

[kiwigirl :O)]

When I worked in Gapyeong (eastern Gyeonggido almost Gangwon do) I saw a small green grass snake....it was quite cute (I think it had just come out of hybernation)...but I did not see any other members of its family

The area I lived in was quite mountainous and in the countryside...

[Paladin Brewer]

Hey I work near in the Gapyeong area And I went hiking near at a mountain near where I live and saw a little gray snake. I almost stepped on it actually But that's about it.