Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cyeast97]

yongwon dong, Jinhae...

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=yongwon+dong,+jinhae,+korea&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Yongwon-dong,+Jinhae-si,+Gyeongsangnam-do+645-510,+South+Korea&gl=us&ei=HLL6TPLfIKOBnAeBw8XICg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ8gEwAA

I would definitely get a motorcycle. Close to Jinhae and Busan but I would kind of be living in the sticks.
Any opinions of the area? I am not a dance club person but do not want to be a loner. Is the proximity to Busan worth it?

Sorry for the crazy link he he, hope it works!

[cyeast97]

Uh oh, no replies can't be a good sign...

Any general insight about living in small populated areas? Will it matter that I'll have to travel a bit whenever I want to socialize/shop.

I guess I am trying to gauge the importance of living smack dab in the middle of a well populated city as opposed to on the outskirts of a city.

I have read on this forum that weekends usually consist of traveling to big cities for nightlife, so I am more concerned about weekday living.

Will I really be missing anything mon-fri?

I would expect that constantly being a good ways from your apartment during free time is the norm in Korea, I just don't want to be setting myself up for some unknown headaches..

[gogophoto]

I have never been to the area, and I've only been to Busan three times, but I will try to help you out.

First thing to understand is that Busan is quite large geographically, with populated centers in the valleys between mountains. This means it takes a long time to get around. Take your map, for instance: to get from where you are just to the very end of the nearest subway will take you an hour.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Yongwon-dong,+Jinhae-si,+Gyeongsangnam-do,+South+Korea&daddr=35.098947,128.960924&hl=en&geocode=CTHdHXV3-PcmFWGgFwId1JCtByk3fFedd9BoNTEXfn5eFDn23A%3B&gl=us&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=13&sll=35.090838,128.927307&sspn=0.075568,0.135098&ie=UTF8&ll=35.09126,128.861561&spn=0.075567,0.135098&z=13&start=0

From there, you are looking at at least another hour to get across the city. So if you are moving to Busan for Haeundae/the beaches, this isn't a great proposition. However, what you will miss out on M-F all depends on what you do with your days. I live in Anyang near Seoul, but not in a particularly well-connected part of it near a subway. What do I do M-F after work? Generally eat a Korean meal at a small shop, work on a project, engage in my hobbies. I generally don't see other foreigners during the week. But at least I'm close enough to friends that I can get to see them in 30 minutes--if your friends end up living near the center of Busan, realistically you WON'T be able to see them easily during the week. Also, shopping for western goods might have to happen during the weekend, since I don't know if you will have much in the way of department stores in your little area.

Another thing, an anecdote from a friend of mine who lived and worked in rural-ish Busan for two years: he says he had a good enough job, but where he lived was really crappy (the area). He even as far to say that most of rural-ish Busan was crap. I can't verify, I can only pass on his opinion.

Take a long look at the person you are, the person you could be, and what you are willing to do for a year. Then consider carefully if you want to live here. I hope this helps.

[cyeast97]

Thanks for the reply. The bus route you posted really put things in perspective.

Busan looks awesome and Jinhae seems cool but smack dab in the middle may be asking for too much.

[gogophoto]

[AsiaESLbound]

I think it's good because it's close to the airport and the South coast. If you put the name of the place in your title, the local teachers there will probably bite at this thread more.

[minos]

If you had a 250 cc or higher motorcycle, it's very doable. Bike travel time is effectively half a car's travel time in my experience. It only looks like 15-25 miles max.

Don't listen to koreans who will generally say it's too far....Koreans generally don't drive much and have some strange ideas of "far". Anything longer than 20 miles/30 km is too damn far to them.

There is no speed limit that is enforced in Korea for motorcycles. BTW

There is a inter country highway along the way....you normally can't take bikes on those, but if there isn't any tollways or highway cops, nobody will stop you....just gotta ride it out and see.

I'd say do it if the job offer is decent....

[le-paul]

its not as far out as it seems. You can get a bus into Jinhae quite easily from there. But if you are going to, like you said, get a bike, all the better.
I used to ride my 125 around Jinhae and that area all the time. Its quite nice. Itll take you about 15 mins to get to Jinhae from there and its about another 5/10 into changwon.
Anyway, if youve got a bike, everything is about 100 times quicker and more accessible.

[HagwonKanobi77]

Now is Gimhae or Kimhae in the same boat? In terms of it's distance from Busan? I was looking at possibly working in Gimhae, but would think otherwise if it was too far away from Busan.

[shifter2009]

I lived in Jinhae for 2 years and know a few who live there now. Where you would be puts you in kind of an odd spot. Your in between Jinhae and Busan really. Both are accessible but it makes it a pain in the butt to have a social life since neither is easy to get too without thinking a bit ahead. Jinhae is a very nice quiet city with some great food. Living there is living in Korea though, not going to run into a lot of English speakers, not a lot of western food outside of pizza, chicken and mcdonalds on the far end of town from you. Most people spend there weekends hanging out in Changwon were the foreign community is much larger or end up making lots of trips to Busan. If your looking for a good "Korean" experience with the option of sneaking off to Pusan or Changwon fairly easily its a good choice.

[cyeast97]

I am actually still considering it. I turned it down but got an email from the foreign teacher saying they really want me ( the director is in Australia). I asked for an apartment in Busan and was told I could get one in March...so that is intriguing. Getting to work will be fun though ha!

This decision is going to come down to a photo finish.

[le-paul]

I worked in jangyu 2 years ago (near where youre talking about), my co teacher had an apt. in busan. She said it took her 2 and a half hours each way everyday as a commute.
I hope you enjoy that!

[minos]

[b-class rambler]

[le-paul]

well youve hit the nail on the head there - traffic.
The rush hour commute in korea is horrendous. People driving like crazy people to get home on a night and being hung over/half asleep in the mornings.
On top of that, youve got a ridiculous amount of traffic lights (which its better to just run half the time cos they stop you every 3 minutes).
Ive noticed a massive amount of police on the roads too. I passed 9 sets of police stopping people this morning on my 20 min commute (not sure if thats cos its christmas).
Then youve got the fact that most of the bigger roads running in and out of the cities (including Jinhae) have a lot of kamikazi bus and truck drivers on them who take no prisoners.
Then youve got the weather. Its freezes your bollocks off in winter and the summer is too hot to wear anything so you have no protection on your body. And in the summer it rains alot so you have to wear rain jackets when its 36 degrees outside.

Korea is not a place to 'commute' daily on a bike - especially a small one and especially noit following the traffic in and out. You need power to be safe here - and by that I mean a big engine and something that people can see you on and respect you with (not a scooter). If not, a car. I dont know a single person who hasnt been in a reasonably serious accident who rides - from about 30 or so and Im talking all kinds of bikes.
Its the traffic - its nuts!

Commuting on motorbike is ok sometimes here but it will sicken you doing it day in and day out.