Korean Job Discussion Forums

[theevilgenius]

Hey, I'm looking for my first TEFL job and have an offer for a place in Gumi and was wondering does anyone have any experience living there: restaurants, nightclubs, pubs, people, foreigners etc.
Thanks.

[metalhead]

I had a friend who lived there after working in Seoul - he didn't mind it, he said there are a fair amount of foreigners there (people to hang out with) and a decent Home Plus that had good wine and beer (if that's a priority).

There's some foreigner bar/restaurant there owned by a South African and his Korean wife called the Wayguk Cook, I think they have a website, apparently that's where a lot of people hang out/go to meet new people.

He said Gumi is divided into two distinct areas, so depending where you live travel time to one area could take a while.

And that's all I know about that as I've never been there, hopefully someone else can clue you in a little more.

[oldfatfarang]

Has Emart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart Dept stores all located next to each other.

Entertainment is either Waygook Cook, Corona bar, or a 40 min train ride into Daegu.

Korean Gumi-ites are friendly.
Heaps of 'foreigners' around (SE asian factory workers and western teachers).

You could do worse, but you could do much better.

[bharville]

I've never been, but a guy I know spent his first year there and he said since it was a factory town it was a bit polluted and he had a cough for the year he was there

[derbot]

[merlin123]

[eb]

Did you take the job? I just got an offer there and if accepted, will arrive Jan 1st.

[merlin123]

Yes, I'm here.

[theevilgenius]

ya I've taken the job, I'm starting the 1st aswell but flying out the 28th. That's a relief because I was getting a bit worried by the other posts but at least I won't be the only person out there! What's it like out there merlin?

[merlin123]

I can tell you my observations, but keep in mind that I've only been here 2 months and that there's a whole section of Gumi I haven't seen yet. The town is spread over a surprisingly big area, divided by a highway in the N/S direction and a river roughly E/W. This is the part of the country with the greatest extremes in temp (both summer and winter), so you can expect it is cold here now. Dry air. Maybe pollution is bad other times of year, but so far I have not noticed a problem (but I don't live near the factories, either). As far as the other poster saying there are "heaps of foreigners" here...I don't know about that. There are Western teachers (rare enough that most days I don't see any of them unless I make a point to) and Southeast Asian factory workers who seem to keep to themselves. There is an American military base near here (I don't believe it's actually in Gumi, but really not sure), and quite a few military guys in Daegu. Gumi seems to be the kind of city that families live in, rather than young single hipsters. It doesn't appear that the locals are suffering from any kind of economic hard times. I'd say most people in Gumi are living comfortably, but not extravagantly.
If you don't want to eat Korean food, you will find your restaurant choices extremely limited in Gumi. I have seen a McDonald's and a number of lousy pizza places and have eaten at a few bad sushi joints. I have seen some expensive faux-European restaurants near the train station, but have not eaten in them. Lots of mom-and-pop Korean eateries here. Some are quite good, others only so-so. There's a convenience mart on every damn corner it seems.
I have been to Waygook Cook. Food is tasty but not cheap, and of course it's smoky. This Corona Bar that others mention I have not found.
There are some hills here and there within the city, but the developed area itself sits in a basin created by surrounding mountains. Mt Gumosan is a really nice spot to get out and get some exercise, but don't expect solitude. If you haven't been to Korea before, expect to see a lot of concrete, glass, stone, and metal in Gumi and every other city. Sidewalks are rough and uneven, with lots of curbs and stumbling spots. If you're a woman, don't bring heels without a solid back...you will slide right off of them and wrench your ankles. Heels in general are ill-suited to the area, and thankfully, Gumi-ites don't seem to be willing to cripple themselves for the sake of fashion like the gals in Seoul. That's my 2 cents. You didn't ask for advice but here's mine anyway: expect a certain amount of jerking around and nonsense from your employer. It will help you keep your peace of mind when it inevitably happens.

[metalhead]

I know that the S-E Asian workers do usually keep to themselves, but if there is a fair amount of them there it could very possibly mean that there is a S-E Asian store selling foodstuffs there and perhaps an ethnic restaurant or two, if you can, try asking one of them; these places are often 'hidden' from other foreigners.

[theevilgenius]

Another question for merlin, I was wondering should I bring just cash or a maestro/laser card? Have you come across any international ATMs that take maestro/laser cards. Thanks.

[yesman]

I lived in Gumi for several years. I agree with pretty much all that's been posted: you could do worse, aaaaaaand you could do a lot better.

Also, OP, did you get a job at a hagwon? Which one?

[allovertheplace]

Gumi is a nice area. Went down there a few times for rugby events at the cook. Really fun and the guys were all really nice. Honestly, really enjoyed my time. Also, the cook tends to have lots of events which are cool events. Good western food but pricey, dont know about corona bar though.

But, and a big but, I was always happy to leave. As one poster said wisely, daegu is only 30 minutes away but its a pain. The areas in daegu that are fun are not next to the train stations and you are unlikely to live directly next to the gumi station. It will take well over an hour total to get each way. Factor in, its not a 'close' 30 minutes, its a 'far' 30 minutes. People tend not to think about this often but 30 minutes is two completely different things in Korea. 30 minutes from one part of seoul to the other via subway equate to a 15k won taxi at most. 30 minutes from gumi to a bar in daegu will be prohibitively more. This comes up more than you'd think. Personally, I lived a 45 minute bus ride from my favorite area but it was a close 45. So I would suck up th 45 minutes on a bus there, and Id read on the way, and just pay the 10k won cab home -took 15 minutes. Gumi to Daegu is a different animal, either catch that train or pay 30k to get home. That will add up fast, thus you will be spending most weekends in Gumi.

Gumi is fine but not great. Most posters are dead on here. But I wonder why more people dont think about the massive posters who say 30 minutes from point A to point B. It makes an enormous difference.

All in all though, Gumi can be fun. Daegu is good if you have a group to go with. But dont count on it as being your main stomping grounds. On the upside though, the foreign community it Gumi is close knit and once your in with them (pretty easy to do) youre set for a good time. Just leanr some south african songs and learn what a springbok is and you'll be fine.

[jvalmer]