Korean Job Discussion Forums

[offtokorea]

If you had to choose, which city would you choose? Bundang or Dongtan?

I've got offers for kindergartens in both of them.

[sallymonster]

Dude, this one's a no-brainier. Bundang is way closer to Seoul, so you should go there.

That said, don't choose based only on location, but also look at the contracts offered and talk to current teachers at the respective schools. Even if you're living in paradise, your life will still suck if your job sucks.

[dharma bum]

[northway]

Bundang, hands down.

[eamo]

Dongtan is so new. Just finished a couple of years ago......it's probable there isn't much of interest there yet.....Bundang is 'mature' for a Korean new town.....20 years old.

[murmanjake]

Well there isn't much of interest in Dongtan yet but we do have a few nice spots, and it's growing quickly.

Central park has a climbing wall, skate park, tennis courts, basketball courts, and other stuff(old person golf).

Near central park there are a TON of nice coffee shops that just opened up.

Metapolis is opening on the 24th. Theres a skating rink there and a CGV, Homeplus. More too I think in the next year or so. A health club complex of some sort?

Gangnam is only 30 minutes by bus.

I like it here well enough, but haven't made any foreigner friends and dont know of any spots where foreigners might hang out.

It really is new new new. All of the power lines are underground. Been to a few apartments and all were sparkling.

The city is spacious still, easy to breathe.

Never been to Bundang.

[offtokorea]

I've met with the owners of both schools and both seem really nice and friendly. Both schools are kindergartens and their contracts are more or less the same. I think I could be happy at either location. I'm so unhappy at my current location that anywhere would be an amazing step up, honestly. (My standards have become very low since coming here!)

Now I'm just thinking about my future home. They seem more or less the same though. Ugh, decisions, decisions!

[decafdave]

I've only been to Bundang once but it took me well over an hour to get to Gangnam from there. For their sake I hope there's an express but or something because I can get to Seoul much faster from Dongtan which is considerably further out.

That said, there's not much to do in Dongtan as it's such a new town but there are plenty of foreigners here at least.

MurmanJake, a lot of us go bowling once a week in the WinnerStar building. PM me if you want any details.

[meaghan]

Bundang is really nice - lots to see and do, many foreigners and a happening enough nightlife. There are many express busses into Seoul (you can be in central Seoul within an hour) and out to the rest of the country. Dongtan is less convenient for commuting and I've heard it's got a lot less going on. If the contracts seem more or less the same I'd go for Bundang, but talk to current foreign teachers at both schools to get their impression. Your job will likely be the main determinant of how happy you are, not your commute to Itaewon.