Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

[emmajuno]

Hey guys thanks to most of you for the advice.

I was only asking for advice and had not mentioned any definite decisions so I don't really appreciate the judgement. To add some further depth to the situation, I only asked my friend about a potential job she mentioned to me just before I left for Iksan just so I knew what my options were if it didn't work out and her mum took it upon herself to run around calling people up looking for jobs for me. I didn't ask for this but I appreciate her efforts and feel obliged to at least consider things as she's gone to so much trouble for me.

TwoFold- I see your point. Thanks for the advice.

Blonde researcher- you could be right on both counts. However I think you have got me wrong on the next part. My friends in Seoul are Korean and I've met Korean people through them. I also learned a lot more Korean and had a more 'Korean' experience in Seoul than I have in Iksan just because I've been surrounded by Korean people on the trains, etc. I'm in a pretty foreign bubble here and am surrounded largely by American themed bars. I came to Korea because I love Korean pop culture and wanted to have an experience of living abroad. Teaching English was just the easiest way for me to get here. If I didn't have any morals I would be on the KTX out of here and would not have asked for advice. I have spent nearly every day here feeling depressed.

PBRstreetgang21- Heya, I get what you mean. Yeah, I've tried a bit with the foreign crowd and everyone has been really nice and welcoming, I just haven't found any kind of niche. I know it is a bit much to ask when I haven't been here for long but given that this city doesn't have all that much to distract me with, it has left me kind of isolated. I'm glad to hear that you went from regretting your decision to being really happy. I'm in the regretting my decision stages. To be honest, Seoul is a bit big and crowded for me but at least it has enough to keep you busy. I've been to Jeonju twice and it's a really nice place but are there any good clubs? I went to one with amazing interir design but it was full of tables and the dj made you it down every 15 mins for some bizarre reason. Yeah, that's a good point. I had a very good setup and life in London. I suppose I'd go there for something more resembling my old life but with some Korean friends/ language ability thrown in? I also never realised how much I enjoyed my anonymity. Still, hanging out in Jeonju sounds like a good option.

Also, I see what you mean. KTX every weekend might work out pretty damn expensive though. I still appreciate what you are saying.

jrwhite82- I actually did quite a lot of research on Iksan. I didn't love the idea of it but my boss sounded really nice in my interview. I had waited a long time with very few interview offers, I was being pushed a lot by my recruiter and I was pretty delerious from flu when I had to make the decision. I decided to try it out because I've never lived outside of London so I thought I'd give it a chance. I had never anticipated how unhappy I might have been here. I'm not trying to burn my boss AT ALL I'm just concerned at the idea of spending the entire year feeling like I do now.

Yeah, I think you're right. I actually had a lot of Korean friends in London, have studied Korean (on and off from friends) and watched loads of Korean tv and film. I've also spent some time in Japan and absolutely loved it. So I really wasn't expecting the culture shock.

Chellovek- where do you live?

ESL Milk- I didn't know that about the train. I mean that when I go out somewhere to a restaurant or bar or cafe or anything there with only be one or two other tables filled or maybe you'll be the only people in there. It feels very dead. Yeah, I really miss night clubs. And just places with people in them.

Thanks for the bar recommendations, I'll check them out. I'm only planning to be here for one year, that's why it matters to me.

rollo- really? Wow, that's a shame.

IlIlNine- Are you in Iksan? I've spent time in Japan and from what I have experienced so far I had a much better time there. I also enjoyed my time in Seoul. So many people live out full lives in the suburb of London that I'm from. They do those things too. But I find it too small and I don't enjoy it because it's not the kind of lifestyle I want (and it's a hole). As a result I spent most of my time in East and Central London where there's more to do. Kudos to you for being able to make snide comments to people you don't know over the internet.

[emmajuno]

Sector7G- Sorry for the terminology. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm not saying that people can't enjoy it here. I'm just saying that I hate it. Me, personally. It's 1 hour to Seodaejeon and from Seodaejeon to the subway to get anywhere is 15 minutes walk. And then the subway ride. No it's not the sticks but I have never lived anywhere small in my life.

Marsavalanche- I wanted to be in Seoul or as a compromis, Gyeonggi. Maybe Busan. I didn't know how badly I would have reacted to this situation or I would never have agreed to come here.

Lifeinkorea- Thanks. Where were you based? What did you say to him? How long did you stay? Yeah, if I were to leave I'd try to find a replacement to save them the recruiter fee.

ESL Milk- I would never have put myself in that situation.

[Sector7G]

[PBRstreetgang21]

I also came here for many of the same reasons: I really enjoyed Korean culture and history, and back in the US I had a lot of Korean friends in university. I've found a number of Korean friends here in Jeonju, and we go out all the time. I've actually found my Korean has improved leaps and bounds since I left Seoul, and a lot of my Korean friends and I speak almost only Korean. For instance my girlfriend doesn't speak English at all. This is something of a backwater province, I often tell people it's like the Alabama of Korea. As a result I find that the average populace tends to be more enamored and encouraging of Korean ability than in Seoul. I find that while people in Seoul are often impressed with my Korean, they'd prefer to speak in English.

Another reason it's like the Southern US of Korean-- hospitality down here is more generous I find.

[IlIlNine]

[lifeinkorea]

[lifeinkorea]

[Sector7G]

[soyoungmikey]

You've been here for a few months. Duh! Of course you are going to feel culture shock. Afterall you are in a new country. Suck it up. It sounds like you have a good place to work for a newbie. Paid on time (even early), the director teaches you Korean and you get to escape the hell that is Seoul (pretentious and overpriced). I'd stay where you are for a year, save cash, learn Korean then move to Seoul. There are so many people who would like to move out of Seoul and enjoy the country life. So by the time you move to Seoul you'll have mad language skills, saved some cash, u can met some nice ladies (and actually talk to them) and live the life. Stick where you are.

[lifeinkorea]

But usually when one describes a place as being "remote", they mean it to be:

1. both out in the middle of nowhere CHECK

2. and inconvenient to get to, DOUBLE CHECK

3. lacking in everyday conveniences 80% CHECK

4. like stores SORRY, NO, ALL WEIRD PLACES HAVE STORES (Come to Fushun, China and see for yourself if you don't believe. I could only last 3 weeks there and I simply told the school owner I was going to move out that weekend without any plans. It was that bad, yet, there were plenty of stores)

5. bars, and restaurants. 50% CHECK This is debatable. While I hated Fushun, I did enjoy my time at one bar (and it wasn't because I was sloshed). And now to think of it, it's these remote places that actually got me started drinking. I drank at clubs when I was 21, and I didn't like it. Come to Korea after 13 years of not drinking (besides a sip of wine with grandma at Thanksgiving), and I found myself drinking beer with a Korean student and downing soju with his buddy from high school. Itaewon, Seoul, Shanghai, or Osaka never swayed me more.

So, in practical terms living in Busan is far too remote for someone wanting "everyday conveniences like stores,bars, and restaurants" in Seoul. I don't hear people referring to Busan as "rural" city though. It's in relative terms to where you want to live. I see Iksan on a map, and I would hate living there. It's not close to Seoul or Busan. I don't think trips to Daejeon would entice me to accept a job there. I would just take a job in Daejeon then and not have to find time to go there. All in all, it's too remote of a location to where I would want to live.

[chellovek]

[Sector7G]

[earthquakez]

There's nothing unusual about finding Iksan out of the way and limited. In Korea even Daejon and Daegu are fairly limited for 'big cities'. Much as people go on about not prioritising Seoul and elevating it above other places, when you live outside Seoul it can be difficult.

There's just not much to do in Iksan for a foreigner who wants to network and make contacts, even Daejon is relatively small for a so called big city. In Seoul there's a place and group for everybody - there are so many activities and so much choice in shopping, food and transportation - to name only 3.

Outside Seoul can be dreary and isolating. You can also find it very difficult to get English language services in local govt, the police, Immigration etc. I know people who have had a very frustrating time in cities (so called big to smaller) where there is no assistance for them at local govt level etc. Foreigners who live in Seoul are spoiled for choice, Busan to a lesser extent as well.

[Sector7G]