Korean Job Discussion Forums

gtrain83 · Joined: 25 Nov 2010

or other? I am sending my documents in next week for EPIK and just curious if anyone could offer any thoughts on living in these cities. I am not much of a partier/drinker and my main goal is saving money to go back to school in a few years. However, I would still like to meet people and like to go to lunch/dinner things like that. Just hang out really. So any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

lalartu · Joined: 29 Apr 2008

EPIK is Seoul only

Jeju has JEPIK and Busan has BEPIK (or PEPIK, I forgot), so you'll have to apply to those individually if you want to work in a public school there

Busan is more of a party town I would say, but live there is pretty good. Cheap seafood, good (albeit crowded) beach, way bigger than Jeju city and more foreigners.
Culture in Busan is quite conservative though, so you might have people forcing your to give up a seat for them (happened to me a couple of times. I like sitting, what?!) and since my wife is Korean, I got a couple of dirty looks from the older folks because they don't approve of such travesty. Other than that, it's a great city

Jeju is...an island. so expect a completely different atmosphere.
It's small, it has two main cities and both are tiny, but it's surrounded by water sports, beaches and has a frigging volcano (dead one) in the middle.
It's a lot more mellow and slow than any other city in Korea though and definitely don't expect much excitement there.
But it's beautiful and has the best weather in Korea.

Also, you might want to check out other cities as well. Gyeongju is great (mid size), Daegu is not too bad too or even satellite cities near Seoul, like Bundang, Bucheon, Ilsan.

There are plenty of good places in Korea.
Also, fyi, everything is within a 4 hour drive, so you can still go to Jeju if you're in Busan and vice versa.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

DorkothyParker · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: Jeju

Charlie Bourque · Joined: 27 Jun 2010

If you want to meet other foreigners in Jeju, just go to the beach.

Also, yes, Korean men/women wear a tshirt over their bathing suits. I know - odd.

gtrain83 · Joined: 25 Nov 2010

Thanks for all the replies so far. I kind of figured you can't drive to an island.

For those of you in Jeju currently, do you wish you were near Busan or Seoul at all? Do you find it hard to keep occupied or meet people? Are there limited travel opportunities? I am sure on the mainland it is easy to get to different cities and see some cool things.

What about cost of living? Easier to save money?

catatonia56 · Joined: 06 Mar 2010

I'll jump in here. I've lived on the Mainland before and I'm on Jeju now.

While I've enjoyed my time on Jeju, I prefer the mainland. Jeju is nice and all but its definitely a lot easier to get around(and your time will be more enjoyable) if you have a scooter or a car - so I would factor in that cost. Also, getting off the island isn't a simple "hop on a plane". You have to catch the airport bus, wait in line to board the plane, blah blah blah plus it cost $$ to stay at hotels/have fun in Seoul or Busan. Are you here to save money? Cos that eats away at savings quickly.

That being said, there's a lot of activities going on and if you're sociable you won't have trouble making friends - especially if you're with EPIK because EPIK peps tend to do alot together (and mostly all live together in the same apartment buildings). It's all a bit too "small towny" for me. I like being able to walk around without being stared at, or having to make nice to every foreigner I see.

Anyway just my 2c - good luck deciding!

tomstar86 · Joined: 09 May 2009 Location: Daegu, South Korea

EPIK is Seoul only?!? Wrong, wrong, wrong. GEPIK is the only organisation that you need to apply to separately if you want to specify a region, and that's for Gyeonggi-do. EPIK covers everywhere else, even if it may be based in Seoul.

Busan is a party city and very "Jersey Shore" with it's foreigners imo - or at least, the ones I've come across. Not a fan.

Jeju - perhaps too isolated for a year? You'd be limited in where you could visit.

If I were you, I'd go with Daegu - it has a large and friendly expat community, and is large but not too intimidating for someone moving here for the first time.

Good luck in the job search!

Tom

http://waegook-tom.com

gtrain83 · Joined: 25 Nov 2010

Thanks for all the replies!

It is funny you mention Daegu, as that is now my number one location for Epik. Been trying to research all night. I feel confident in that pick. I will try and scout Jeju once in Korea and see firsthand if it would be good for year two.

oldtrafford · Joined: 12 Jan 2011

'll jump in here. I've lived on the Mainland before and I'm on Jeju now.

While I've enjoyed my time on Jeju, I prefer the mainland. Jeju is nice and all but its definitely a lot easier to get around(and your time will be more enjoyable) if you have a scooter or a car - so I would factor in that cost. Also, getting off the island isn't a simple "hop on a plane". You have to catch the airport bus, wait in line to board the plane, blah blah blah plus it cost $$ to stay at hotels/have fun in Seoul or Busan. Are you here to save money? Cos that eats away at savings quickly.

That being said, there's a lot of activities going on and if you're sociable you won't have trouble making friends - especially if you're with EPIK because EPIK peps tend to do alot together (and mostly all live together in the same apartment buildings). It's all a bit too "small towny" for me. I like being able to walk around without being stared at, or having to make nice to every foreigner I see.

Anyway just my 2c - good luck deciding!

I couldn't agree more, sound advice!!

southernman · Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Location: On the mainland again

If you're after a bit of both, then maybe Geoje Island is an option its connected to the maniland by two bridges. One of the bridges isn't far from Busan.

If you go there bring your international drivers license and buy a car. Then you can travel around easily. I lived on Geoje and work with EPIK.
Its a very wealthy island with two large Shipyards (2nd and 3rd largest in the world). So it's wealthy because 25% of the locals work for either shipyard.

There some nice beaches and really good restauarnts, bars etc. I had a scooter but it was to cold in winter. I'm actually considering going back there, it's ok. Theres a strong ex pat crowd there as well both teachers and engineers