Korean Job Discussion Forums

[j9campbell]

Hi! I just accepted a position in Chuncheon, and I'd really love to hear anything positive (hopefully) or negative feedback of what it's like to live and work there. . . most of the information I seem to find online and on the forums seem to paint it as a very cold provincial town famous for being the setting for a popular tv miniseries and the home of a famous chicken dish.

[Lazio]

People usually say that for first timers it is best to stay close to Seoul. You don't know how hard the culture shock will hit you (if at all).

Personally I like it there. Although I've never lived there, just visited.
Chuncheon is decent sized town with big chain stores and whatnot. Pretty relaxed compared to Seoul. It was shocking to see how minimal the traffic was on Sunday morning. There is hiking all around. With the new train line you can get to Seoul in little over one hour for like 5 bucks, roundtrip!. Door to door (read Itaewon or other get together area) would be 2 hours or more. But still, very easily doable once or twice a month if you feel the need.

[oldtactics]

I lived there during my first year in Korea and I loved it. You're surrounded by mountains and green space. There are lots of restaurants and bars, including some really great expat bars that have been around a long time. I found the people very welcoming and open to foreigners, even at places that aren't usually frequented by expats. Plenty of lifestyle stuff if you're into that, including soccer, baseball, screen golf, etc etc.

Lots of shopping options including a world food mart and a half dozen Emart/LotteMart type stores. International restaurants as well - we were really only lacking a Mexican resto, you can find just about everything else. There are a few different busy drinking areas, some high end and some low end, depending on what you're looking for. Lots of options.

I can't speak for everyone, but all of my friends who have lived and still live there love the place, and I did too when I was there. I'd recommend it to anyone. Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions!

[Adventurer]

[Louis VI]

Six reasons I had Chuncheon on my shortlist the last time I re-located in SK:

1. The beautiful lake and parks
2. The dukalbi street (Friggin' best chicken stirfry ever!)
3. The one-hour scenic valley train ride to and from Seoul
4. The international festivals (puppet and mime)
5. The size: not too big, not too small.
6. The frequent nonstop 2-hour buses to the east coast for summer Saturday fun.

And if you like skiing and winter in general you definitely get it there. In January the average high is 1 C, average low -10 C. To compare it, here on Jeju off the south coast in January it's 11 C on average as a high, and 4 C as a low with little to no snow other than one or two days.

[Joe Boxer]

[johgraker]

i have never been here but wish to see it soon

[metalhead]

I've been there, it is pretty scenic, although the downtown area was exactly like any other downtown area in any other city in Korea. Dalkgalbi Street was highly overrated; had better Dalkgalbi by Sasang Yeok in Busan.

[no_tofu_speed]

I was there for a month.
Great scenery and food.
Has a "Myeongdong" like in Seoul full of shops and stuff but smaller obviously.
Only thing really lacking is clubs to dance and drink at etc. It does have a few hofs/bars to drink at but.

[j9campbell]

Everyone thank you so much for your responses to my post, I really appreciate your comments about Chuncheon--it's giving me a very realistic perspective on some of the great experiences as well as the challenges that I may face. It WILL be my first time in Korea, I unfortunately don't know much Korean other than a few stock phrases as of right now and I don't exactly love love the winter but. . . .I'm also intrigued by everything I hear and see about the area, and I feel really positive about this opportunity, even though I know it's not going to be easy. Hopefully, having an open mind, positive attitude and willingness to embrace the newness of everything will be something that will allow me to overcome some of the difficulties that I might face being there, especially at first. I'm also planning to learn as much Korean as I can in the next two weeks and bring with me the warmest winter jacket I can possibly find:)

[oldtactics]

Join the two Chuncheon groups on FB - most of the expats in town use them and there are lots of people on there who would be happy to take you out for drinks/show you around once you arrive. Enjoy!

[pegasus64128]

[j9campbell]

[bucheon bum]

It's a very attractive city. Well the area around it at least. The city itself looks like all the others..

Definitely a very livable city and its the home of one of my favorite korean dishes- dalkalbi. There are certainly worse places in the ROK that you could be. Also reasonably close to Seoul.

Never lived there but went there a lot when I was in Wonju because a) that's where the Gangwon immigration office is b) my g/friend at the time went to college there so we'd go there to hang out with her friends.

[oldtactics]

Here's the other FB group - it's more active lately: http://www.facebook.com/?q=#/groups/202012126491121/?ref=ts