Korean Job Discussion Forums

[michellegm15]

I have been scouring the "where to live" threads, and as a thoroughly indecisive person, this leaves me all the more confused. My visa docs are coming in very soon, so I need to crack down on the decisions.

I am a bit hesitant to look for a job in Seoul because of all of the comments I see...it's freezing cold, harder to meet people (both expat and Korean), not so friendly, polluted (though getting better?), expensive, not as nature-accessible, only really better to be in if you need niche international food on a regular basis...

Is there anything I'm missing? This is a last-ditch attempt to see if there is some other hidden "X"-factor I'm missing before I take the plunge elsewhere.

I realize it all depends on what I'm looking for, and I am looking for a sense of friendliness (Korean and expat both), nature, would like to save money rather than constantly spend...yet also need that sense of diversity/liveliness/young energy in a city. I'm also strictly vegetarian. I hate freezing winters, but I'm used to it by now...can manage.

[calendar]

You are not missing anything but convenience. It is cold all over the country except Jeju Do in the winter. I fyou want warm winters try Taiwan, Viet Nam etc.

If you like cities Korea offers many choices other than Seoul which are just as convenient. If you want to experience the real Korea then you go to the rural areas.

[northway]

1) International food.

2) Partying.

That said, most of Korea's cities are just mini-Seouls anyway, so it's not like you'll get a vastly different experience anywhere you go.

[Drew345]

I live in the heart of Seoul. Just to have cereal for breakfast and make a sandwich for dinner, I have to go 30 minutes one direction for wheat bread and whole wheat cereal (Costco), then 20 minutes another direction for low fat cheese and milk (Homeplus). This is inside Seoul. I think outside Seoul you just can't find a lot of stuff and end up going native a bit more.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agree with the posters above. Seoul offers nothing other cities don't have, except more access to western food, and several other cities, especially Busan, are reasonably close.

If weather is a factor, consider Busan or Changwon. The south coast is significantly warmer in winter.

I don't know if it means anything to you yet, but you will be the 'diversity' in Korea.

[Swampfox10mm]

Dirty air and pissy passive-agressive people?

[DaHu]

[crescent]

[Malislamusrex]

sitting in a taxi for 40 minutes to go 7 miles, and a lot of hype.

[michellegm15]

Thanks for the responses! This is extremely helpful...and I'm glad my intuitions seem to be correct. Makes my decision lots easier...

One question though, is it easy to be a healthy vegetarian outside of Seoul? Or to find certain natural/organic items, like soy milk?

[edwardcatflap]

Why live in London or Paris or New York when you can get foreign restaurants and the same shops in other cities in those countries? If you can't think of a good answer for that then yes you might as well stay out in the sticks.

[schwa]

[northway]

[michellegm15]

[eamo]