Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rainism]

not only nightlife..

but PEOPLEWATCHING (somewhat tied in to nightlife but extending beyond to daytime as well)

I'm a huge fan of peoplewatching.

the Sincheon and Hongik areas in particular are great in Seoul for this. The throngs of young people walking about (walking about is cool too) give the place a great energy (and did I mention peoplewatching?)

even if completely devoid of eye catching curves, K women are often easy on the eyes and all the younger K women are in Seoul.

the Han riverbank is super cool on a good spring or autumn day.

given a choice of identical jobs, I'd take Seoul to live in (especially around Sincheon) every day and Sunday.

problem is, no job is identical and Seoul jobs often suck more than most. (more demanding for equal or less money)

[crescent]

[Malislamusrex]

Seoul is like MTV, everyone knows it's bullshit but you have to pretend you like it or you wont be 'cool'

[rainism]

[pegasus64128]

I've lived in and around Seoul and thought I would offer my 2 cents now that I'm no longer near the place.

Seoul is a bit of a mirage. You think it's good for you but really I don't think it is. In the old days in Korea, as several poster here can attest to, there was nothing in the smaller cities outside Seoul - no place to get coffee or decent pizza etc. That's changed now. However, nightlife is still far inferior outside of Seoul.

Also, there's the clique problem. If you are picky about the company you keep, smaller cities can be a real drag on you. You will inevitably be unhappy in your downtime, as you spend time with people you ordinarily never would.

All of the rest is trade-off and can't really be argued. For example, in Seoul it's easier to meet local people, but those local people are often more superficial/temporary/transient as 'friends'.

If you have a bit of luck, a small city can be better. In Seoul, you can make your own luck to an extent, but you'll still be in Seoul, and it can grate on you.

I think you want to either be in Seoul or as far from it as possible to avoid the temptation of an unsustainable kind of satellite social life.

That being said, I really liked Incheon in some ways. It's kind of hidden in the shadow of Seoul but has lots of good things going for it.

[marsreloaded]

I live in Seoul.

The first year I thought it was cool. After that, I realized how boring it is (Korean people are) compared to other places I've lived in (ie NYC, Tokyo).

There isn't really any good people watching in Seoul. Have you even been to Central Park or Union Square and seen the wackos there? Or how about Yoyogi Park (Harajuku) or Shibuya? Where the hell is there interesting locals in Seoul? Hongdae with every girl looking exactly the same with the same miniskirts and all the guys wearing the same polo? LMFAO.

I'm going to keep it real, the longer I'm here the more boring I find Seoul to be than where I used to live.

Been to Daejon and Daegu also which were enough after one visit.

I will say that Busan was awesome when I visited. Saw salsa dancing and a rave on the beach.... people were much more friendly and outgoing and willing to get away from their clique that "Seoulites" are so notorious for.... the Westerners were also smiling and nodding to me (never happens in Seoul)... my friend and I both agreed it was much more lively. Locals all told me how they don't like Seoul because everyone is just so busy caught up in their own thing (true).

Seoul is good for a year... but I'd slap an overrated label on this place if I were rating Asian cities. Wish I had more to say about Busan though, which was awesome.

[bossface]

I live in Seoul. It's the way to go, trust me. I've been to pretty much every Korean city of consequence, and none compare, except maybe busan. Seoul has a ton of mountains and greenspace. If you want to live like a "real Korean," then live in Seoul. Theres a reason that half the country lives in Seoul metro. The expat scene in other towns is more close knit, but it also borders on ridiculous. I was just in incheon, a major city itself, and went to one of the more famous expat bars, and I felt like I was walking in on a a high school party. EVERYONE knew EVERYONE. It was horrible.

[Died By Bear]

[FDNY]

[bekinseki]

[isisaredead]

[happiness]

ive been here for 10 years. lived in gangnam for 2. i left and went to daegu and busan, because after travelling korea for 10 years, i see the same people doing the same things, the same look of boredom and uninspired-ness(?) in bars and coffeeshops. yes, seoul has more, and is busy becuase theres more people, but i dont think my quality of life was better.

all of our opinions depend on who saying what really? i mean, i have met alot of canadians from small towns, who be impressed with seoul. Ive never met anyone who really liked Seoul over Tokyo though. hmmm

[Malislamusrex]

I like my current town over Tokyo... but if I say where it is everyone would be here.

[marsreloaded]

[erasmus]

There are only two things that would ever make me consider living in Seoul: The Seoul Cinematheque and The Korea Film Archive. Everything else can be done on the weekends. Traffic is light going in on Saturday morning and not bad leaving on Sunday evening...most people are going in the opposite direction (at least from where I've ever been living). There are, however, a lot of movies that I've missed, and am missing right now (Ozu films at the Cinematheque). Of course, nobody seems to care about such things so it's probably not an issue...

For anybody that does... see you on Saturday.