Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wishfullthinkng]

[chungbukdo]

[Yaya]

[PRagic]

My point was merely that there is a lot going on here even compared to other major cities in this neck of the woods, and Korea in general has started to host more and more big venue events. The reference to Gangnam style was only made because that was the leader in the WSJ section.

[NQ]

I only read the first page of this thread. Pretty entertaining read between classes!

I do notice a rise in interest in Korea in films of last year. And this was obviously before Gangnam style, as these films were in production long before the release of that song. I've noticed Korean references in 21 Jump Street, CLoud Atlas, Five Year Engagement, Bourne Supremacy and now this year in Stand Up Guys.

Be that as it may, I don't think Korea is really that hugely popular. Yeah I mean you have Psy, but no one really knows about Korea. At least none of my friends or family before I came here. Maybe in a few years, Korean culture and food will become more mainstream, but not right now.

What makes Korea exciting? I have no idea. Maybe loose rules regarding alcohol since you can't get any other drugs here. But for me, there isn't a lot of things 'exciting' here. The music scene is horrible (cheesy electo house everywhere, KPOP is trash as well), the food for me ranges from good to horrible, how standing out becomes like a crazy issue etc. It was kind of exciting to be confronted with a new culture at first and explore around, but now I think that's worn off.

[Yaya]

A great transportation system. I'm visiting my parents in the DC area and gosh, PUBLIC TRANSIT SUCKS HERE! Imagine if Seoul shut down part of a subway line on weekends for maintenance. DC has done that and keeps doing it. Imagine paying 1.80 dollars for going ONE stop on a bus. That's DC.

[hack]

I left Korea 5 years ago and never thought anything about Seoul was cool compared to other large cities such as London, Paris, New York and Shanghai. Now that I live in North America, whenever I mention Seoul or Korea all that most people know about is Gangnam style or North Korea. However I still like it when I go back on business but see a completely different side of it now-that of a visitor and I still see nothing cool and wonder how I ever lived there as a Uni lecturer because my living room in my condo in Vancouver is bigger than my whole apt in Korea and I had one of the larger ones.,

Transportation in Seoul is cool? Really? with millions using it every day I found it hot, smelly and rude. I never use it when I go there now. Drinking laws are lax? Cool if you like seeing puddles of puke and soju drunks everywhere. Someone mentioned the food but I'm sure they were being sarcastic. The music? I played sax professionally when I was younger and found only 2 places in 7 years that would be termed "cool" by NA musicians. KPOP is cool? Sure-to a 14 year old.

But I still like Korea and most Koreans but to use the adjective "cool" when discussing Korea could only possibly be used by someone who hasn't seen much of the world. And that's not a knock on most EFL teachers because most are younger and haven't had an opportunity to travel a lot. Besides, cool to someone under 30 is completely different to someone over 40.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[creeper1]

[tiger fancini]

[Oreovictim]

Well, O.P., I'm a bit curious what makes Korea cool these days, too. I was there from '06 - '11. What made it great for me hasn't changed - nice fall colors, some nearby hills to escape, central heating and air, and convenient subways. (Shanghai subways are horrible. They're narrow compared with the Seoul ones, and they close early. The ones around Zhongshan Park stop running at 10:45.)

So why did you decide to leave? I was able to put up with the architure, the narrow range of cuisines, and even the drinking culture; I got tired of being limited to teaching kids . . . that and I had way too many encounters with racist, xenophobic locals.

[PatrickGHBusan]

tiger fancini's post was dead on.