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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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slinks
Joined: 02 Mar 2013
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:52 am Post subject: What is considered rural? - population wise |
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I'm looking at applying for public school positions.
The ideal would be a city position, but since I'm a realist I'd probably have to look at rural positions - I'm a mid 20s Asian-Australian male looking for a PS job mid semester (I still have a chance right? haha).
So basically, what I wanted to ask is what is the population range in these "rural" placements? |
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Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe 50-100k people. I'm totally guessing basing it off that a decent city size has 1 million people, like where I live in Bucheon. |
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Ranman
Joined: 18 Aug 2012
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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If the town doesn't have at least one Lotteria, one Dunkin' Donuts, and a Baskin Robbins, then you're in the boondocks. |
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johnny_russian
Joined: 24 Dec 2012
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:02 am Post subject: |
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In my village (i wouldn't even call it a city) my co-teacher told me there are about 4-5 000 people. this is in gangwon-do. |
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slinks
Joined: 02 Mar 2013
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:28 am Post subject: |
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johnny_russian wrote: |
In my village (i wouldn't even call it a city) my co-teacher told me there are about 4-5 000 people. this is in gangwon-do. |
That's definitely tiny. In your village is their a gym? I'm also trying to find out the chances of finding a gym at a small rural placement. |
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nora
Joined: 14 Apr 2012
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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If you're talking the "official" guidelines for rural, there are none. I worked at a school in Dongtan that was considered rural, while the school that was LITERALLY right next door was not. They got that straightened out soon (and requested I repay the money!) but then they built a new school across the street, and THAT was considered rural for a year. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: What is considered rural? - population wise |
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slinks wrote: |
So basically, what I wanted to ask is what is the population range in these "rural" placements? |
I worked in a rural placement in Opo Eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do.
It was a small school with about 1500 students, out in the country, on the side of a mountain.
I had a 30 minute commute to my apartment next to Seohyun Station in Bundang.
In my apartment building there were 2 convenience stores (including a 7-11), 4 large restaurants (including a chain steakhouse), a gym, gigabit internet, and 4 large grocery/department stores within a 10 minute walk or 1 subway stop.
The direct buses to central Seoul (Itaewon, Jongga, Gangnam) ran every 10 minutes or so from 5am - after midnight. It would take 30-40 minutes to get to prime, foreigner oriented places.
You would be well advised to pay more attention to the job and employer and worry less about the "rural" unless your prime focus is on the country-club tennis circuit (in which case being an EFL teacher is not a lateral move but one headed for the dungeon).
. |
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andrewchon

Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 12:43 am Post subject: |
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If a gym is that important to you, you're taking the wrong approach.
Get a job, if a suitable gym isn't there, then you find a business partner. Open up a gym that is to your satisfaction. Use the gym. After the job is over, you sell the gym. |
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grant gerstners
Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: USA
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 2:14 am Post subject: rural area |
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I'm in the county seat of a very rural county, surrounded by mountains. When I arrived there were six other westerners in town. The ones I connected with best were gone in a few months. We currently have over a dozen. You could encircle the town on foot in about an hour, perhaps a little more, without rushing.
The nearest large cities are each about an hour away by bus. In my first 9 months, I yearned to eventually move to a city, but I gradually became accustomed to my situation and found that once-a-week in the city, to get together with friends I connect with, is enough. I bought a bicycle and have been on some great bicycle rides. Although I am not renewing my contract, I have enjoyed my two-years-plus in this rural part of Korea.
There is a free fitness center in town and it is rather well equipped, with free weights, weight machines, and treadmills and it has been well-used by both Koreans and westerners. |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 2:30 am Post subject: Re: What is considered rural? - population wise |
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ttompatz wrote: |
slinks wrote: |
So basically, what I wanted to ask is what is the population range in these "rural" placements? |
I worked in a rural placement in Opo Eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do.
It was a small school with about 1500 students, out in the country, on the side of a mountain.
I had a 30 minute commute to my apartment next to Seohyun Station in Bundang.
In my apartment building there were 2 convenience stores (including a 7-11), 4 large restaurants (including a chain steakhouse), a gym, gigabit internet, and 4 large grocery/department stores within a 10 minute walk or 1 subway stop.
The direct buses to central Seoul (Itaewon, Jongga, Gangnam) ran every 10 minutes or so from 5am - after midnight. It would take 30-40 minutes to get to prime, foreigner oriented places.
You would be well advised to pay more attention to the job and employer and worry less about the "rural" unless your prime focus is on the country-club tennis circuit (in which case being an EFL teacher is not a lateral move but one headed for the dungeon).
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yeah, i lived in gangnam, next to coex, haeundae, and coule more decent place, now, i have a great job in a "rural" area in gyeongi, but i came here, becasue the bus runs to gangnam terminal everyday from morning to night, and theyre a few good restaurants. they have TWO dunkins and a Starbucks, lol.
I agree with this statement above. great job, decent housing, good salary, then a bus to the places you want. |
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slinks
Joined: 02 Mar 2013
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 5:02 am Post subject: |
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Seems like there's a large population range when it comes to what is considered rural.
Thanks to everyone that has replied. I only just joined and everyone on here has been so helpful!
andrewchon wrote: |
If a gym is that important to you, you're taking the wrong approach.
Get a job, if a suitable gym isn't there, then you find a business partner. Open up a gym that is to your satisfaction. Use the gym. After the job is over, you sell the gym. |
That's actually not a bad idea haha |
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mayorhaggar
Joined: 01 Jan 2013
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in a smallish town in Chungbuk, the county (the surrounding area) is about 40,000 people and the main town must be about 20 to 30k.
Even by US standards 40,000 is a pretty small town, but it feels pretty busy--there's several tall apartment buildings (including mine) and there is a large downtown area with lots of shops and markets, and yes, a Dunkin Donuts, Baskin-Robbins, a Lotteria, a Paris Baguette, and a couple good grocery stores.
So I have pretty much everything I need for daily life, and my apartment is pretty cozy and comfortable and a decent size, so my life is comfortable. And my school and co-teachers are pretty great. The only thing that I don't like is that the town is pretty far from any big cities, including Cheongju and Daejeon...I think this weekend I'll try and figure out the bus schedule and go to Daejeon for the day and see how much of a slog it is. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: What is considered rural? - population wise |
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ttompatz wrote: |
slinks wrote: |
So basically, what I wanted to ask is what is the population range in these "rural" placements? |
I worked in a rural placement in Opo Eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do.
It was a small school with about 1500 students, out in the country, on the side of a mountain.
I had a 30 minute commute to my apartment next to Seohyun Station in Bundang.
In my apartment building there were 2 convenience stores (including a 7-11), 4 large restaurants (including a chain steakhouse), a gym, gigabit internet, and 4 large grocery/department stores within a 10 minute walk or 1 subway stop.
The direct buses to central Seoul (Itaewon, Jongga, Gangnam) ran every 10 minutes or so from 5am - after midnight. It would take 30-40 minutes to get to prime, foreigner oriented places.
You would be well advised to pay more attention to the job and employer and worry less about the "rural" unless your prime focus is on the country-club tennis circuit (in which case being an EFL teacher is not a lateral move but one headed for the dungeon).
. |
Wow! I've been to and visited rural areas. They were nothing like that. Take any good job for the first year and go with the flow. But, I will say, I experienced lots of irritation mixed with a honey moon feeling in my rural area first year. But, ideally a city of 250,000 and up is probably ideal. My town had 90,000 but felt like a town of 9,000 back in Canada. (In Asia, take off a 0 to get an equivelant to back home.) |
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johnny_russian
Joined: 24 Dec 2012
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:31 am Post subject: |
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slinks wrote: |
johnny_russian wrote: |
In my village (i wouldn't even call it a city) my co-teacher told me there are about 4-5 000 people. this is in gangwon-do. |
That's definitely tiny. In your village is their a gym? I'm also trying to find out the chances of finding a gym at a small rural placement. |
i'm really not sure as i only got here about 2 weeks ago and haven't had a good chance to get a really good look around yet. although from what i've seen of the 2 main streets in town it doesn't look like it. |
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mayorhaggar
Joined: 01 Jan 2013
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: What is considered rural? - population wise |
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deleted--double post
Last edited by mayorhaggar on Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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