Korean Job Discussion Forums

chinook · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Location: canada

my school has said they want to know this before i arrive, so they can set it up.

i'm not a huge tv watcher. we have cable here in vancouver, but i had been so used to watching 5 channels only in Scotland that it doesn't interest me much. That and most of the shows are crap.

So, what's cable like in Korea? I'm more of a reader than tv watcher, but it occurs to me that knowing no one at first, i may have more time on my hands... I suppose just renting videos might be the way to go?

What sorts of shows do you get in English generally?

rudyflyer · Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Location: pacing the cage

if you will be in Seoul most cable companies carry AFN so that may be a consideration, outside of Seoul, Daegu and Busan AFN is not available.

HOWEVER, I'd still get cable no matter where you are. Most carry CNN, or BBC World, some carry ABC Asia Pacific, there are also many other channels that carry english programs, think there are at least a half dozen or so channels that have some English programs including Friends, Buffy, Charmed, Sex and the City, West Wing, amongst others and many movies

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

If you live in Itaewon on in the Yongsan area, they charge you 100,000 won for a special box, plus another 30,000 won a month (appx) for CNN.

In all honesty, I'd tell your school to buy the cheapest package, or the 2nd cheapest package.

You can always add later, however I seemed to find it difficult to get them out to REDUCE a package size.

the saint · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Location: not there yet...

when we moved in, we found an aerial cable poking in through the lounge window. We plugged it into the TV and ended up with about 20 channels including CNN audio though the image is scrambled. We have no idea who, if anyone is responsible for paying for this. We haven't had a bill in two months.

Ours is not the only experience of this as I've heard others say the same thing.

Ironically we had Thrunet fit another cable into a back bedroom for the Internet. This cable also carries the same stack of channels plus the Net. While Thrunet seems good for the net, I would advise against using them as their email stinks cos they let all and sundry have your email address and their server downtime leaves a lot to be desired. Their customer service is reputed to be in English but whatever langauge the clones at their "service" centre understand, it isn't English.

Ah well...

chinook · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Location: canada

so the news and a handful of american programs? hmmm. tempted to not bother, but I like movies, so if there are a lot of movies, maybe it's a good idea.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 9:38 am Post subject:

In Cheonan (aka that magical fairy land outside of Seoul called Korea), I had some sort of basic cable service that costed about 5,500 won a month. Even with all of the crap programming, I had BBC, SBS, and a couple of movie channels, which showed pretty much the gamet of moviedom.

5,500 won = $4.40 US

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Basic cable is 5000won per month. Of course you'll get it!!

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Cable isn't that much in Korea. Less than 20,000 won. My cable comes with 4 movie channels that seem to run 4 year old western movies (swearing and nudity left in) and weird softcore Korean porn on weekend nights. Prices might vary depending on location/package.

I do find I generally only watch CNN and AFN for David Letterman at night. I spend most of my time online talking with friends, writing, or surfing. I also download a lot of shows via bit.torrent and watch those before I go to sleep (I'm currently working my way through Manos: The Hands of Fate).

mog · Joined: 06 May 2004

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

I think the short answer is, yes. Just get the cable then cancel it if you don't watch it.

Toby · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Wedded Bliss

Yes. When the hangover starts and you can't focus on the small print of Pride and Predjudice, cable is a saviour. And for the sake of a few quid, it's well worth it.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 6:32 pm Post subject:

No, don't bother.

If you prefer reading then bring a few books that'll take a while to go through.

And rent videos here! The machines are cheap and there are many video tape rental shops with amazingly low prices for rentals. Yesterday I rented two new releases for a measely buck, and they are two-day rentals! Movies go to video pretty quickly here, sometimes quicker than in Canada. I saw Nicole Kidman's Dogpile well before it even got a theater showing in America. And there's plenty of older stuff to rent too.

Plus you can go to an Internet PC computer room and watch/read what you want, rather than waiting for some old movie or bad sitcom to come on.

And, do things in Korea rather than be tempted to hole up in a multimedia universe. Take advantage of the unique opportunities you're presented with over here.
(I gotta go now. Otherwise my kettle will get pretty black.)

Good luck whatever.

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i'm a movie stealing P2P freak...

that said.. i pay 8,000 (top package i think) i have about 8 english movie channels (not to mention fighting, baseball, docos, news, etc)...

they all, at some time show korean movies too. i rarely watch tv but damn it is good to have that option for a pitiful amount of money..

do it bro.. it shouldn't even be a question

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003