Korean Job Discussion Forums

[talentedcrayon]

Bundang District in Seongnam is nice, quiet and close to Seoul.

[EZE]

I'll rate the areas where I have lived:

1. Seoul (Olympic Park): A. Everything is conveniently located within walking distance. It's in the city, so the people aren't as friendly as outside of the city.

2. Anyang. B. Most things you need are there in town, but it's a 40 minute subway ride to Seoul.

3. Opo, a semi-rural area near Bundang: A. The people are by far the nicest of any of the places where I have lived, but you have to travel to Bundang or Seoul for some things. It's where I live now, and I like it here. I would rather be in Seoul, but the people here make up for it, so it evens out.

[caribmon]

i miss Changwon
i miss Barbados too

[wigglytuff90]

Are there alot of foreigners in Bundang? I ask because I wouldnt want it to be too difficult to get around. Also what is the general consensus of Gyeonggido. Whats the atmosphere like?

[tardisrider]

[Weigookin74]

I definately would like to live in Seoul myself. But make better money with my job out in the provinces. Though if salaries start going up again, the exchange goes back up (which it's starting to), my provinces job will be only slightly ahead. I got a pile of debt I'm still paying off so I've been staying close to home lately and not venturing up there so much lately. But if you're single, Seoul is the best place to be. Crowds can be irritating as you know what, especially line 2 at 6 PM.

But a year in the country can be good before going to Seoul because you'll learn more of the culture and maybe even pick up some of the language if you study at it too. Makes for more interesting conversation once you do finally get to Seoul. (Show some interest in the culture.)

Too often, I see a group of foriegners arriving in Seoul and spending all their free time together oogling girls drinking their CASS and not having a clue what to do. If they do date a K chick it's one that always hangs out in the foriegn bars and has been through tons of foriegn guys before you arrived. In Seoul, there's lots of girls who speak English that rarely go to those place if at all. An understanding of Korea a bit can be useful in this regard.


(Too much enforced desk warming makes me type a lot in case you wonder. Ha ha.)

[PRagic]

Seoul, and live in Itaewon. The primary reason you'll need Itaewon is that it's still about the cheapest place to live in Seoul in terms of monthly rent with proximity to any ammenities. No, you won't be mainstreaming the Korean culture by any stretch, but on the other hand, you'll have less culture shock to deal with and you can ease into life here. Unfortunately, there are a lot of 'right-out-of-college' newbie teachers in and around Itaewon who act like they're still in school.

If your school or university offers housing, then take, save the money, and bounce around to different hoods so you can get a sense of where you'd like to live and, of equal importance, where you can AFFORD to live (often very different!).

During your first year, don't be a Seoul rat; get out to other cities and other areas and have a look around. You might find that you'd prefer a smaller and/or coastal city to Seoul. But I always tell newbies that it's always better to work FROM a year in Seoul than TO a year in Seoul. As one poster commented, about 50% of the population live in the capital region and there's a reason for that.