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Is Korea the worst country you lived in?
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joelove



Joined: 12 May 2011

PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:35 pm    Post subject: Is Korea the worst country you lived in? Reply with quote

I had a lot of fun in Korea, and I have not been there in years. The place is still in my blood though and I still look at this forum.

For me, it was a long time, and I consider it a terrible country. Not entirely, some people were great. But I don't understand the people, after many years there. They were so petulant and sad. This is a fascinating aspect. Or not. Whatever. I've lived in just few countries. Korea is the saddest for some reason. Just so much sadness. And in a global sense they are doing well. I don't know much about the world. Koreans are very insecure.

Why are you so sad, Koreans?
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happyinhenan



Joined: 01 Feb 2015

PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I didn't think it was the worst but working alongside Koreans was hard, on my time off, I really enjoyed it, I would never go back though. I did two years there and that's enough for this lifetime I think.

On the other hand, I have a lot of friends still living there, been out there long term, have Korean wives - one or two of them have (or had) Korean husbands, they learned the language, took postgraduate degrees at Korean universities and are enjoying themselves - so it is all dependent on the individual how they adapt.

I am in China now and I am far happier here than there. I know loads of people who hate China and ran back to Korea after a single contract - so, as always, horses for courses.
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Chaparrastique



Joined: 01 Jan 2014

PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Is Korea the worst country you lived in? Reply with quote

Quote:
I had a lot of fun in Korea.


Was that down to you, or because of the locals?
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Cave Dweller



Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 3:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have only lived in 2 countries and Korea is the 2nd best. I guess that makes it the worst.
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Leon



Joined: 31 May 2010

PostPosted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 4:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've lived in Singapore, ROK and Australia. I liked Singapore best, but it was the first time I had ever lived abroad and I had free housing, didn't pay any bills, and spent a large portion of my time in Malaysia and Indonesia so it may not be a fair comparison, especially considering housing prices there. Korea is second and Australia third. I am American, but I would not have any idea of how to rank America in that list, as I have lived in several places in America that were all very different, plus how do you compare somewhere you've been almost all your life to places you just spent a few years.
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yodanole



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: La Florida

PostPosted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What is "worst"?
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bucheon bum



Joined: 16 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nope. Not by a long shot. I have a hunch others who have lived in certain countries in the M. East would agree with me. I would say it is the worst OECD country I've lived in, but that's out of two countries (the other being the USA), so that doesn't say anything.
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Neil



Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Location: Tokyo

PostPosted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, lots of countries might be more 'fun' than Korea but for living there you have to take into account the high salary vs low cost of living, good public transport and low taxation all of which give a good general quality of life.

Laziest co workers I've ever had though (both Korean and foreign).
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Eastern Europe not too long after communism was the worst for me. Grim surroundings, miserable people, no interesting media to speak of, awful, awful food and service to match. No internet at that time. The only saving graces were the very much up for it women and the beer, which the commies had kept good quality and very low priced to keep the masses happy. Having said that If I had to pick between Korea and one of those countries today I'd probably go for Eastern Europe.
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young_clinton



Joined: 09 Sep 2009

PostPosted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is ridiculous. Try Saudi Arabia.
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is pretty funny and it reeks of lack of experience living in other countries and of a rather amusing lack of knowledge about various countries on this planet.

If you think Korea is the worst country you have lived in, then you have not lived in vary many countries...

Good luck out there and don`t forget your pacifier when you travel next Wink
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Stain



Joined: 08 Jan 2014

PostPosted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
This is pretty funny and it reeks of lack of experience living in other countries and of a rather amusing lack of knowledge about various countries on this planet.

If you think Korea is the worst country you have lived in, then you have not lived in vary many countries...

Good luck out there and don`t forget your pacifier when you travel next Wink


Couldn't agree more Patrick. Never forget the pacifier. When you are traveling with infants, it's totally a necessity. Although, that's not enough really. I feel guilty when traveling long distances with my child.
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metalhead



Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet

PostPosted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
This is pretty funny and it reeks of lack of experience living in other countries and of a rather amusing lack of knowledge about various countries on this planet.

If you think Korea is the worst country you have lived in, then you have not lived in vary many countries...

Good luck out there and don`t forget your pacifier when you travel next Wink


I'd like to know who has lived in many countries. I've lived in seven (one of which was when I was very young, so six as an adult), and stayed in other countries for a decent amount of time, and I would say Korea was the worst in a lot of respects, simply because of the locals, lack of law enforcement - nay! - biased law enforcement, and other things, but mainly the locals and Korean culture.

I suppose my opinion means nothing because I haven't lived in 25 countries like I assume you have, however if someone has 'only' lived in three countries and thinks South Korea was the worst it doesn't mean his opinion is moot simply because certain people married to a certain nationality blind themselves to the reality of what Korea is really like.
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I'd like to know who has lived in many countries. I've lived in seven (one of which was when I was very young, so six as an adult), and stayed in other countries for a decent amount of time, and I would say Korea was the worst in a lot of respects, simply because of the locals, lack of law enforcement - nay! - biased law enforcement, and other things, but mainly the locals and Korean culture.


I've lived in nine, have a Korean wife but would still put Korea at the foot of the pile by today's standards. Fast internet speed alone isn't enough to lift it off the bottom. I thought the transport was a factor, till I came to HK where the subway trains come every 2 minutes. The other countries all beat it by having better food/drink, more interesting culture and nicer surroundings. Sorry Patrick but Busan just isn't an attractive city by international standards.

Quote:
If you think Korea is the worst country you have lived in, then you have not lived in vary many countries...


According to studies like this one, which are quite common, you could have lived in over thirty countries and your choice of Korea as the worst country to live in would still correspond with the views of the experts. Do the people who created these tables also have a 'rather amusing lack of knowledge' about the world Patrick? Unlike you of course.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10301496/Denmark-the-worlds-happiest-country.html
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

PostPosted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

edwardcatflap wrote:


According to studies like this one, which are quite common, you could have lived in over thirty countries and your choice of Korea as the worst country to live in would still correspond with the views of the experts. Do the people who created these tables also have a 'rather amusing lack of knowledge' about the world Patrick? Unlike you of course.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10301496/Denmark-the-worlds-happiest-country.html


I don't know how much stock you can put into those rankings.

That study ranks Venezuela, Oman, and Qatar ahead of Korea. Not to mention Mexico which has been experiencing ISIS levels of bloodshed and heinous acts over the last decade.

I frankly enjoy not hearing about my university students getting yanked off a bus and mowed down gangland style.
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