Korean Job Discussion Forums

toomuchtime · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 3:15 pm Post subject: best city for new teacher

G'day.
I have a friend who's planning on coming over here for a year, and he is trying to decide which city would be best for him- in terms of culture, lifestyle, extra money-making...
I'm pushing for Seoul, but he's leaning towards Pusan.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

TMT

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Both Seoul and Busan are fine. Please choose a good, well-establised school. You may be able to earn more money in Seoul.

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mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

That's a bit like saying "I have a friend who wants to try pizza. What's the best pizza?"

It all depends on what kind of lifestyle and culture he's looking for. I think cost of living might be cheaper in Pusan but then it's not exactly horrible in Seoul for an ESL teacher with a free apartment.

Does he enjoy more distinct seasons? Seoul is better. Does he like having 50 Starbucks at hand? Seoul is better. Will he be more comfy around Koreans who speak more English? Seoul is better. Will he be more comfy having access to more Western culture? Seoul is better. Does he like the hustle and bustle of being in one of the largest cities in the world? Seoul is better.

I like Seoul for its bigness, its great subway system, its various Starbucks, its numerous tourist attractions, lots of stuff is in English...

Not everyone likes a mega city, however.

toomuchtime · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 3:54 pm Post subject:

[quote="mindmetoo"]Does he enjoy more distinct seasons? Seoul is better.[/quote]

It's all comes down to the distinctness of the seasons, doesn't it?

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

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VanIslander · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:05 pm Post subject:

Some people prefer what Busan has to offer, as I did before deciding to come to this area of Korea.

Busan is a coastal city.
Busan has a few good beaches within minutes due to a good subway system.
Busan has mild winters where snow sprinkles more than falls.
Busan has great hiking trails within minutes on the mountains next to it.
Busan has a lot of windsurfing, sailing and at least two English-speaking SCUBA diving trainers.
Busan is a ferry ride away from Japan for a few weekend jaunts.
Busan has a direct, though long, ferry to Jeju Island.
Busan is 45 minutes away by ferry from Geoje Island, where the beaches are even better!
Busan is the closest big city to some good tourist sites in the southeast, like castles, Buddhist retreats in breathless heights, festivals, Jiri Mountain, etc.
Busan has clothing and shoes in large sizes due to a noticeable Russian community.
Busan has a new bullet train to Seoul when you want a more extensive shopping or cultural trip to The Big Smoke.
That said,
Busan offers more than enough to keep a newbie's free time busy.

Others, like Homer, could speak about how it is to live in the city, as might Zed, who is contemplating moving there from Seoul.

Flex Bulkchest · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:59 pm Post subject:

seoul or busan??? so no interest in the entire country in between? Wink

Khunopie · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject:

The best thing is Busan rhymes with Pusan, so go there.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I love Daegu. Great city with an old Korean feel to it.

Daejeon is a good city, with an under-rated nightlife and great expat community.

And I've always been partial to Changwon. Just good vibes from that place.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

I rate Changwon