Korean Job Discussion Forums

goombs · Joined: 08 Sep 2004

I Was thinking about going to Ulsan...but the more I read about the more I read how bad the pollution is there! How is it comparable to other cities in Korea? Would Busan, even bigger, have less pollution??

Thanks for any info!

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

Ulsan is the second most polluted city in Korea. Seoul is the most polluted. The times I have been to Busan it doesn't seem to be as bad as Ulsan. There is probably a web site that lists this.

hojucandy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Location: In a better place

eggs ain't all eggs when it comes to pollution. seoul may be the most polluted city in korea but the pollution there is mostly car exhausts, and household gas emmissions... industrial towns like ulsan and ansan have even more dangerous industrial pollution.

i was often unwell in ansan. i used to noticed the quality of the air improve every time i went to seoul. have been so much healthier since i shifted to busan.

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

seoul is really polluted. my lungs and skin have been nuts since i've been here. i went to the country for the weekend and i could breath out my nose, it was amazing! anyway, if you're looking for clean air, i'd go to the country.

The Hammer · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:51 pm Post subject:

Covered in soot?
Can��t breathe?
Have a Headache?
Experiencing dizziness?
Feel like dying?

Welcome to _____________!(Insert Korean city name here.)

whatthefunk · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Dont have a clue

Pohang anyone? Got to love POSCO.

peemil · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Location: Koowoompa

Ulsan is fine. Jeez... Korean air is not bad at all. LA air. That's a problem. I've seen way worse then Korean cities... Christ all mighty.

agraham · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Location: Daegu, Korea

I'm with you peemil. Blowing your nose and your snot is black.. I've been there and that's pollution. Korean air is fine.

hojucandy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Location: In a better place

the other thing to consider about ulsan is it is dead boring....

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Dead boring reporting from Ulsan. Pollution? Huh?
Been here 9 months and haven't grown any tumours, wheezed, smelled anything suspicious besides hagwon kid-farts periodically.
I can imagine it's here though, and insidious/sinister.
Driving right down into the petrochemical complex itself there is a strong, unwholesome, plastic smell/gas that makes me want to pick up speed and hightail out of there, holding my breath.
The head teacher, a Korean gal, 28, grew up next to the Hyundai plant by the sea and some months ago had a cancer, cervical maybe. I pondered pollution in light of this.
But Ulsan has lots of greenbelt, wind off the sea, tons of surrounding farm/mountain land. Where I live is on the edge of town 8kms or so from the plants. Heard when I arrived about 'Summer pollution' but haven't, ever, got a whiff.
Ulsan is 'dead boring'? Really? Compared to Pusan, sure. The whole Seoul area is too hairy and hustling/bustling with caffeinated bali bali junkies. And the pollution up there, the car exhaust, the grey pall.
NOTHING like that in Ulsan. Just the invisible, insidious, slow micro-amounts of polyvinylchlorinatedwhatever, probably. Can't smell it, see it, taste it, know its around.
What does Real Reality have about pollution in Ulsan? Yoo-hoo, Real Reality? Laughing

peemil · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Location: Koowoompa

Falstaff · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Location: Ansan

I live in Ansan now, and while the pollution is bad, it's not that bad compared to some of the cities back in the States (and yes, I know that's not saying a lot). I found the air in Atlanta to be worse than the air here.

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

I lived for 3 years in Ulsan and had no problems. There are worse places in Korea and the world that are far more polluted than Ulsan. Smile

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:23 pm Post subject:

Not Geoje Island ! Cool

Before coming to Korea, I actually first considered going to Ulsan because it met my criteria of a place outside of Busan but close enough for weekend visits. But with a little surfing on the net I found out that Ulsan is like the Hamilton or Cleveland rather than the Portland or Houston of Korea.

So I went an hour south of Busan instead, to a place that's the Vancouver Island of Korea, though there's very little rain here (especially compared to drenched Jeju).

I smell only fresh ocean air. The local shipyards produce more water pollution than anything, though I don't notice it at the beaches on other sides of the huge island.

Note to all those considering coming to Korea:
Think about what you really want and what you really don't mind, and narrow your search accordingly. There's enough jobs everywhere that you need not sacrifice your choice of regions, despite what a recruiter might tell you.

hkverde · Joined: 13 Sep 2010

I just moved from LA to Yongin (an hour south of Seoul) a few weeks ago and have been having a terrible time with the Yellow Dust. If I go even a short time outside without a substantial mask, I have coughing fits for the rest of the day. It might just be what kind of pollution one's individual body has adjusted to. I also walk along a very polluted river on my way to and from work every day so my impression of Yongin itself is that of a pretty polluted city. I'm going to follow the advice of fellow posters for next year and choose a coastal city Smile