Korean Job Discussion Forums

[korian]

i know this has been done on a few different fronts before but i'd like to get some fresh opinion on the topic.

let's imagine that you had qualifications, experience and opportunities to work both in japan and korea.

i'm in that boat at the moment. i've worked at uni in korea for over 2 years and now have a chance to work at uni in japan. i'm currently in my home country teaching and have to make a decision.

go back to korea or go to japan.

i must confess that in korea there is a girl involved.

but both are well paid, both have good vacation and conditions etc.

sawy me either way please ladies and gents. i'm stuck and need some new perspectives.

[Real Reality]

I need some advice: Japan vs. Korea
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=16072

Korea vs. Taiwan vs. Japan
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=8865

Back from Japan and depressed
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=6764

[Mashimaro]

[Alias]

Japan is the place to be. Korea is just a pit stop.

[SarcasmKills]

I disagree with Alias wholeheartedly.

Big city Japan is just like Big City America with more Japanese people and more noodle shops.

Korea is far from fully developed and has that edge that you won't find anywhere in Japan.

Japan is a nice place to experience.. but for overall experiences good and bad Korea is the place to be...

[hojucandy]

i would starve to death in japan,,, the food there is so bland and dull...

also i love gugak (korean traditional music). japanese music leaves me cold.

[mithridates]

How about Busan in Korea or Fukuoka in Japan? They're right across the bay from each other and lots of fun. I don't like Tokyo. Depends on where your girl is as well I suppose...

[korian]

it is a hard one. i have already spent 2.5 years teaching at uni in korea so i know it well enough.

to the person who said don't make your decision based on a girl...so so true but you know what those girls do to us poor guys.

what would you say the biggest differences are for a foreigner in each country outside the work environment. one big plus for me is the fact that japan has surf.

do you get any kind of anonymity which you don't get in korea?

[Real Reality]

Anti-Americanism among an increasing number of South Koreans in recent years has not helped to create a favorable atmosphere for either Americans or other foreigners who might otherwise do business or seek employment here. The anti-American sentiment is also said to have precipitated the redeployment of American troops out of and within this country, further eroding the confidence in Korea of foreign investors and businessmen.
Contradictions abound
by Cho Se-hyon
The Korea Herald (October 12, 2004)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/site/data/html_dir/2004/10/12/200410120009.asp

Giving foreigners here a hard time
by Nathan Drescher
Korea Herald (October 13, 2004)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/10/13/200410130012.asp

[just because]

I lived in both, Tokyo and sapporo for 1 year and now Changwon for 3 years.

I'll choose Korea over Japan.

With japanese you never know where you stand as while they are polite to your face, I've never met a bigger bunch of backstabbers. Its all to do with wa and keeping a good harmony with each other, they might say one thing but they will be thinking something completely different.

I'll give it to koreans, if they have a problem you sure do know about it and while it can be very in your face i would rather this than the japanese approach. And believe me, the japanese are just as unorganised as the Koreans with their education system.

Also, japan is good to live in but just too expensive to have a good time. You'll have a lot better time here in the long run than in japan.

However, i would recommend living there for a bit as it would just be a different experience and it would add to your life.

[korian]

just because you're an aussie aren't you? from the goldy? i'm living and working on the goldy and in brisbane now and so many of the japanese students and surfers i meet are so cool.

much cooler than the koreans who are out here travelling and studying.

the japanese are up for fun and enjoying themselves and having a laugh. and there is a definite surf culture among them here.

did you find much of that outgoing nature in japan when you were there?

i do agree that until you go you never know.......

[hojucandy]

the goldy? that's a new one on me! i must be getting old. i've been going to the gold coast since the 60's and i've never heard it called that. we just called it "down the coast". (as opposed to "up the coast")

anyway - mithridates suggested fukuoka.. now that has to be the dullest city in japan... everything is underground!

my girl is in busan, that's why i live here. but even if i was single i would rather live in korea.

like i said - its the music. korea and india have the best in the world.

oh - and iran

...

and morocco...

ah - there is a lot of good music around.
(but not in japan)

[korian]

well i'm 31 and it's been the goldy since i went there in 1990 for schoolies so you must be old....^^

but i just fond the japanese here so much more willing to live life a little nd get out there and mix it up with everyone and anyone and do new things. sure they eat japanese food and hang mostly with japanese people, but they are not averse to doing anyhting new with anyone.

quite unlike most of the koreans i konw and teach.

just wondering if that attitude was evident in japan itself.

and the anonymity thing is big for me too. just being able to get on with life and live life without having to deal with the stares and he comments and the hellos and the remarks and the snickers etc that are so rife in korea.

is japan any different?

[adventureman]

..

[korian]

i reckon you're right. but korea has this strange pull on you. but i think i'll give japan a go coz i haven't been there.

as you said, demand in korea is so high. korea will always be there if things don't go well in japan i guess.

and at the end of the day, money in korea is easier to come by than japan....