Korean Job Discussion Forums

cheem · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

I'm making preparations to return to Korea in late November and I'm looking for my Korean "Walden" before I eventually settle in that magnificent cesspool known as Seoul. I'm not looking to chop wood or churn my own butter. My Korean "Walden" (relatively speaking) should have a population of 100 - 300k; somewhere I can reflect, mingle with the salt of the Korean earth, and suck the gochujang of life. My list of priorities is as follows:

GOOGOO CONES and wide assortment of ice creams is a must. I eat about 2 or 3 of these things a day.

LOTTERIA. I'm pretty much set financially so I've been contemplating pulling a Kevin Spacey and exploiting the full power of my F-4 visa by getting a job flipping shrimp burgers at the Lotteria. The irony and sheer stupidity of this idea is just too great to dismiss.

At first glance it may look like this is a lame spoof of "The ideal Korean city?" thread, but it's not. I'm dead serious... except maybe for that bit about working at Lotteria. So really all I'm looking for is a small city that has a large variety of ice creams. A new thread is warranted here because my priorities are different from, in fact almost the opposite of, those of the original thread.

Clean air? The K-girls that smoke put out! Mountains? Why walk on an incline when you can walk on a flat surface? Besides, the only mountains I'm interested in don't exist in Korea. Girls? Forget quantity/quality, with the sheer power of my foreigness I'll put a dent in that hamlet's genepool that'll linger for 5 generations. Foreigners? Good lord, I'm surrounded by white people every day. I'll pack 3 of them and bring them with me just in case.

So I ask again, where is my Korean "Walden"? Any comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Cheem "The OP" Cheem

peemil · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Location: Koowoompa

I think you've had too many "cones" right now.

cheem · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

Thanks. That was clever. Anyone else?

gajackson1 · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 7:22 pm Post subject:

Outskirts of either Gyoung-ju or Jin-ju might be a go. Koje-do is still pretty isolated, as well -

do you have sea or hills preferences? Are mountains (the K kind) a deal breaker?

I can help, I guess - I've been all over this place in 7 years, and I like the retreat thing at times, as well.

Regards,

G.

As a thought, once you decide on basic geographical features, look at the Korean National Parks site - that may help you narrow your choices!

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

have you thought about countryside North Korea????

Might be your cup of tea, you could open the first Lotteria chain in the North, sounds great.

cheem · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

Thanks a lot G. Honestly, I don't have any geographic preferences. I suppose my biggest priority, moreso than the ice cream, is to find a place that's raw and very "Korean". I suppose you could say I'm looking for a place with fewer foreigners (not that I have a problem with foreigners). I guess I've been jaded by Seoul life. I found that even Busan felt pretty raw in comparison.

Some temples would be cool. Gyung-ju would be perfect if it wasn't swarmed with tourists. I was actually offered a university position in Geoje-do but I'm suspicious of people who live on islands. Have you lived there? If so, what was it like?

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

To be more serious Cheem.

If you are looking for raw Korean life I would recommend the south-west islands of Korea. Like Wando or Jindo. Hardly any foreigners but they still have ice cream and there is a Lotteria in Wando Very Happy

.

Plus some of the best scenery I've seen here is from the little islands that jut out of the coast. If big city life bores you I would try this.

kermo · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 9:05 pm Post subject:

I love my little village, but it's not for everyone.
It's allegedly part of Yongin City (pop. 30,000), but it's about 1/2 an hour by bus through the country to get "into town". I'm within easy walking distance of Everland though, and my school was kind enough to buy me a year's pass as a perk.

The narrow lanes are at odd angles, and everywhere are verdant patches of overgrown gardens where puppies play. The kids know me wherever I go and greet me gaily.

I'm sometimes mistaken for Korean from the back because of my dark hair, and it's a little funny to watch someone jump and gasp at the grocery story when they reach for the cabbage and find I'm not at all who they expected. However, the town also has a cluster of Bulgarian, Moldovian, Latvian gymnasts, dancers and musicians, who work at Everland. So I haven't cause any traffic accidents with my kooky foreign face.

For my foreign fix, I chat with my family and friends on the computer during the week, and head out to a larger city on weekends (an hour to Seoul or Suwon) to meet friends and see the sights. There's a terrific gym where I spend a few evenings a week, and not much else.

Thought I'd share my little spot in Pogok-Myeon. Right now, it's my idea of heaven.

Kim Jong Jordan · Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Location: The Internet

Pardon my ignorance, but whats a "walden."???

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

Buyeo, Chungnam. It even has a Lotteria.

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

skinhead · Joined: 11 Jun 2004

Impo, at the bottom of an island south of Yeosu. They're looking for new 2IC manager for Loteria right now. Lots of nothin' too. pop of about 50. Lots of ducks, and they farm kim just offshore in the bay. I wanted to have my honeymoon there. Planning to retire there if in Korea it ends up being for life. Nice spot.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

I like being near the sea. Ulsan has a million folks. There's Pohang, which is smallish, what you want, but do you want a Steeltown?
There's Sokcho. The Northeast bit of Korea is by the sea, teachers seem to like 'Waldon-ing' it there.
Then the bottom bits, Yosu, Kwangyang (another Posco city, the #2 steeltown).
If you want that 100-300 thousand number then Pohang or Sokcho, to be on the big East Sea. Smile

The West side, the Yellow sea, isn't 'high sea'. Brown, murky. The east has beaches up and down and fair breezes.

kermo · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 3:05 am Post subject:

cheem · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

First of all, thank you everyone for your suggestions. After much googling, I'm focusing on 3 cities:

1. Buyeo - small, seems to have a lot of history
2. Chuncheon - north of Seoul
3. Pohang - funny name

I've got pretty much all the info I need for these cities, but can those in the know explain the logistics of getting to Seoul and Busan from Buyeo and Pohang? Thanks again.