Korean Job Discussion Forums

[illegalsmile]

I'm living in Colorado currently where I actively raft, mountain bike, ski and go mountaineering. What are some good towns located near stuff like this that would have schools to teach at? What's the skiing/mountain biking even like if there is a scene?

I'll be graduating very soon and am interested in teaching overseas, but I don't know if i can pull myself away from a winter and summer season here!

THANKS!

[gotokorea]

I don't know if there's much of a mountain biking scene here... you might just have to find your own trails but maybe I'm wrong. I know there are some good ski areas near Uijongbu. It is a small city surrounded by Korean towns, if your looking for a quiet are. My suggestion... if your looking for culture, go to Seoul or Daegu, but if your just lookig to go ride your bike, maybe Uijongbu or some other town will work.

[VanIslander]

Korea is a nation of mountains!

That said, the eastern half has more mountains. In terms of big cities, Daegu is well situated. Jinju is a smaller city near Jiri Mountain for hiking and some good rivers for rafting. Muju ski resort is nice in the province Gyeongsangnamdo. But even northward provinces of Gyeongsangbukdo and Gangwondo have plenty of great mountains.

You are coming to the right country for skiing, hiking, mountaineering and rafting. Mountain biking, not so much, though there are plenty of mountainous roads, even along the southeast coast here where I am.

The whole country is so small you could get to any region by noon Saturday on your weekend jaunts.

[thursdays child]

Ummmm, maybe there are two places called Uijongbu - but Uijongbu the city in northern Gyunggi-do at the end of Seoul subway Line 1..... is not good for skiing or mountain biking (I live there).

Anyway, Illegalsmile- you sound like a Gangwando kinda dweller. There is a 'bit' of mountain biking to be had there and lots of skiing. But for the whole the mountains are a bit too steep for mbing and very crowded with walkers. Also in northern gyunngi-do where it is a bit less populated there is mbing but god knows where?? I've heard, but not seen. [/quote]

[JacktheCat]

Sounds like either Sokcho or Chuncheon would be the place for you.

Though it can be hard to find good jobs there. PM the poster schwa, he may be able to help you out.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I live and work right in front of a mountain, though what Koreans consider a mountain would be a hill in British Columbia.

[Son Deureo!]

Believe it or not, there are mountain biking clubs in Seoul, and I see them out pretty often on the trails.

[Tiger Beer]

[chiaa]

[illegalsmile]

Thanks for the replies this helps me out A LOT as to where to look for work.

I go to Mesa State College in Grand Junction. Western is a coldass place However, with the Butte right next door, it's hard to argue.

[SarcasmKills]

Another Uijeongbu'er here.. although surrounded by mountains, there are no mountains for skiing unless you go about 40 minutes north to Pocheon... Mountain biking is pretty tame (re:non-existent) as well.. there are plenty of biking clubs, but the trails around here are pretty tame..

I have gone biking a few times near Suri-san (south of Seoul - kind of near Anyang) .. they had decent trails I guess...

There are a couple user groups online and these guys meet almost every weekend to go to a different mountain for biking..

[Rteacher]

Gangneung iis another nice city in Gangwan province (Gangwan-do) which - in addition to being close to beautiful mountains - has a very popular beach (Gyeonpo) There's a good number of hogwans and a major university there, too (but it's a three-and-a-half hour express bus ride to Seoul...)

[coulter]

The bus trip to Seoul from Gangneung all depends on traffic. If you are coming to Gangneung for the weekend from Seoul it will take 3.5 hours or more because of all of the other Seoulites heading this way. If you live in Gangneung, however it's more like 2.5 hours (or less if the driver is insane (and most are)) to Seoul since you are always pointed against the heavy Seoul trafffic. But yeah, head out this way: mountains everywhere!!
The biggest ski resort in Korea is 40 or 50 km from my place and the biggest beach on the east coast is an 8 minute drive away.

[illegalsmile]

Coulter, any scuba diving opportunities near the beach?

Reason I ask all these questions is that in my travels of Southeast Asia i found a lot of the teachers doing little but 'partying' on weekends and as much as i like to binge drink, d like to get out and check out the environment as much as possible.

[coulter]

There is scuba diving here. I don't know all the details but I think you can take diving courses out near Jumunjin (10km north of Gangneung). I have also heard of windsurfing, paintball and a quad (ATV) track near here. A group of teachers here did the quads and paintball last weekend, but I had to go to Seoul so I couldn't make it.