Korean Job Discussion Forums

davester13 · Joined: 07 Nov 2005

At the risk of potentially rehashing a highly analyzed topic, I feel the need to broach the subject of living in big-city and small-town Korea.

I have been vacillating for a while now between moving to Seoul and enjoying its amenities and moving to some small Korean town in the mountains or near the beach (or both) and enjoying a more relaxed lifestyle. While the differences between these options are fairly obvious, and while opinions about which is better stem from personal preference, I wouldn't mind reading arguments in support of one or the other. In the event it might prove relevant to this topic, I will tell you that I value a natural setting (especially mountains), outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, and a more relaxed lifestyle over arts & entertainment, though I wonder about the social life---especially the English-speaking variety----in a small town.

More important, please tell me about your positive experiences---both working and living---in small-town Korea. Which towns are the most appealing to you in terms of the language institutes & working situations, surrounding nature, the people, and access to some big-city elements (perhaps in a nearby city), such as entertainment venues, Western restaurants, etc.? Thanks in advance.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

I debated the same thing before coming -- I could have written the same post back when.

I decided my affinities had more to do with living relaxed & nearer to nature than having access to western stuff. As it turns out you can find sufficient familiar goods most anywhere, friends too.

Youre never too far from a city for that urban fix. But I sure enjoy having somewhere calm to head home to after.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I live in a quiet part of Seoul with little traffic, and it's just fine. It's mildly close to everywhere I need to go.

Last year, I was in the northern tip of Suwon, near Uijungbu, and there were some pretty quiet areas around there.

Just because it's close to Seoul doesn't mean it's too rushed.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

mithridates · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 6:26 am Post subject:

Sounds good. Come to Seoul and hang out next year. I know you're working hard on the language so once this period of trial is over it'll be smooth sailing from then on.

Which town is this you're in though?

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

My school district manages to scrounge together 118 boys. This is from several myeon (the rural equivalent of a dong). We do have a flashing yellow light. No stop lights, though.

There are some good things. It is quiet. Very quiet. There seems to be one of every kind of shop and even a couple of some. For example there are two blanket shops. Surprisingly, the dentist speaks good English. There is no staring. However, the day I arrived I bought a scooter and within 30 minutes or so, the BBQ chicken man on the other side of town knew 'the way-gookin' had bought a scooter.

I find the same mix of friendly and unfriendly people I've found everywhere. The LG man and the apartment manager are jerks. The bakery lady, the flower shop lady and the Pelicana chicken restaurant lady are very friendly. So are the glasses shop man, the the dentist, the scooter man and the book store lady. By friendly, I mean they smile and are helpful when I come in. I've discovered three adults who speak English in town. Friendly when I see them, but no indication of friendship.

No foreign food in town. Not much in the two slightly larger towns nearby. By not much, I mean they do have peanut butter, lemon juice, raspberry jelly, Tabasco sauce and Heinz Chili Sauce.

I think if you want to live in a town this small, you should seriously consider buying a car. The bus service is excellent, up to 9 pm. I can get to almost any other town around by bus, but I have to be on the bus for home by 9.

The teachers at my school are very warm and friendly, but none of them live here. They head home, so there is no one to socialize with in the evenings. There are no English channels on TV, so I don't bother to hook it up. There are no video rental shops either. I buy DVDs online.

I don't find this any different than what I expected. I grew up in an even smaller town, so I know how hard it is to break in to a small town. Add the language difference and it is almost impossible.

All of Korea is mountainous and there are parks everywhere. The sea is not too far from anywhere. Unless you really want to spend a year getting to know yourself, I suggest you go to a small city...say, 100,000 people or so.

mithridates · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 6:36 am Post subject:

BTW I remember Captain Kirk talking about how sh*tty his experience was in a small town until he bought himself a motorcycle and that the difference was like night and day.

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Done the small town Korea thang and wouldn't recommend it...unless you like isolation, being treated like a circus animal(although that happens everywhere in Korea) and having to take trips to Seoul in order to survive the K-small town experience....

mithridates · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 7:48 am Post subject:

Yep. Small town life can suck, especially in Korea but even in Japan as well. I remember the first place I ever worked at in Japan hired a teacher that they knew had problems with depression and sent him to a small town to live - about two or three months later he ended up hanging himself in his apartment. Never met the guy as that was about a month before I arrived but they were still a bit shaken up when I was first there.

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

Live in Seoul, but try to make your life as simple as possible while there. For example, you don't want an hour commute in the morning. There are plenty of parks in the city if you need some fresh air and even hiking in the northern parts. Take weekend trips to get out of the city ... plenty of rural places not far away. Use you vacations to get out of the country -- you will need a break. Westerners stand out enough in Seoul; why put your life under even more of a microscope living in nowhereville?

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

Qinella~ a hearty amen! Been there; done that. I feel for you. Being the freak show sucks. Seoul is an awesome city to live in. I wouldn't live outside of Seoul, in Korea. This place rocks!

Cedar · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:58 am Post subject:

go with the small town.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

davester13 · Joined: 07 Nov 2005

Thank you for your responses so far. One of you suggested that if I decide to live in small city, that I choose one with a population of at least 100,000 or so. And based on the horror stories I've received from some of you about small-town living, it sounds like good advice. I'm seriously considering either Sokcho or Gangneung; I've heard good things about them.

Others of you have suggested melding the two together into a "best-of-both-worlds" scenario. Something akin to suburban living, I imagine. If I were to live in a suburb of Seoul or some small city outside of it, where would you recommend I live? Where could I enjoy a relatively peaceful lifestyle with relatively close proximity to parks and mountains yet still have access to big-city attractions?