Korean Job Discussion Forums

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

I know a guy who's quitting his job in Harbin, and he got a job to start working in Daegu at a place called Moonkkang.

Personally I haven't been south of Chungju (except on my way to Japan) so I don't know what it's like down there. What do you all think?

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Nothing special in my opinion.

Parts of it I saw are pretty nice downtown. There seemed to be loads of foreigners there.

capebretoncanadian · Joined: 20 Feb 2005

I live here IMO, better than Seoul, not quite as good as Busan. There's a good foreigner crowd here, lots of stuff to do on the weekends, some good bands here and there. Good city.....my only complaint....not enough international cuisine.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

more importantly, the school, moonkhang is very professionally run.

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

Alright, nice to hear, but what's better about it than Seoul? Aside from apparently the redeeming qualities of foreigners there, apparently.

capebretoncanadian · Joined: 20 Feb 2005

Not as sprawling and huge as Seoul, no inbred foreigner ghetto, doesn't seem as grey and dreary as Seoul albeit only slightly less so, cheaper and faster to get around, pollution not as bad...although I'm sure it's still quite bad.... allegedly the girls are more beautiful here.....annnnnndddd the best hockey team in Korea is here as well Wink

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

compared to seoul, there is less conjestion and pollution here in daegu.
it's much cheaper in terms of general living expenses such as food and transportation. you can pretty well take a taxi anywhere in the city for under 10$.

on the downside, its ultra-conservative and ultra-confucianized (if you consider that a word). my students are shocked out of their desks when they hear i have a korean girlfriend, and we get tons of stares and giggles when out in public. that doesn't happen in seoul.

and, as someone said above, there isn't much in terms of internation cuisine or world class entertainment. the club scene is stuck in hip hop crap, with cycles of music repeated nightly.

and the weather can be extreme. hot and sticky summers...and cold dry winters.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Sofa_King · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Location: South Korea

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

Hmm, uglier Koreans in Daegu. Never heard that before.

I avoid foreigner bars like christ so usually my drinking expenses are low.

Sage Monkey · Joined: 01 Nov 2004

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

I went to Daegu once. Just stayed overnight. Now that my expert credentials are established, I'll tell you this:

*seemed like loads of foreigners there, but i was at the bar district on a saturday night.

*the girls aren't hotter than in seoul, despite what every korean says. kinda the same, in my opinion.

*supposed to be famous for apples. my friend who lived said he's never seen an apple tree near the place.

*a little more of that "ooooooh, look at his hairy arms!" attitude from the locals than seoul

*smaller (ok, now i'm just stating obvious shit)

thursdays child · Joined: 21 Sep 2005

Good central location with bus stations north, south, east and west . Good rail system- you can easily get anywhere in the country.

Personally I think Daegu is a little shitty - hot and dirty as hell in the summer and frozen in the winter (it's in a basin) but it's easy to get out of! It's fun if you like socializing.... and leaving!

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Manner of Speaking · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

I've lived in Daegu and environs for 5 years, and spent 3 months in Seoul.

Daegu is much hotter than Seoul in the summertime (continental climate). However it doesn't rain much and the air quality is much better than in Seoul. So is the public transit, at least the subways. The second line has just been completed and the cars are clean, neat and not crowded. Even during rush hours it's not as crowded as the boshintang boxes they call a subway in Seoul.

There aren't as many amenities geared to foreigners as there are in Seoul, but there are 2 or 3 good bookstores. Koreans in Gyongsang Province tend to be less manipulative and more honest than Seoulites, in my opinion. Gyongsangites let you know what's on their mind, but Seoulites only seem to want to know you in order to get something.

There are some great parks around Daegu, especially Palgongsan, and in the past few years more and more specialty restaurants have opened up in downtown Daegu. It's easier to find a teaching gig, easier to make friends. The suburbs -- Seongseo and Sigi Dong -- are really nice places and there are lots of good restaurants. Keimyung University in Seongseo boasts the cleanest and nicest campus of any in Korea. It's nicer than most of the ones I've seen in Canada and the US. The only thing I wish Daegu had more of is Korean language classes/schools.

Having lived in Seoul, Pusan, Gwangju, and Daegu, I'd have to say Daegu/Gyeongsang Province is the nicest part of Korea to live in.