Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tammie Hughes · Joined: 14 Mar 2006

Hi

We are on our way to Korea to find a job each teaching English and would prefer to avoid Seoul and Incheon.

We are thinking Busan or Daegu as two possible smaller cities to work an live.

We want to work in a place that will allows us to enjoy the surrounding country-side and the city that we are living in without living and breathing work everyday - although we do prefer to live in a city over a small town.

We have notice that other posts have suggest that Daegu pays quite low in comparison to other cities - is this the case?

Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks,
Tam and Mike

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Go to Seoul. Damn, go to Seoul.

I had the same kind of thinking you did before I got my first job, and I wish someone would've slapped some sense into me.

At the very least, go to Mokdong or Bundang or something that isn't necessarily central Seoul, but at least allows you access to things we westerners consider necessities, like a movie theater or some form of entertainment besides a crappy little pub and a run-down bowling alley.

I'm serious, those were the two options in the city where I lived for a year. It sucks ass.

Whatever negative concepts you have about Seoul are most likely overblown, and whatever positive ideals you have about "country life" are probably based on western ideas as opposed to the reality of rural Korean living. Go to Seoul, or at least Pusan, for your first year.

Anyway, that's me being the person I wish would've been there 16 months ago for me. Good luck.

Q.

C76 · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your honesty, Q.

When it comes to SK, all I can think of is living in Seoul. Other than that, I haven't a clue about where to live.

And I don't want to make a mistake. If/When I go, this will be my first time living overseas. I'm up for a challenge...But I feel that I need some of the comforts of home. Wink

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

Go to Busan! Check out pusanweb.com for more info about the city. Its at the beach, has many of hte amenities of Seoul, has beautiful mountains, and is only 3 hours away by KTX when you want to go to seoul. Busan is less crowded and polluted. Pretty good public transportation. Warmer climate in winter. Its been a cooler summer here than in Seoul. I love living in Busan and would never go to Seoul after living here.

John Henry · Joined: 24 Sep 2004

What could you possibly get in Seou;l that you couldn't get in Busan?

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

Busan is nice. I lived there 2 months and enjoyed it. You've got the hustle and bustle of a big city, but if you take a 10 minute taxi ride you can be out in the mountains. It smells kinda bad if you're down town, but it's easy enough to get out and away from it.

heydelores · Joined: 24 Apr 2006

I like the southern suburbs of Seoul. It's not Seoul, but it's close enough for easy access. Nice places to hike (one of the top priorities for me).

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

Sydney, Australia is great! Go there.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 05 May 2005

Lots of nice places still on the Seoul Subway line that are out of the way and quiet.

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

When I first came to Korea I was in the sme boat. I didnt want to go to Seoul, and I was really looking for a smaller town. I ended up in Jinju, hence my nickname. To be honest, it was a GREAT 1st year. The foreign comminity there was really cool and tight, it was a small city so it wasnt overwhelming and the climate was great and its also close to some magnificent coastline. I couldnt have chosen a better place to go. Now, I wouldnt want to live there because I like the big city. However if I was going to do things over again, Id still go to Jinju first, get used to Korea and then come to Seoul.

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

Gwangju.... there are a lot of loose women there...

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

Semi-open sewers in summer= bad smell

cwemory · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Location: Gunpo, Korea

Spent my first year in Yeosu. Was a great place to get used to Korea. Mild weather, close-knit foreigner community, beaches and islands nearby.
It's also so faraway from larger cities and western style comfort that it forces you to adept to Korea quickly.

Busan and Daegu are both so large that you wont notice they are smaller than Seoul, except for their lack of amenities.