Korean Job Discussion Forums

jessie-b · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

I've been offered a position in Gyeongju though I haven't decided whether to take it or not. It will be my first time in South Korea and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is a good place to live. Are there parks? Is there a social scene for English speaking people? Is there a college in the city? Some sort of arts community perhaps?
Thank you

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

great city, lived there for a year in 1999. Lots of historic things to see and its really a laid back place

Downside it is a fairly small town and you can run out of things to do. We were always going to Daegu, Busan and Seoul

aldershot · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

go to gyeongju. it's an excellent introduction to korea. i lived there for my first contract. subsequent contracts have taken me to incheon (gulp) and later to the south of the peninsula, where i'm happily in the sticks again. if my first year was spent in, say, seoul, i wouldn't have appreciated korea and its culture as much. but with gyeongju under my belt, i was ready to take on the rest of the country. just give 'er.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Beautiful city. I wish I lived there.

jessie-b · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Ok so thumbs up on Gyeongju, eh? The only negative thing I could find out about it that during the summer months it's the hottest place in Korea, temperature wise. Not great but there's always fans. Any other info about places to go out at night would be appreciated. If anyone lives there now, drop me a line.
Thanks everyone.

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

nader2007 · Joined: 12 Nov 2007

hi,

I am looking at a contract for Ding Ding Dang Children's English School in Gyeongju. From what I've read it seems like a pretty cool down, lots of temples and historical stuff to see. Most of what I've found on here is people planning to visit there for the weekend; it sounds like a nice place to visit, but how about living there? How is it for local bars, cuisine, expat scene, etc? Can you have a fun night of drinking/hanging out locally or would you have to go to Busan? Feel free to PM me if you have info.

nathan

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

I lived there for seventeen years; my wife still runs her institute there. It will always be my Korean "hometown". Great place.

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

Remember "Cohiba's Rule":

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogeneous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: French, Greek, Indian or any other ethnic
foods. Markets that sell sherry, pate, pastrami, ricotta cheese.
Specialty shops that sell dart accessories, cuban cigars or
cowboy boots.

The FFF RULE: FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.

I, unfortunately, live in Incheon where the FFF factor
is almost in the negative range. I know!

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: Cohiba's Rule