Korean Job Discussion Forums

[philipjames]

Whatever Korea's merits might be, it must be said that it's a very ugly country with ugly cities. I'm frequently SHOCKED to read on the job offered board that there are many jobs in "beautiful Seoul", "beautiful Pusan" etc...Who writes this nonsense? Clearly they've never been outside the country, or they're unscrupulous recruiters.

Korean, whatever t's other charms, cannot boast a single beautiful city. I've been here four years and travelled wdely. I have yet to see a city, or even town, that wasnt ugly.

And I haven't even begun to mention the absense of interesting architecture and parks, or the ever-present spit, vomit and urin on the cities' streets.

ugly ugly ugly

[Dan]

of all the things to complain about in this country and you pick this one :/

[slothrop]

edit

[indiercj]

Ugly but Fun Fun Fun!

I think at least you can give seoul credit for it's chaotic but exciting and entertaining streetscape.

[Rand Al Thor]

I've never found cities to particularily beautiful in any case. I enjoy the countryside and areas outside of the big cities.

[matko]

I've lived in ugly cities everywhere. Korea doesn't particularly stand out in this case. However, of the cities that I have lived in, Korea's have to be some of the most rancid smelling places ever. They need to do something about those open sewer systems!!! Disgusting.

[Howard Roark]

Everything the original poster said reads like something out of my own mouth. It was funny to read, like listening to myself.

It's not even the dirt and garbage factor that makes it so ugly. I spent 5 months in Turkey and travelled a lot there. It is far from clean but it still had charm and character. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world. Even Istanbul, one of the biggest and probably one of the dirtiest cities in the world, is amazing and beautiful. As weird as it sounds, the litter and pollution didn't really take anything away from the visual feast of architecture, monuments, beaches, and people.

Korea is not only dirty and smelly, but boring and overrun with flashy signs and tastelessness. It's an endless sea of ugly buildings that all look the same. And each one has rows of giant flashy signs going up the side. One for every floor.

You go into a building and have to pull up your pant legs to wade through the saliva going up the steps.

[Tancred]

lol...oh man this thread is hilarious...

[gajackson1]

OK, as wholes, I agree both Seoul & Busan are 'ugly' cities, albeit ones with beautiful areas in them (diamonds in the coal).

However, having been here 5 years and also very well travelled, I have to say that I thought the city of Jin-ju was pretty, and I stayed in Chang-won for 3 years just because it was so nice (although, sadly, that seems to be changing under a population/construction boom). I can go into specifics on either of those two, if need be.

And I have been to countless other 'towns' that I thought were attractive, although this may be a population factor.

You want to talk an ugly city? Spend some time in Phnom Penh, my friend - then we'll share a beer over a horror of a city!

G.

[Hugh Jorgan]

What a bunch of whinners. Listen, you must adapt a little and be flexible when coming to a place like this. For example, I used to be appaulled by the vomit and urine on the streets, now, I find, if I stand in the urine for roughly a half minute the acidity helps to burn off the chunks of vomit stuck to my shoes. As well, if you ring all that saliva out of the legs of your pants, you will find it makes a remarkably good hair gel. It's all about flexibility. HHHHOOOOAAAARRRRKKKK!!!!!

[coolsage]

I've been here long enough to work around most of the negative aspects of this country. It has been called "the land where imagination goes to die". And the cityscapes suggest that only three architects designed the urban areas: one for the grain-elevator highrises, one for the grim five-storey walkups, one for the commercial buildings with their in-your face advertising. Nonetheless, one can find, even in the urban morass, a quiet house with a well-tended garden in the midst of the sprawl, perhaps a metaphor for the nation itself (to outsiders), diamonds in the mine. Don't let it get to you; unlike the locals, you don't have to live here forever.

[matko]

[Hugh Jorgan]

We all know there are thousands and thousands of Koreans living in the west that's not the point. The point was thankfully WE don't have to live here forever. I mean I'm having a great time here and seeing a lot of things, but still, it's nice to know I'm not here for the next 20 years.

[Cabbit]

Cities are generally ugly, but its true that beauty IS in the eye of the beholder (not beer holder..lol). I personally think that Ulsan is a beautiful city and Seoul has its moments also.
Dont presume that the world looks through your eyes....when I am in Paris I do not focus on the dog poop on the sidewalk, and I certainally dont go onto websites telling everyone that all there is to see in Paris is the dog poop.
Try to look around and smell the roses for a while......go to some nicer places.

[matko]

Cabbit,
Are you comparing Seoul to Paris?!