|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Which city would be best for me? |
| Busan |
|
44% |
[ 8 ] |
| Seoul |
|
16% |
[ 3 ] |
| Cheong Ju |
|
5% |
[ 1 ] |
| Changwon |
|
11% |
[ 2 ] |
| Daeju |
|
5% |
[ 1 ] |
| Jinju |
|
16% |
[ 3 ] |
|
| Total Votes : 18 |
|
| Author |
Message |
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
 Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 5:45 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| poof wrote: |
If you want outdoors, why not go to Jeju Island?
I didn't vote cus my choice for you is not on the list - most of the places you listed are the same as each other in appearance - little difference at all. |
I know that I would love Jeju if it were to be a 6 month stay but cant help but feel I would be too isolated there for a whole 12 month. I know I have said I want the quiet retreat but not 24/7, I am in my 20's and like to go out to bars/clubs still but don't like to live on top of a city and don't like to feel like I'm being forcefed city life all the time! Jeju Island will definitely be visited but I can't see myself living there.
I think it is also important to point out that I have massive student loans and therefore the travelling to and from Jeju to mainland would put a dent in the amount of money I can send home for student debts!!!!
Sorry about my lack of diversity in choice of city, howevr, I do not obviously have the experience of having visited/worked in Korea which is why I'm asking advice!
Do I take it Jeju was your recommendation or is there somewhere else that you would suggest looking into that may offer what I am looking for? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 5:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
I said Jinju. Im biased maybe because I lived there.
Its the smallest one on your list, but the location is awesome. Jirisan National Park is close by. The best places on the southern coast are very close by - Namhae, Koje Island. It is clean, quiet but its not boring. Its a good sized town of about 250,000 to 300,000. It is close to Busan if you need to get away. The expat community when I lived there was really cool and close. The climate in Jinju rocks. While it was full on winter in Seoul I went down to Jinu and it was like spring almost. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 5:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Khyron wrote: |
| BigBuds wrote: |
I'd put Changwon top of your list after reading your post. If you don't want the crowds and hussle and bussle of the big city Chnagwon is a good place and there is a great expat community here. Lot of ammenties, Western and Korean, and it's only a 30 minute bus ride to Busan for a big night out.
Here's the website for the foreign teachers bar (owned by an ex-teacher) here in Changwon. It has a chat room so you can ask people questions about Changwon if you like.
www.obriens-bar.com
Just click on the Changwon link on the front page.
And, yes, I do live in Changwon as does Just Because. We're both Aussies by the way and there are quite a few of your fellow country men here not to mention Kiwis, Irish, South Africans, Canadians, and Americans. There's a large close knit expat comunity here. |
That sounds just like Ulsan.
Out of all the cities I've been to, I liked Daegu the best. The night life rocks there. I lived in Ulsan, right between Daegu and Busan. Most people went to Busan on the weekends, when they wanted to go out of Ulsan. Everyone (mistakenly, IMO) overlooked Daegu. The night scene is better than in Busan, it's closer to Gyeongju (that's a very good thing), and it's only an hour and a half from Seoul if you want to go there. I liked Seoul as well, but you might like somewhere else more if you want to get out into the country. That is no problem in Daegu.
Move to Daegu, buy a motorbike, make a few friends who have bikes (there are lots of them), and do a few rides down the east coast through Gyeongju, Ulsan and to Busan. It's an awesome little trip. It's tougher to do something like that when you're stuck in a big city like Seoul, IMO.
Honestly, if I ever moved to Korea again, I'd be choosing between either Busan or Daegu. I'd probably go with Daegu. |
Thanks for your input, it's nice to hear feedback from people who have lived and travelled within the areas on my shortlist.
Admittedly I had thought about scrapping Daegu because of pollution but might have to check out its location again!!
What are the main coastal cities? Daegu isn't coastal is it? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
JINJU - Sounds very nice also but what is there to do there besides sit at the castle and read?
Is there any nightlife?
What essentials will I need to regularly travel for?
Is ther a gym or more importantly a B Ball court?
Is there a good recruiter or school in the area you would recommend?
Library? Bank? Book Store? Doctor? Dentist? Internet Cafe?
Would Jinju suit someone for their first year/taste of Korea?? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Homer
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
Been in Busan since 1997.
Nuff said about my preferences from the choices on your list.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Homer wrote: |
Been in Busan since 1997.
Nuff said about my preferences from the choices on your list. |
Pro's and cons of Busan Homer????
Can't be bad if you have been there 9 years! 
Have you seen anywhere else in Korea that you have considered moving out of Busan for?? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Homer
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
Pro's and cons of Busan Homer????
Pros
1- Beach
2- Smaller size vs Seoul but you can still find what you need.
3- Great hiking nearby
4- Near to Kyungju (love that place)
5- Slower pace vs Seoul.
Cons
1- Pollution in certain areas
2- Traffic (city is not that well organized)
Have you seen anywhere else in Korea that you have considered moving out of Busan for??
No not really.
However, to put this in perspective, I am married to a Busan gal and her family is here (which we love). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 8:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Homer wrote: |
Pro's and cons of Busan Homer????
Pros
1- Beach
2- Smaller size vs Seoul but you can still find what you need.
3- Great hiking nearby
4- Near to Kyungju (love that place)
5- Slower pace vs Seoul.
Cons
1- Pollution in certain areas
2- Traffic (city is not that well organized)
Have you seen anywhere else in Korea that you have considered moving out of Busan for??
No not really.
However, to put this in perspective, I am married to a Busan gal and her family is here (which we love). |
Thanks Homer!
I think i'm south coast bound to be fair!
Seoul doesn't sound too good to me at the moment!!
Whats in Knung ju?? And where is that in relation to Busan? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 9:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| HOMER - WHATS YEOSU LIKE??? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
|
| Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 1:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
My advice is that you learn how to make your bed.............what you make, you have to sleep in.
Meaning -- the person who really LIVES is the person who transcends place and can be happy wherever. Why? Because they are the one through which experience occurs, not the one to which experience happens.....
The dog barks, the caravan passes......sorry to offer such sorrid advice. The best I could do , other than quoting Bukowski.
Good luck.
DD |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 1:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ddeubel wrote: |
My advice is that you learn how to make your bed.............what you make, you have to sleep in.
Meaning -- the person who really LIVES is the person who transcends place and can be happy wherever. Why? Because they are the one through which experience occurs, not the one to which experience happens.....
The dog barks, the caravan passes......sorry to offer such sorrid advice. The best I could do , other than quoting Bukowski.
Good luck.
DD |
Wouldn't it have been easier to just name a city!!!!
I appreciate what you are saying, however, I started this thread in an attempt to receive further information about the cities people have lived/visited and peoples experiences whether positive or negative within these cities!
I have never been to Korea, work 10 hr days + at home in the UK and therefore have limited time to research Korea as thoroughly as I would ideally like to, so............. My only real guidence is from people who are currently experiencing varying areas of Korea and my lonely planet which still hasn't arrived  !
A heron flaps for a reason! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 2:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Khyron wrote: |
| BigBuds wrote: |
I'd put Changwon top of your list after reading your post. If you don't want the crowds and hussle and bussle of the big city Chnagwon is a good place and there is a great expat community here. Lot of ammenties, Western and Korean, and it's only a 30 minute bus ride to Busan for a big night out.
Here's the website for the foreign teachers bar (owned by an ex-teacher) here in Changwon. It has a chat room so you can ask people questions about Changwon if you like.
www.obriens-bar.com
Just click on the Changwon link on the front page.
And, yes, I do live in Changwon as does Just Because. We're both Aussies by the way and there are quite a few of your fellow country men here not to mention Kiwis, Irish, South Africans, Canadians, and Americans. There's a large close knit expat comunity here. |
That sounds just like Ulsan.
Out of all the cities I've been to, I liked Daegu the best. The night life rocks there. I lived in Ulsan, right between Daegu and Busan. Most people went to Busan on the weekends, when they wanted to go out of Ulsan. Everyone (mistakenly, IMO) overlooked Daegu. The night scene is better than in Busan, it's closer to Gyeongju (that's a very good thing), and it's only an hour and a half from Seoul if you want to go there. I liked Seoul as well, but you might like somewhere else more if you want to get out into the country. That is no problem in Daegu.
Move to Daegu, buy a motorbike, make a few friends who have bikes (there are lots of them), and do a few rides down the east coast through Gyeongju, Ulsan and to Busan. It's an awesome little trip. It's tougher to do something like that when you're stuck in a big city like Seoul, IMO.
Honestly, if I ever moved to Korea again, I'd be choosing between either Busan or Daegu. I'd probably go with Daegu. |
Thanks!
Sounds like you had a good time of it! How much is a bike to buy? Insurance etc and do you need a licence?
Also what is in Gyeong ju out of interest that makes it a bonus to be near?
Do most places generally have A/C in Korea? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Homer
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 2:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
Daz...ddeubel has an excellent point.
Also, what me and others say about various cities is our opinions based on our experiences in these places. At the end of the day it might not apply to you and might not reflect how you like a particular city should you settle there.
Since you have never really been to Korea (right?) then it makes very little sense to agonize over a particular city for location, especially if you are picking between larger and big cities. Just pick one and roll with it because no one will be able to gove you a garantee that city X will be the best one for you.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
|
| Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 3:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
OK!
I totally understand where both of you are coming from but It can't harm to know what is available within each city!!
From posting and reading other peoples comments I feel I have already learned a hell of a lot about Korea and what to expect in certain places!
Before I found this board I was off to Thailand to teach without even really thinking about it! This board helped me realised my student debt would suffocate me so Korea became the most viable option for 12 - 24 months stay before I leave for Thailand!! I also had an offer I thought may have been good for me in Seoul, without this board I would have probably have accepted that too, In a city I now don't like the sound of, in a H'won I am now aware is potentially risky, working hours I now know are too long, and for a wage that I now know is unnaceptable!!!
Without people posting their experiences and opinions I wouldn't have known these things! So please do not disuade people from reflecting over their experiences with me, as so far reading peoples thoughts including those of your own have helped a lot!!
I'm not just going on what people say as my ultimate deciding factor!! I'm not a sheep!!! It is just nice to hear peoples views to complement the research I am able to do around my job, which is very limited!
Thanks
Daz |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Homer
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 4:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
I am not dissuading you or anyone daz.
I am just saying to be careful not to rely too much on opinions expressed here.
Mind you this board can be a good source of information for a newbie. It can also warp your opinion of a place you have never been too (warp it positively and/or negatively).
Hakwons for example are not necessarily "risky". They require a teacher to do some research prior to signing on however. Also, you need to be careful about expectations and demands when it comes to hours and pay, especially if you are a newbie with zero experience and an unrelated B.A.
I have been here a while for example so a basic newbie contract would not even make my list of consideration. By the same token, the job and conditions I have now are just not available to an inexperienced newbie. This means a certain distortion can occur when judging said jobs from different perspectives.
See what I mean? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
