Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiwib]

Hi everyone,

Im looking to start applying for jobs in Busan after a completely fruitless search for a job in central Seoul (its IMPOSSIBLE to get anyhing in the centre if youre not American GRRR).

I dont know much about Busan apart from Haeundae is the busy beach area - this sounds great, but i fear it might be a similar situation that all the Americans get these jobs (I'm English). I basically want somewhere quite lively, where there are plenty of other foreigners, and restaurants / bars - and i guess i'd love to live near a nice beach

. Can anyone point me to where i can find information on the different areas of Busan, or give me any advice?... I hear Busan is pretty spread out...

Thanks,
Dan

[excitinghead]

I don't know if there's any kind of guide online, but www.pusanweb.com would be a good place to start.

I don't think you'll have any problems here because you're British. I am, and haven't.

If you're looking for somewhere with a lot of foreigners, bars, and close to the beach, then I recommend my own area of Namcheon-dong, which neighbours Gwangli Beach, and Daeyeon-dong (which would also be okay). The beach is 15 mins away, and there's many foreigners and foreigner bars at the Pukyeong/Gyeongseong University district 10 mins in the other direction. It's also very close to the subway, and relatively central. Seomyeon, downtown, is about 20 mins away on the subway.

Haeundae Beach is similar, but is a little isolated and dead for three seasons of the year. Districts like Pusan National University also have foreigners and nightlife, but are miles from the beach.

I've been in Korea 7 years and Busan 3, and can honestly say that if I couldn't live in this part of Busan then...I wouldn't live in Busan at all. I have the beach, a huge park by the sea I forgot to mention, Starbucks and nightlife in a university district 10 mins away, and a short subway ride to most of the places in Busan actually worth going to. I love it here.

[Freakstar]

[kiwib]

I really cant hold out for Seoul any longer, i have been waiting 3 months applying every day, i turned some jobs down earlier on as they were with shady schools, or the teachers diddnt recommend i take the job (!) so i really need to loo kat other areas.

Thanks for the advice EH, i will take a look and start applying round there now

Thanks!

[NoDolan]

I'm American and I couldn't get a job in Central Seouil either. They kept trying to send me 20 minutes outside of Seoul and 1.5 hours from Central Seoul or places like Suwon and Nowon..ugh...

I ended up in Northern Busan in Buk-gu. I haven't seen any foreigners here except for my co-workers and no one speaks English here although the people seem to be nice. I still wish I could be in Seoul.

[kiwib]

Hmm, some people have told me that Busan has nightlife, bars, and places where westerners hang out, and the beach in the warmer months sounds cool... is it really not social at all...!?

... would you be happier in southern Busan NoDolan? somewhere like Namcheon as mentioned above?

[NoDolan]

I've only been in Buk-gu for 2 weeks and from what I know the only nightlife is in Southern Busan or Nampo dong.
Buk-gu has restaurants and music rooms but no bars or clubs.

I have weekends off but I don't like having to take the subway 1 hour south just to go clubbing.

[crazy tigger]

When I was looking for jobs in Ulsan I foud it to be a similiar sort of thin, all the jobs I was getting offered were on the edges of town, well away from foreigner hangouts anyway. Most o the jobs for the popular areasseemed to be for people already in Korea.