Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rae · Joined: 10 Oct 2007

I'm considering a position in Gangwon-do this December. Any feedback and advice regarding living there would be greatly appreciated because I am a total noob!

Mainly I'm concerned about:
+ Modern luxuries (are western toilets available Shocked

)?
+ Is the weather really THAT extreme (how's the humidity)?
+ Approx how many expats would I run into while shopping (if any)?
+ How far is it from the next large city and is transportation convenient?
+ Are there any western stores found in the province? (Cafe's?)
+ Are the locals friendly?
+ Is it safe for a girl to walk around the mountains at night? (Are there street lights?)

<3
Thank you!!

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

*****

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Rae · Joined: 10 Oct 2007

Rae · Joined: 10 Oct 2007

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

.....

Rae · Joined: 10 Oct 2007

Thank you Andrew.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

I had an outhouse at my place in rural Korea last year. I also had an indoor bathroom, but I guess they didn't take out the outhouse when the remodeled everything. If you live in a rural area, there's a good chance you'll be in an older apartment (built in the 80s or 90s) . . . y ou never know, as another foreigner in my town had a new, 3-bedroom place. But you'll have plumbing, hot water, a regular toilet, and your town will have convenience stores, restaurants, and buses. Gangwon-do does have some nice, scenic areas, so you could really luck out.

If you go for a public school, any recruiter worth her fee will give you contact information for foreigners already in the town or at the school. When I applied to Gangwon-do I got 3 email addresses right away---didn't take the job, though. If you're looking at a hagwon (private school), be very very careful, and I'd even say don't do it. Village hagwon can be bad news.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

I was told that if I had arrived a day earlier I would have been placed
in a different town. I take this to mean they don't know where they
will put you until you get here.

I've had a good experience but not everyone has.

Check out the
Gangwon-do group on yahoo:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gangwondo/

Here are some recent threads:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=99651&highlight=yeongwol

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=101217&highlight=gangwon

Rae · Joined: 10 Oct 2007

Thank you all for your input and advice. I'll be sending my final decision in a few days.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

I lived in Gangneung, perhaps the major city in Gangwan province, for a year, and it was a very nice, mellow place to live and work. There's a popular beach, Gyeongpo beach, that many people from Seoul travel to in the summer, and it's also close to the most picturesque mountain range in Korea.

There are some foreigners there, but during most of the year I journeyed into Seoul for the weekends. Although the luxory express bus ride was scenic , it usually took over three hours, and it wasn't that cheap - I think about $18 dollars each way ...

plainjayme · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Location: long beach,ca

[quote="Rae"]Thank you all for your input and advice. I'll be sending my final decision in a few days.[/quote]
Hey Rae. I just wanted to thank you again for the referral. I'm curious to see how things turned out for you. Did they set you up w/ a decent place? Are you enjoying GWD? I plan on moving there early Feb. and am just a little bit apprehensive.

happeningthang · Joined: 26 Apr 2003

I spent a few pleasant enough years in Gangwon-do and have found that the conditions can vary wildly for different teachers and schools- all depending on what you're willing to settle for. Every teacher I have known has a modern apartment with all the usual amenities. Don't be afraid to refuse accommodation you find unacceptable.

Gangwon is quite beautiful with it's mountains and coastline, so if you like a more authentic Korean experience in outdoor settings I don't think you could do better. If you like big cities than tell the recruiter to stick it, and hold out for Seoul or Pusan.

Gangwon's a big place with a lot of small towns and more than a few medium to large cities. The only major cities on the coast are Gangneung and Sokcho with reasonable foreign teacher community. Inland and in the mountains there's Chuncheon and Wonju. Everywhere else will be small to medium sized towns. It would be well worth your while to take a look at a map to get some indication of what you're in for.