Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Manticore]

Hi

I'm a first time teacher - never been to Asia.

I have job offers both in Pyeongtaek and Incheon.

I am worried that the smaller city won't have much to do (no 'buzz' like the bigger ones?) and I'll have to make the trip to Seoul often. So if that's the case, I might as well live in a big city like Incheon.

Has anyone lived in either? Your opinion would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Rod
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[Tiger Beer]

Incheon is an industrial city.

Pyeongtek's saving grace is it's near a large American Air Force Base. That means a large variety of restaurants and something a bit different available from just the status quo. On the negative, the bars/clubs center around the Air Force guys who have a curfew and the area shuts down early. But those bars can be interesting from time to time, but I'm not so sure I'd want to be in those particular bars all of the time.

Either place, you'll be making the trip to Seoul often if you want to do something. Incheon doesn't have much of a buzz at all. It's a spread out industrial town with the mindset to match.

[Tiger Beer]

double post

[Manticore]

OK-thanks. Does Pyongtaek have anything else going for it apart from foreigners and bars?

Which cities do buzz, without being unbearably manic? I've thought of Seoul but from what I've gathered it's mad busy and very polluted.

Appreciate the input

[grnmle]

I had the bad fortune to spend a night in Pyeongtaek. Getting off the train, our guide took us through what looked to be a series of meat shops with neon lights everywhere. Of course these were filled with girls for hire. After that we took a taxi through the dingy downtown and into the countryside, approaching the Army Base. It didn't get any better. The place is under massive construction to get ready to expand the base so the streets were all torn up. The teacher I was there with, a friend of a friend was, in my opinion, a manic depressive do to his 6 year stint in korea and the situation at his school. He took us to some strange, rural bars where you could hire filipino girls or where you could converse with army regulars about anything from how to kill a man with you bare hands to how to clean a gun. Needless to say I was happy to leave, very early the next morning.

[Tiger Beer]

[grnmle]

Everyday I am more and more pleased that I chose to work in Daegu. It is cleaner than Seoul by such a wide margin its laughable, if we are talking about air quality and how easy it is to escape to nature. The mountains are beautiful and there is a nice river that winds through the city that one can stroll on pretty well year round.

[DCJames]

Both places are dumps.

Pyungtek is the bigger dump.

[Manticore]

Ok- thx. So in terms of having the best of both worlds - buzzing city, modernity, amenities and good EFL work - and less air pollution, less urban sprawl + opportunities to experience culture and nature - what city is the best compromise?

Obviously it's a subjective question, but your comments will help inform my decision.

[Roving_gypsy_gurl]

[jamesy]

It depends on what you are looking for, but if you are looking for any sort of buzz, Pyeongtaek is not the place for you. I have a friend who lives there and have visited on a couple of occasions, and to be honest have found it pretty down-trodden and dull. It is close to the country however, which for me is a bonus. I went to a food market there one day and the produce was pretty good if I remember correctly � especially the garlic.

On the other hand, I have lived in Incheon for over 2 years now and have had no problems with the lifestyle. It does help that I live 5 minutes away from subway line 1, which can get me into Seoul in about 45 minutes if I feel I need a change of scenery. Incheon has two main centres and plenty of smaller satellites that stay open late and provide plenty to do. The air quality is very low in Incheon but no worse than Seoul, however it is easy to escape as there are lots of islands within a couple of hour boat trip from the harbour.

Hope this helps

[Manticore]

yeah that does help.

It looks like Daegu for me. It may not have the buzz of Seoul, but is big enough with plenty to do. Decent air and easy access to nature are big bonuses.