Korean Job Discussion Forums

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

I can't count the number of times I've been asked this question. I'm not sure if it's taught in the schools as a grammar example or something, but a week doesn't go by without me being asked (and this is after 6 years of being here).

Personally, I haven't been yet. I'm not against going, but after hearing so many times how it's the "hawaii of Korea", I'm expectin to be dissapointed.

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

I just tell them I lived there for a year and start asking THEM annoying questions about it they wont be able to answer and that ends it really fast...

"Did you like the Africa museum? What did you think of the Yeongshil hike? How about that mysterious road... wasnt all that mysterious, was it?"

Sooner or later, they're like, "oh we didnt see that sorry" and they change the subject.

SpicySteve · Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Location: Seoul

Almost 5.5 years...never been! Hell, i've never even been to Pusan!

Coincidentally, i was booked on a flight to go to Jeju last weekend, but then along came Nari. Cancelled plans on Friday, a day before flight! I suppose i won't go until after i hit the 6year mark.

Maybe i should start a club.

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject:

Anybody who wants a break from Korea will find Jeju Island off the south coast and Ulleung-do off the east coast fits the bill. Koreans are there but the islands themselves are quite a breath of fresh air, in every sense.

I swam at every sandy beach last summer. I'm taking the ferry from Wando once again during this Chuseok, weather permitting.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I've been here for ages (about 12 years) and have never been. My reason: When I want a vacation, I want to go somewhere different. I don't mean this to sound as harsh as it does, but if I travel in Korea, I'm still in Korea. I'd rather stay home where I know where the good restaurants are.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

The whole Jeju visiting thing could be just more K brainwashing. I've just had to teach a 1st grade middle school class a "My holiday in Jeju Island" lesson. "Wasn't it wonderful etc... "

People are always asking me if I've been - some are pretty disappointed when I say I haven't. Most of my previous hakwon kids went there for school trips. After the Hub of Asia slogan I'd be VERY WARY about any claims to Jeju being a Hawaii.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

xtchr · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

I've been twice just for short visits to see a friend. Both times were in winter, and the weather was abysmal. Rain, hail, snow and ice, which I'm assuming the real 'Hawaii' doesn't get. The second time there were extreme winds and my flight back got cancelled so I ended up being there for another day.
Scenery wise it is pleasant enough, but generally it's thoroughly overrated. If my friend didn't live there still I wouldn't have returned a second time.
It is just Korea further out in the sea.

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

LuckyNomad · Joined: 28 May 2007

Everytime someone asks me this, I politely remind them that I actually lived in Hawaii for 9 years before I moved here and I couldn't care less about going to another tropical island. Laughing

That usually silences them.

normalcyispasse · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:59 am Post subject:

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

I've only been there once and I don't think I can evaluate it properly. We stayed at some Lotte family mega resort which was okay but bland in many ways for the hype. The water was nice but the sand was really rough. The weather was bad and my wife and family found all the attractions nearby to be too expensive to go to.

I'd like to try again in better weather, if only to give the place a fair chance.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I voted "No - and have NO desire to" because I (a) don't see it fitting in to my 3rd and possibly final year here and (b) I can think of more interesting destinations (mind you - that goes for Asia generally, not just Korean places). I don't see any point going to Jeju when there's the far more preferable Hong Hong not that much further, too.

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

Where is Wando and the ferry.

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Now that Koreans finally have choices, even they don't go to Jeju anymore, that much.
Check out the airport, how many are flying to Jeju, compared to Thailand, The Phillipines or Vietnam.
Koreans generally don't have the most sophisticated tastes. If they don't go there, then what's that telling you.
Look in the newspapers lots of hoildays advertised, everywhere BUT Jeju.