Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PBRstreetgang21]

My contract is do up in a month, so after a little down time in the States Im coming back--but not to Seoul.

Im not sure where yet.

The thing is I like Seoul, its a nice place, but I am so done with hugeness of it. I need a city thats a little more managable and little bit close to the country side. I was thinking Gwangju, last time I was there the Koreans where ridiculously nice, and the food was AWESOME. Plus a cross-town cab ride was dirt cheap.

I was also considering Daegu (havent been). Anyone have any opinions of Daegu as a place to live?

Also Jeju, how is the living there(also never been)?

Any other nice places y'all think are worth splitting for would be great.

[hugekebab]

[haute 4 teacher]

Gwangju: Not much going on.

Well, there is the Brewhaus and the Underground Grocers, otherwise......

And at the emart last weekend we had 8 children run up to us, point, scream waeguken, and run away.

Gwangju: Not much going on.

[Tiger Beer]

Smaller Korean towns are kind of like sections of Seoul. Like Daegu would be like being stuck in Sillim-dong of Seoul.

The beauty of Seoul is there is a lot more than just your local dong.

Maybe you just need to be in the right area of Seoul, and then you'll find you hardly need to go anywhere and won't even have to go across town either.

[kprrok]

Me, too. I'm done with living near Seoul. Tired of it, sick of it, bored with it. I'm going BACK to Jeju after a two-year saving-spree in Incheon, and I can't wait.

The only thing I'll miss about Seoul is the quick and cheap delivery of things ordered online and Yongsan.

Ah, the sweetness and cleanliness that is Jeju, here I come!

If you want to know about Jeju, just ask me.

KPRROK

[daemyann]

I highly recommend Jeonju for everything you're looking for.

Close enough to Dajeon and Seoul if you want to visit, and far enough away that you don't feel like you're always in a traffic jam.

Really, consider it.

[Ilsanman]

I once spent a weekend in Jeonju. I was bored after 24 hours. If I lived there for a year, I could imagine myself hanging from the shower bar by my throat...

Oh wait. No shower bar. Or curtain.

[daemyann]

[chaq]

I lived in Daegu for 1 year in my 1st year in Korea. Although it's considered the 4th largest city in Korea, it's still a pretty small city.

It was good for making friends especially with locals and for learning the language. Things are generally cheaper (coffee, taxi, internet & TV, etc.)in Daegu than Seoul (I lived in Seoul in my 2nd year). The downtown area is where all the action takes place (bars & clubs, etc). Outside of the downtown area, there are some clubs & bars near the university (Kyungbook University)

One thing though is, that it gets bloody hot in the summer time. The city is surrounded by mountains and it gets ridiculously hot.

If you like travelling a lot, then you'll find the bus ride to Incheon International (4 hours) a bit inconvenient.

Being a big city boy, one year in Daegu was enough, so if you don't like the smog, pollution and traffic, Daegu might be good for you.

PM if you want more info.

-Chaq

[ajgeddes]

I noticed that both people in this thread that said they are sick of Seoul, both listed their location as Incheon. Maybe you are sick of Incheon, and should move to Seoul.

[PBRstreetgang21]

Actually Im definetly curious about Jeonju. All I know about is it in Jeollabuk-do and they came up with Bibimbap. But I am interested in hearing more. I have only been to Jeollanamdo but I just remember being in love with the locals there, and the food was amazing.

I mean, I really just want some place a lot cozier, more simple, with friendlier people and thats closer to nature. I dont really need foreigner amenieties. I have yet to find anything here that has failed to replace a need from back home. I mean, there is nothing I have yet to find Korea lacking in for me. Except, of course, how difficult it is to learn Korean when everyone just talks back to you in English.

I just want an escape to a place a little less rushed, less concerned with "the best" in every avenue of life, just a place where the sundae is good and no one rushes to finish their makkoli.

[JamesDavid4th]

I currently live in Daegu, in the Siji area. It's a good place to live if you want to feel more out of the big city, but have it just around the corner if you like. Like mentioned above, there is loads of nightlife downtown, with endless bars and clubs, catering to both western style and korean alike. The nightlife stays going all night around downtown, which is always fun now and again. There are many divions of Daegu surrounding the heart of the city, pretty much catering to whatever your looking for. The two criss-crosing subway lines and numerous bus route, as well as taxis, make it all a very accessable city.

It is also a really good central location for traveling to most anywhere else in Korea. Busan, Pohang, Go Je-Do are all worthwhile sea ports that can be reached by one hour travel. Seoul is less than 2 hours away by KTX, and you can head south very easily as well. Being that it is winter time, i've taken to skiing rather than the beach and there are numerous ski resorts that can be reached by spending 2 hours on a bus.

Some areas I would suggest checking out are Jisan, Siji, Beomo, and the Su-Song Gu Office areas. there are local expat communities in most all areas of Daegu, and most of them I have met are pretty cool.

All in all not a bad place to live at all.

[JamesDavid4th]

just saw ur last post regarding the makalli and wanted to add - it was cool yesterday some way-gooks and i played a soccer game against some middle school dudes. it was a good game, intense out on a muddy field. after the game, one of the korean kids took us all back to his house and his mother and her friends made us delicious home-made Sam Gae Tang. then his father took all us foreigners out for endless makalli and pajan for the rest of the afternoon. a big taste of culture, plus not a bad way to spend a sunday