Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lost]

Which Ex-pat magazine do you enjoy the most and why?

Groove?
10?
PR?
Eloquence?

Am I missing any?

[Arthur Dent]

I voted for 10.

Groove does have some good information on music happenings.

Eloquence seems to be trying for a high art scene.

10 is focusing on letting its readers know what is happening around Seoul and Korea - and what expats can discover if they make an effort. This is the reason I voted for it. I think its strategy is the most practical and useful for the expat, as well as most valuable culturally.

Perhaps not fair to judge Groove alongside the others. It specializes in music in what is a relatively small scene. But it does let people know what is happening in an otherwise near-blackout of information for English speakers who would have to depend on word of mouth were it not for Groove. Kudos for that.

One of the problems with all of the magazines is that (as far as I know) they do not pay their writers. They only offer coupons and such. Often good coupons to shows or restaurants which might otherwise be out of budget for the hagwon salary man paying off a student loan, but not real pay. However this is probably because there is such a small market for English language (local) magazines. Even a large city like Seoul can only provide so much advertising revenue.

There is also the difficulty that, though most English speakers here like to read and want to know what is going on - what to to do, where to go, etc. - they don't always want to pay for it. Other expenses often hold priority.
There is also the constant turnover of English speakers, as if there weren't enough challenges. Difficult to build up a following.

In addition, few professional English writers have chosen or are able to make a career out of writing here in Seoul, and maybe Korea in general. The newspaper writers are the exception of course. Overcoming the challenges of writing about a country where English is not widely spoken means an investment in time to learn the language and the culture. This takes years.

With the competition of bloggers and other net based information sites, this can narrow the market to such a degree that with the limited audience it makes it a pretty difficult place to make a living as a writer. One has to sing as well as dance, and then have a full time job on the side.

Given all of this, we are probably lucky to have all three, and that there are people keen enough to put the effort in to writing and photographing for what amounts to peanuts. Not to mention all the other work that goes into making the look of the magazines. Some very good work here, whether or not you like the style. The result - I'm generalizing here - is often quirky and uneven for some issues, just as they can be interesting and informative for others.

Magazines can help to build a city's image, both in terms of creating community and attracting investment by showing just how much is happening. In the time I have lived here, there seems to have been substantial progress in presentation and content. I hope it continues.

Good idea for a post, Lost.

[tfunk]

[Arthur Dent]

tfunk wrote:

[Lost]

I enjoy reading them all.......but refuse to pay for any of them. Same goes for the Korea Times and Herald. I can find most of the info on the web these days........so why would I want to pay for any of these. Personally I think a lot of the writing is a simple summary of the Korean tourist websites/ blogs .......or......... it sounds like they are kissing the asses of their advertisers by writing overly generous/ bias reviews etc. It's not often that you find any new/ interesting material these days. Seems like they all copy/ imitate one another. One month, one has a idea/ promotion......next month another mag has a similar regurgitated version. In regards to the tourists......most the major airlines and hotels all ready have their own publications targeting the tourists. Either way.......I do enjoy reading an issue over a kebab or taco etc......or on the head. haha

[Lost]

Maybe no one reads any of them