Korean Job Discussion Forums

DomesticPelican · Joined: 25 Sep 2009

I don't really NEED to be in Seoul or Busan, but I definitely don't want to be in some remote village or anything like that. My hometown in the states is only about 10,000 people, but I definitely want to live in a bigger place in Korea (not necessarily as big as Seoul, though). I've read over some of the other threads on Daegu, and it seems to get mixed reviews. Then again, I guess basically every city has people who love it and some who hate it.

I got a pretty good offer from a school in Daegu, and I'm considering it.

I like to go out for a few drinks, but I'm definitely not a party animal or anything like that.

How far of a trip would it be to Seoul or Busan? I definitely intend to travel a bit while I'm there...

Any information on Daegu would be greatly appreciated.... Cool

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

Daegu is pretty big lol, third biggest city i think, a few million. There are plenty of drinking/eating places...its fine.
Busan is an hour away...seoul is quite far-3.5 hours by bus or expensive if you do it quick.

I would choose busan over daegu...however ive lived in Daegu for 3 years and have absolutely no problem with it. I can find everything i need easily, costco is handy as well, so if you have a good job offer go for it.

TBH it doesnt matter where you are, its your co-workers/circle of friends that make it for you.

gmarthews · Joined: 20 Sep 2005

Daegu is on the KTX line so it's pretty damn fast to either Seoul or Busan.

I like Daegu, it's got some good shopping, a subway, some foreign food places and I'd imagine it has a fair-sized EFL teaching community.

It also has a great cat cafe and a Dr Fish!

(I don't live there so I can't comment further really)

storysinger81 · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Location: Daegu

Agree with Chris, pretty much point for point.

I think Daegu's a great city to start in, especially if you've got a good job offer. The city is about 2.5 million, but feels smaller since there's really only one main downtown area and a few smaller hangout spots (near universities and such). It's easy living and you have convenient travel access all over Korea (especially some of the better historical sites, like Gyeongju--only an hour by bus, 30 minutes by car from some parts of the city).

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

Daegu is famous for apples, fashion and beautiful women.

If any of those interest you you'll love it. Maybe.

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

DomesticPelican · Joined: 25 Sep 2009

Thanks for the input.

I am not totally sure which area of Daegu, I am trying to find more out as we speak.

Someone said the travel is convenient, but it's 3.5 hours by bus to Seoul. Does anyone know how long it would take by that KTX or whatever it is?

I'm not very familiar with KTX, is it pretty expensive?

DomesticPelican · Joined: 25 Sep 2009

Also, I thought I read online that the KTX in Deagu won't be complete until the end of 2010?

furtakk · Joined: 02 Jun 2009

KTX is only about 1h40mins to Seoul, but it's a bit pricey at about 40K one way (or 27ish if you get a table with 3 friends). Busan is only about 11K though and only takes around an hour.

As others have said, Daegu is pretty nice. Enough variety to keep you entertained, but still small enough that it isn't super intimidating.

I don't agree with the Dalseo-Gu put down though. There are quite a few foreigners in this hood and there are plenty of eateries, bars, and the like. Sangin is especially quite nice. It has a pretty big Lotte, Homeplus, and plenty of bars. You may not see too many foreigners when you hang out in these areas, but most of the foreigner spots downtown are not really my thing anyhow.

storysinger81 · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Location: Daegu

Dalseo-gu's nice. I have a Starbucks and one of the nicest Italian restaurants in my neighborhood. Perhaps you meant the further out there Dal-seong-gu, which can hardly be said to be in the city at all. I really enjoyed my first year in Dong-gu; it was like a taste of Korean countryside living out there, but with only a 30-40 min subway ride downtown (I was 10 min from a subway station... there are parts of Dong-gu that are barely bus-accessible).

And every single person I've met who has lived or lives in Chilgok has nothing but nice things to say about it. You'll just have to learn the bus system. Which is not hard if you can read Korean and even without that, it seems like they're updating everything to also read in English letters.

KTX has been stopping at Dongdaegu station since I've lived here. I don't know what out of date website you're reading. Try Galbijim (started, I will also note, by a Daegu expat).

thecount · Joined: 10 Nov 2009

It's perfect, you'll have a blast!

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

DomesticPelican · Joined: 25 Sep 2009

Good to hear about the KTX.

I guess I actually just read it on Wiki. Here is the part that mentioned it not being done till 2010....

Construction of the second phase of the Gyeongbu Line, linking Daegu to Busan, started in June 2002, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.[6] The new section follows a different, more easterly route, with new stations planned for Gyeongju and Ulsan. A further improvement of the travel time to 2 hour and 10 minutes between Seoul and Busan is expected.[7]

Regardless, good to hear the KTX does exist in Daegu Very Happy

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

DomesticPelican · Joined: 25 Sep 2009

Ok, so apparently the area is Dalseo-gu.

I saw some of you said this isn't the best of areas in Daegu, while others said it isn't bad at all.

Should I be concerned about this area?

This is the area where I'd be...

http://local.daum.net/map/index.jsp?wx=846878&wy=647424&level=3&panoid=1263221&zoom=0&pan=118.1486720042684&tilt=-1.504014212218411&map_type=TYPE_SKYVIEW&map_hybrid=true&map_attribute=ROADVIEW&screenMode=normal[/url]