Korean Job Discussion Forums

[westies121]

Hi,

I'm considering a 6 month teaching stint (tour of duty? ) in Chungnam and wondered how living there might be for an early twentysomething gay female. I just came out of the closet and I'm still struggling with some issues around my sexuality. I look completely straight, though. I'm quite feminine and the only gay tastes I have are really more stereotypically gay male tastes--cheesy techno music, interested in fashion, clothes, art, culture, etc.

Is it possible that I'll be placed in some small town with no gays? Or does Chungnam have a kind of gay network of sorts? How isolated will I be? I have no problems not being out to Koreans, though I will be out to Westerners (I just have to be).

Thoughts? Is this a terrible idea? Any gays struggling in Chungnam right now who want to share their stories?

[kyopoopa]

[soviet_man]

I can only speak myself as a fairly gay-ish male, that I personally would not live in the provinces.

If you stay in Seoul you have a greater chance to find relationships, a social network and friends.

[hellofaniceguy]

There are gay koreans in all of korean. Sure, a bigger city will have more than in the smaller cities, perhaps not as open if at all. Same as in other countries. But in a smaller city, word gets around quickly and then the hell starts.

[Gaber]

The gay guys I know tend to end up spending a couple of nights a week up the hill in Itaewon. You may come to wish you were somewhere a bit closer to the city.
More gay westerners and open minded locals in Seoul. I'm generalizing though, my experience in the provinces amounts to a couple of boozy weekends out of town.

[jiberish]

Don't tell your employer

[Ukon]

Lesbian = Seoul

[Sector7G]

[djsmnc]

It's always a bad idea to be gay

[Raganji]

OP, it sounds like you do not know where you will end up. If you are in a city area then I think you would probably be okay. Here in Cheonan there are at least a few gay people. Yes, the hill in Itaewon is a big weekend spot, but unless you want to go gay clubbing every night it's easy enough to get there depending on where you are.

If you are absolutely in some rural joint though I imagine it being a lot more difficult not just to meet gay people but to meet enough people where you can find people who you get along with well. I don't think the being outed thing is going to be a huge deal for you in particular according to your post.

So I would think that the answer to the question "Is it possible that I will end up in some little town with no (let's say out, meetable, or foreign) gays?" would be yes, I think it's possible. Then you're left to the internet or traveling. Depending on the other priorities in your life, those aren't necessarily terrible options. Replace "gays" in the above question with just about anything else and I think you're staring at the same issue. A province is a huge diverse place and it's always possible you will end up in some tiny town if that's all the info you get. Although depending on who the job is through, you may be able to request somewhere near a bigger city like Cheonan or Daejeon. Daejeon may not count as Chungnam but it may be possible to get somewhat near it. I'm not the one to ask about the Daejeon gay scene though.

[Sector7G]

[I-am-me]

It's time for you to go back in the closet.......or come over and I will cure your issues.

[Goon-Yang]

Being gay is always bad. There are no gays in Korea

[Gibberish]

Being gay in Korea is like being thirsty in the desert

[nourozi]

Being straight in korea is like being thirsty in the desert. You see an oasis but you cant drink the water.