Korean Job Discussion Forums

[emclaine66]

I have lived in Korea before (Anyang, Incheon and Jecheon) and found that I enjoyed the small town life much more than the chaos of bigger cities. I really hate pushy crowds and would rather have the ability to go into Seoul when I need fun, rather than escape Seoul when I feel like I am going nuts.

Does anyone out there live in a particularly cool little town that they would recommend? Reasons?

[Dr. Whom]

It is funny that you mentioned Jecheon. My wife comes from there. I
used to accompany her there to visit her high school friends when we
were dating. Then I would only go with her if I could get whacked on
booze and Xanax beforehand. Then, after we got married, I just refused
to go.

I thought that Jecheon, like all towns outside of Seoul, was utter rubbish.
It had absolutely nothing an upwardly mobile, intelligent, fun loving
person would want.

Shopping: Crap
Nightlife: Crap
Clubs: None
Organizations: Zero
Convenience: Minimal
People: Slack-Jawed and gawking
Jobs: The worst
Restaurants: You're kidding right?

As for going into Seoul. Do you like leaving at around 10:00PM when
the partying is just beginning to go back to unknown, equatorial South
Korea?

But, I think I'm being too negative here. It is all subjective. If you like
these places then that is probably good. At least getting some sort of
job might be easier. And if you like hiking, I suppose.

Also if you are a chick you will be more accepted. (because all the Korean
chicks have fled) If you are a dude, the locals will despise you for even
looking at any remaing K-Girls.

[sara210]

I too live in Jecheon now, so maybe i can give a more balanced view on living in a small town than someone who has only visited.

ADVANTAGES

Walking 3 minutes to school.
Being able to get most places in Korea easily because of the central location.
Practising my Korean...i find in Seoul most people speak English with you. In Jecheon this isn't an option.
Not having to battle 3000 people everywhere i go, especially downtown shopping.
Not having to use a subway daily, it takes about 15 minutes to get across town.
If i want some fresh air i can be at a hiking trail in 10 minutes.
My job is so good, i'm so well looked after and i'm paid more for living in the country.
Free Taekwondo, free horse riding because you are foreign. In fact there's so many things you get given or things you get shown because you are a novelty in town.
Korean food, there are always new resturants to try, and without the temptations of all things Western, this also means i do not spend a fortune trying to pretend i live in America only eating American food.
The biggest advantage is the community. Its such a tight knit community that there's always something going on, and everyone is always involved that its almost impossible to be lonely. It doesn't matter if we don't have a spangly ass nightclub because we have a wicked bunch of people to hang out with.
Waking up everyday to clear air and sometimes blue skies!
And every now and then yes we do hit up Seoul and eat lots of Western food, go dancing in Western clubs and pretend we left Korea for a weekend. But i am always glad to get back to my quiet little town! Where no one is shoving me on or off a subway or elbowing me in the crowds as i walk down the street.

DISADVANTAGES
No climbing wall, i am climber and i seriously miss the fact that there is no climbing wall.
Lack of dating opportunities. There's hardly a wealth of potential suitors in such a small town. But since i have managed to find a partner clearly demonstrates it is not impossible.
I guess some people would really point to the lack of Western facilities, but i didn't come to Korea to only experience the West so thats not something that fusses me.
[/list]

[sara210]

I too live in Jecheon now, so maybe i can give a more balanced view on living in a small town than someone who has only visited.

ADVANTAGES

Walking 3 minutes to school.
Being able to get most places in Korea easily because of the central location.
Practising my Korean...i find in Seoul most people speak English with you. In Jecheon this isn't an option.
Not having to battle 3000 people everywhere i go, especially downtown shopping.
Not having to use a subway daily, it takes about 15 minutes to get across town.
If i want some fresh air i can be at a hiking trail in 10 minutes.
My job is so good, i'm so well looked after and i'm paid more for living in the country.
Free Taekwondo, free horse riding because you are foreign. In fact there's so many things you get given or things you get shown because you are a novelty in town.
Korean food, there are always new resturants to try, and without the temptations of all things Western, this also means i do not spend a fortune trying to pretend i live in America only eating American food.
The biggest advantage is the community. Its such a tight knit community that there's always something going on, and everyone is always involved that its almost impossible to be lonely. It doesn't matter if we don't have a spangly ass nightclub because we have a wicked bunch of people to hang out with.
Waking up everyday to clear air and sometimes blue skies!
And every now and then yes we do hit up Seoul and eat lots of Western food, go dancing in Western clubs and pretend we left Korea for a weekend. But i am always glad to get back to my quiet little town! Where no one is shoving me on or off a subway or elbowing me in the crowds as i walk down the street.

DISADVANTAGES
No climbing wall, i am climber and i seriously miss the fact that there is no climbing wall.
Lack of dating opportunities. There's hardly a wealth of potential suitors in such a small town. But since i have managed to find a partner clearly demonstrates it is not impossible.
I guess some people would really point to the lack of Western facilities, but i didn't come to Korea to only experience the West so thats not something that fusses me.

[tomato]

Of the towns in Korea where I've lived, 홍성 is the only one where I felt as if I was locally famous.
Since my real name is Thomas, which Koreanizes to 토마스, which sounds like 토마토, that is what my students called me to tease me.
Nearly every time I went out in the street, children I didn't even know called me 토마토.

The only reason I left was because I couldn't get along with the director.

장호원 is in 경기도 and is an hour-and-a-half from 서울.
It is listed as having a population of 17,000, but it seems much smaller.
At the school where I worked, you could see Main Street from the front window and rice fields from the rear window.
The community has a lot of spirit for such a small town.
There are community events going on all the time.
Their biggest event is their annual Peach Festival, since they are famous for their peaches.
What? You've never heard of peaches from 장호원?

The only reason I left was because I couldn't get along with the director.

[Smee]

I personally don't consider Suncheon a small town---270,000 people---but since most people think everything except Seoul and Busan is "rural," I guess on this board it is. But Suncheon is an excellent place to live and work, has a nice mix of rural and urban, has all the amenities you'd want and need, without that stale feeling you get when places---like Bundang---try too hard to be "western." A good Korean experience, and plenty of opportunities to meet Koreans and speak Korean, without giving up a strong expat social network. Besides, Korea's a small country: you're never too far from anywhere, and you can easily spend a weekend in Seoul if you feel like it.

Suncheon's scenic, has a lot of tourist spots on and off the beaten path, and especially beautiful this time of year:
http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/04/dont-forget-cherry-blossoms-in-suncheon.html

[air76]

Out of all the places we've lived in Korea, Mokpo was our favorite. It's similar to Suncheon, but I think it's nicer because there is the old town and new town and a nice waterfront area.

[tokkibunni8]

I, too, like living out in the boonies... and I will never trade it for a city more than 50,000 pple Big cities are a no, no for me now. I have gotten over the drinking/clubbing scenes 4 yrs ago when I walked away from college

[bwiiian]

I live in Samcheok and it is great. Best beaches in Korea!

[thrylos]

Chuncheon

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=179122&highlight=

[VanIslander]

[Sector7G]

[jvalmer]

[Sector7G]

[mishlert]

Daegu is great!