Korean Job Discussion Forums

dodgybarnet

I'm off to Korea soon so am stocking up on reading material. I was going to get the LP korea guide, but several reviewers on Amazon say its cack with loads of errors.

Whatcha think?

I'm not looking for an discussion over whether LP guides are a good idea / spawn of the devil - I've had that argument many a time before - Just as to whether its true that it's a bad guide (generally their developing country guides are wildly inaccurate whilst 1st world country guides are pretty good - hence my surprise).

If it is rubbish what would you suggest instead? (Thier next edition comes out on april 1st).

Thanks. DB

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

I didn't find it very good but what other publication publishes a South Korea guide?

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

http://www.lifeinkorea.com/

it is not a book but a site as you can see.. it recommends over 30 books for sth korea

it does have about 500 times more info than the lonely planet site.

it has a chat, tour guide, thousands of photos, transport guide... and about 400 other pages...

do yourself a favor and check it out

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

LP is useful, and if you'll be in Seoul get the Seoul guide as well, but nothing beats being here on the ground and learning as you go.

This board is probably a more useful resource than any book out there, though, especially if you're going to be teaching English here.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Its close enough to accurate for my own tastes. I just like having a reference handy.. but if you are looking for a bible.. you'd never find an LP for any country to be rock-solid to perfection.

I just use it for general ideas and the maps.. get a sense for the price ranges of hostels.. where I might want to stay in that town based on the maps.. find a few bars, where they are, and what region of the town I might want to stay in, etc. So they've always satisfied that rather basic need for me.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:28 am Post subject:

The Lonely Planet guide says very little about the second largest island in Korea known as "The Island of Fantasy" and considered by some foreigners as better than overhyped Jeju (I'll have to compare later this year).

What little the guide has on Geoje Island is confusing because it calls the largest community Gohyeon, and later Geoje (which does reflect a duality in common usage). But technically the whole island is a single municipality so it's best to call the largest community by the term that's used by locals to differentiate Gohyeon from other smaller port communities of Okpo and Jangsenpo.

One thing the guide has in it's favour, in my estimation, is its claim that: "Geoje may have the most scenic coastal road in all of Asia." Cool

Believe it. On a sunny day it's breathtaking on the main road, more so if you take some dirt back roads that the locals all know about.

There's too many absences concerning Geoje to list here right now. Anybody can PM me when they plan on coming here. The Internet I've found to be a better source regarding many of the local sights and activities.

I, like all the posters so far, think LP is helpful but don't rely on it alone. Consider it a starting place. Double check with locals and other expats as you go.

(I do like the Korean symbols though; you can just point and a taxi driver will know where you want to go.)

Good luck.

tokki · Joined: 26 Jul 2003

batman · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:12 am Post subject:

I would skip on the Lonley Planet for Korea.
Although I keep a copy in my bathroom for toilet reading I find that it is pretty skimpy for detail.
When I first came to Korea I had a copy of Moon Handboook.
It was much better (albeit more expensive) than Lonley Planet.
It has kept me occupied for the last four years in Korea.

dodgybarnet · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:23 am Post subject:

I've been to a lot of countries round the world and found LP usefull, but mainly because I've turned up not knowing much about a country and need basic info quickly (where hostels are and the basic geography of the country). Having a guide book sure is usefull for my style of travel, and LP is suited to my price range: cheap.

This time though I've done a tonne of research so I don't that I need its help. Thanks for the advice though!
DB

JackSarang · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

tokki · Joined: 26 Jul 2003

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

desultude · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:07 am Post subject:

I would certainly wait and check out the April 1st new edition. South Korea changes quickly, and the old edition does feel dated and short on details.

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:20 am Post subject:

Guys, Okpo is a great little port community.

And it sounds like Tokki didn't see much else of the island on his trip here.

It's like judging Hawaii by a nightlife neighbourhood in Honolulu.

I agree Namhae is a wonderful island,and I've raved about it on this site. But it's more of a Norweigan type of beauty.

Did you know there's a waterfall nearly right into the ocean at a Geoje beach? (old spelling: Koje). You can actually stand under it on a hot summer's day for reprieve, then dive into the ocean and swirl around where fresh meets salt water. Wonderful.

Have you ever visited the Buddhist temple at the base of the tallest mountain and hiked alongside the creek to the top?

Have you ever visited the 750+ tree species on Waedo (Oedo) or ferried around the southern side?

If not, please don't talk like a know-it-all because you spent a weekend in a bar district of one small community, or even six months holed up in a town.

It's a big island, and while I've been here since 2002, it'll be until well into 2005 before I've seen all the wonders I hear about. And I haven't been disappointed yet.

Go with someone who knows.

Maybe I should offer guided tours.