Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tumbleweed]

Just thought I'd consult the folks here about the city- a cursory board search has some people decrying it as a terrible hellhole, and others say it's a fairly quiet little town, and kinda pleasant to live in.

So, enlighten me!

[Bibbitybop]

I've only passed through it a few times on motorcycle trips down the west coast and talked to a few folks who live there. Here's my take on it.

There is a military base there, so a certain part of town will cater to them and other foreigners. Expect a military crowd to be the majority. It is a port town and industrial town, so expect small town Korea with unattractive beaches.

If the job pays the right amount, you can save money and aren't too far from some natural beauties of Korea, like Byeonsanbando, especially if you buy a car or motorcycle. Jeonju is a nearby (1 hour by bus?) decent city for rural Korea.

[Vox_Populi]

You have to be prepared for the fact that other than McDonalds and a few establishments next to the US Air Force Base, nearly 100% of the food there is Korean. Now, if you LOVE Korean food with all your heart and nothing would make you happier than to be surrounded by Korean food and ONLY Korean food, then Gunsan is the place for you.

Otherwise, Seoul is a much better choice.

[Bibbitybop]

[Underwaterbob]

The one time I visited, I was extremely unimpressed. That was a few years ago. I know people who lived there more recently and had the opposite impression. I guess the one thing we can say about Gunsan for sure is that it's divisive.

[eamo]

It's a gritty port city.......lots of "lady action" around the dock areas at night.

Good Korean restaurants when you're with someone with local knowledge.......but then, that's every Korean city.

Basically, it's a place that looks like it needs a lot of new investment and redevelopment. It still looks like the 1970's there.