Korean Job Discussion Forums

[slinks]

So what is the situation when it comes to gyms in rural areas?

I'm mainly interesting in applying for public school city positions but I'll probably have to look at rural placements also - mainly because I'm afraid I might not get a position (Asian-Australian and male).

So yeah, the gym is pretty important to me, specifically weight training gyms (I need to get in shape!).

Any responses from anyone teaching/living in the rural areas or know what the gym situation is like would be most appreciated.

[cdninkorea]

You're going to have difficulty. Even in Seoul, it's incredibly rare to find a gym that has dumbbells over 20 kg or a power/squat rack (Smith machines are the closest alternative). Some gyms don't even have Olympic bars- just skinny, short barbells. Even rarer are things like Concept II rowing machines. In the countryside? I can only imagine.

What you can do is go to the mountains. Seriously, they have pullup and dip bars everywhere in this country. If I were you, I'd do pullups, dips, find a secluded area to do hill sprints, get a jump rope, etc. It's not as good as a gym, but I don't think any gym you'll find will be worth the money.

[andrewchon]

I am (was I suppose) at rural location. Apartment opposite to me had a gym/life style club. Gyms are everywhere, if you know where to look.

[boomhauer]

Im currently in a small town and the gym I go to doesn't really have much. Not much in the way of weights and the equipment is kind of old.

Its decent enough for me, but I'm only a casual gym user. For someone who was really serious about weight training it'd probably be disappointing.

I don't know if this is typical of gyms in small towns or if its just mine.

[slinks]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I don't really need much. Just free weights, a bench and squat rack.
I figured that if these towns don't have the equipment I need. I'll just order it from gmarket.

I'm starting to like the idea of a small rural town. Less opportunities to drink and just focus on teaching, training and breathing in fresh mountain air whilst using the free pull up and dip bars.

[dairyairy]

Sometimes your school will have a gym, especially a high school. We're not talking about much except maybe some weights and a couple of treadmills in a basement somewhere around the school grounds.

[TheUrbanMyth]

I live in a small rural town of (according to my co-teachers) 3000 people.

My gym has three benches and one squat rack plus assorted machines and treadmills. DB's run up to 60 LB....but most are loose.

The last three schools I taught at have all been rural and the gyms there are basically how I described above more or less. Your mileage may vary however as I'm not saying they are representative of all rural gyms in Korea.