Korean Job Discussion Forums

[amac123]

I might be coming to Paju. I'm interviewing for a position there. I think I'm going to take it if I pass the interview. I've been told by tons of people in Korea to not worry about the tensions going on. For the most part, I'm not. There is a litttttle birdie in the back of my mind telling me to just make sure, though. I would like some reassurance from someone who actually lives there. Just to make things in my head a little more peaceful before I get on the plane. I know it's probably me just being paranoid because I've never been there. I understand that this kind of stuff has been going on for decades. Does anyone have any real experience there?

Also, aside from that can you tell me what you like about working there, etc? How are the schools? How is the area?

[fionnjameson]

I'm sorry. What tension?

It's kind of amazing, though, the way everyone can live so casually being next to such a crazy, hopped up country. I remember when N. Korea nuked one of S. Korea's ships, my BF (now hubby) and I were sitting in one of those spicy noodle/bulgogi places, and no one seemed to care. I can ask people around me how nervous they are about N Korea, but I think the general concensus is "All bark, no bite, also pretty pathetic" as far as N. Korea is concerned.

So. Yeah. I'd say you'll be all right. I don't live in PAJU but I have friends who do, and they're so used to everything, it's kind of worrying actually...

[amac123]

Thanks

[Times30]

Yeah when I was in Korea my parents would email me like every 6 months about some N. Korea scare.

Never ever noticed anything different. Didn't even see it on Korean news.

A lot of it is media hype...

Korea is safe, especially on a community scale. No guns, not as much stealing, etc.

Kids walk the streets at like 11 pm lol

[T-J]

It's akin to living in Southern California. We get our tremblers in varying degrees from time to time and "The Big One" could hit at any time, or not. People prepare for it to varying degrees, but for the most part people just carry on.

[Scorpion]

OP, I lived in Paju before. It's no problem. Although the Western media builds up the North Korean scare most foreigners in Korea just ignore it. I lived in Paju back when N. Korea detonated its first nuclear bomb. I simply yawned and turned to the sports section of the newspaper. This nonsense has been going on for sixty years without a major incident. I doubt its going to all blow up just after you arive in Paju. It's fine. The DMZ is more of a curiousity for most of us than an imminent threat. If you ask me the new 'strong man' in North Korea is more interested in playing computer games and playing with his friends than launching a nuclear conflagration.

You'll be fine.

There's also hundreds of Western English teachers in that area. So you won't be up there all by yourself, and it's just an hour and a bit outside of Seoul. After you've been here a while you'll laugh at yourself for being so worried....Now crossing a road, even on the crosswalk with a green light, that's where the real danger lurks. Beware of that.

[amac123]

This all makes me feel so much better. I figured as such. Sometimes my imagination runs away with me, and I start psyching myself out. I think I am destined to work with kids because I still am one.