Korean Job Discussion Forums

[caniff]

The wife and I are heading back to Korea after 4 years in Boston - we have a condo in Seoul and it's getting to be a drag paying for two places on opposite sides of the globe even though the mortgage in Seoul has been mostly taken care of. Anyway, it's a long story.

So, off-and-on, I had previously spent about 8 years in Korea. Is it exactly the same?

Just a question for those in "the know".

caniff

[Who's Your Daddy?]

4 years? Not much, more decent coffee shops I guess.

[itiswhatitis]

More tattoos and more teenagers are taking up smoking.

That's about it.

[World Traveler]

People are getting fatter. You will be shocked to see the difference.

Also, prices have gone up.

[EZE]

The hagwons are stealing a lot more money these days.

[World Traveler]

For real. Just this year (in 2013) I heard so many stories of people getting ripped off.

[saram_]

Think one of the biggest changes has been in the Itaewon, kyungiddan, haebanchon areas..
They are suddenly the places to be seen by young trendy Korean people. A lot of the older establishments are gone and replaced by hip and new little joints that are always busy. It's a world apart from what Itaewon used to be. It's a lot more expensive too- that whole area..

There are improvements for foreigners living here I think too..
Some new kinds of laws or services have improved things making living here as a foreigner ( especially married to a local) etc a little easier. I'd like to think attitudes towards foreigners have changed some too.

Korea is improving all the time in different ways. It's certainly still not anyway perfect but the wheels are definitely turning..

[cabeza]

[PigeonFart]

Dyed hair is much more prevalent than it used to be. It was a rarity even 4 years ago. Quite common to see a 'blonde' korean girl on the Seoul subway these days (or other colors too).

[PigeonFart]

Also, those "ask enquired" and "polham" t-shirts are hard to come by these days. 4 years ago every second person was wearing one (in Seoul anyway).

[Julius]

Big wine selection.
Public transport more expensive.
Department stores sell bedsheets.
The stares are less.
Foreigners are everywhere.
The general confidence in english-speaking is up.
The hello chorus is almost a thing of the past.
The awkwardness around foreign people is less.
The disgusting behavior by ajosshis over 45 = same as ever.
Cost of living is higher.
Work conditions are generally worse.

[Captain Corea]

[caniff]

Thanks, folks. I have some friends still there so I didn't expect a complete about-face or anything, but it's good to get a wider perspective.

[caniff]

[Chaucer]