Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ocalmy]

I'm thinking of taking a job near Dangjeong Station (four stops south of Anyang on the 1 line). I'd like to live near Sindorim Station in Seoul. Commute time is about one hour and involves taking a village bus. I'm trying to decide if this will be too exhausting.

I know there are a lot of variables--individual tolerance, degree of crowdedness on subway lines, walking distance from stations, etc.

But in general how long are you willing to commute? How long is too long?

[Ginormousaurus]

You're right in that there are a lot of variables, so it is hard to pin down an exact cut-off point where any further time spend in transit is not worth it.

In general, I'd say that anything over 1 hour is too long, especially if your job is difficult and you feel worn out by the end of the day. That extra hour you have to spend just getting home would greatly reduce your ability to unwind after work.

How long will you have to wait for the village bus? Transfers can add a lot of time to the commute. Can you be reasonably assured of having a seat the whole way? Are you desperate for that job?

In the end only you can answer your question.

[Hokie21]

Personally for me? 45 mins absolutely tops and even that is pushing it. I'm not into adding 90-120 minutes of transit on top of an 8 hour work day.

[fezmond]

About 90 mins is the max for me on a single journey.

Will soon be doing an hour to the first job, hour to second and just over an hour home. Depends what you do on the journey I guess. I'd rather spend more time on a bus with a guaranteed seat than stand on the subway for a shorter time.

[littlelisa]

Normally I would say an hour. But Korea tends to have ridiculously stuffed public transportation during rush hours, which makes my tolerance for commute time go way down. To be fair, you will be going in the opposite direction of most rush hour traffic, so it might be okay, but still never more than an hour for me in uncrowded situations, or 30 minutes in crowded situations. Try out the commute on a weekday during the time you'd have to commute to work and see how you feel. Remember that you'll have to do it every day, too!

[schwa]

I love my commute, a 35-minute city bus ride, half of which runs directly alongside the beach, the other half amid farms with a nice mountain backdrop. Some usually have to stand but I always have a seat as I get on near the terminus at each end. Its like a meditational interlude twice a day.

Last week I had occasion to travel twice to a city an hour away. That would be over my comfort limit on a daily basis.

[cdninkorea]

The earlier point about how crowded public transit is in Korea is a valid one. I could sit on the subway for an hour if I had a nice home and a nice job that required that kind of commute, but it'd be much harder if I had to stand on a crowded train for that hour. Ultimately, as someone else said earlier, only you can decide how long is too long.

[Ocalmy]

Really great points to think about... @littelisa I hadn't considered that I'd be traveling in the opposite direction of rush hour traffic. Thanks for the insight. I'm also going to take you suggestion and try out the commute during a weekday to see how it feels.

@Ginormous Village bus wait time are also an important consideration.

Also, I agree that a longer bus ride with a guaranteed seat beats a shorter standing subway commute.


Thanks.

[jackson7]

[thegadfly]

Convenient access and a single vehicle with no transfers, and a reasonable expectation that you will be sitting the whole time? I could handle an hour each way.

Transfers or inconvenient access (long walk to or from the bus or subway stop) cuts it to 30 minutes for me. No seats also cuts it to 30 minutes.

Transfers, inconvenient access AND no seats? I'd find another way, such as possibly a bike or scooter if you don't want the hassle of a car.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Good question.

My commute in Busan was about 30 minutes by subway or 45 minutes by bus and I did not mind it. It was usually off rush hour so the crowds were not as dense. I enjoyed the time as I can relax, and read sometimes.

[Gaininganadventur]

60 to 90 minutes. Load up a good music device and jamm out on the public transport and enjoying the people watching.

[Yaya]

For me, I've done around an hour and 15 minutes, and to me, it depends how badly you like the job. If it's just a run-of-the-mill job, keep looking until you find a better offer.

Also a major factor is finding a seat on your commute. You can use that time to read or do work or something.

[transmogrifier]

51 minutes on the subway, another 15 minutes or so between subway and work/home. It's doable only because I use an iPad at work for Powerpoint in class, and so I get a lot of work done on the trip. If it was the same time in a car, screw that.

[Stan Rogers]