Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AdamH]

I've been offered a position in Gunsan - as usual, most web-based info is little more than dry tourist-board propaganda. Anyone with REAL experiences of the place?

Cheers!

[captain kirk]

I've been there and remember a story on the board related by someone in trouble at a bad school.
I wouldn't want to live there. It's not a big city, rural and a bit rough because it's a small port, fishing. The people are conservative and not exposed to foreigners so their distorted thinking regarding foreigners, stereotypes, might make you lonely, frustrated. I doubt they would welcome a foreign man and Korean woman together, that kind of thing. I lived for two years in a village of 3,000 people so have some experience of life in the out-regions. It's like living under a pall, an overcast. You can feel their categorizing, assumptions, generalizations. Not enough experience to go on to let go and let the person step out of a box. The box their thinking puts you in. Restrictive, a burden, tiring.
Going to Pusan/Seoul is like becoming human again, recognized as someone it's possible to relate with, not just 'cage'. Especially a Starbuck in those places, full of beckoning women.
The story on the board related by a guy in trouble at a school there. He was a little fat, and his boss was a military hardass type. One day he had set up his ramyon cup with hot water to sit for forty minutes. While he was in class teaching. Because he liked the noodles to get all fat and succulent. His boss started tearing into him about not eating now, he didn't have the time with class coming up. They had a man-to-man shouting standoff. He later heard that this stemmed from some parents having seen him in a McDonalds. Not a crime. But the parents associated this with 'gluttony'. The director told him that the parents didn't want their child taught by a 'fat' teacher. Because this fatness indicated a lack of discipline on the teacher's part. This foreign teacher left Korea, dismissed, totally irate. Because they sent him away early, quickly getting a replacement.
I know that's only one school and situation, and such craziness could happen anywhere in Korea, any school. But in an out of the way city it's more likely distored views and stereotypes lie untouched, unchallenged. Like cobwebs.
It's a long way from Seoul and Pusan. And a long way from Kwangju.
You can do better. It all depends on the management. If you're here go visit. If not I wouldn't take the chance, personally.
There's a U.S. air base nearby.

[andrew]

*****

[rapier]

I spent 3 days in Gunsan on an environmental trip. Also took the ferry out from there to a small island 70km offshore.
Seems like a fairly dull seaside town. The locals appear less used to foreigners than seoul.
No way I would work there though. Its all about Seoul with me...

[ajuma]

Gunsan/Kunsan is THE MOST BORING city I've every lived in. Travel between Gunsan and elsewhere is difficult. I taught there for 6 months and it seemed like 6 years!

I asked my students (who were great, btw) "What is the most interesting or exciting thing to do in Gunsan". By far, the most popular response was "go to E-mart!"

Choose somewhere else! ANYWHERE else!!!

[margaret]

I took a short trip there from Jeonju and found the people kind and thought it a pleasant place, but then, I like small Korean places and don't like big cities or Starbucks. I guess it depends on your preferences.
Margaret

[Yangkho]

Hey, what's the name of that island 70km from Gunsan again? It's real famous.

The classic Korean movie, ����� (English title, The School Trip) takes place there.

Oh, what's the name of the place?

[rapier]