Korean Job Discussion Forums

[susans70]

looking at accepting a contract that's in incheon, contract and school are great but a little concerned about the city as it sounds like it's one of the worst places to be located. any comments from anyone living in, or who has lived in incheon??

[crazylemongirl]

there's been a bit of stuff of incheon both positive and negative.

Incheon for dummies

Incheon -- good or bad

What's the deal on Incheon?

[VanIslander]

It's as far from Geoje as is possible in Korea, so I have no idea.

BUT, if it's your first time here, then you may want to weigh other factors heavily in making your decision (contract, reputation with past teachers from the academy, accommodations, etc).

You'll find you can focus on your work for the first couple of months before you'll need to venture beyond the typical Korean cuisine and entertainment.

[Real Reality]

As I understand, some parts of Incheon are very dirty. The air pollution can be very bad. Are you good at tolerating air pollution and smog?

[Bulsajo]

Definitely look at the posts CLG linked, but also bear in mind 2 things:

1. Incheon is pretty spread out, and has no real center- there are at least 3 distinct 'downtowns' (people living in Pupyong would probably disagree, but what the hell do they know? ). Like all large cities there are good parts and bad (think about all the different kinds of answers you would get if you asked: What's L.A./Toronto/Washington like?).

So, do you know which part of Incheon you're considering? (look for "gu" in the address).

2. Priorities: If you've never been to Korea before, job conditions are much more important that geographic location in determining the satisfaction of your experience (it's a freakin small country anyways, y'know?): I'd take a good job in Incheon (or even Bucheon!) over a crappy job in Seoul or Bundang any day of the week.

[Son Deureo!]

Incheon is not a bad place to be in Korea. In fact, now that I live in Seoul, I find I miss it quite a bit. You're still within easy reach of Seoul by bus and subway when you need it, things are cheaper than in Seoul, the expats are friendlier, Koreans less condescending than in Seoul, and you have access to the Yellow Sea Islands.

One thing you should be sure to find out though, is what subway station you will be living closest to, and how far you'll be from that.

The only thing it doesn't have that I want is Korean classes. If you have a good job, don't let the fact that it's in Incheon dissuade you.

[susans70]

it's located in Bupyeung, and from what i understand the school and accomodation are pretty close to one another
job looks good so i'm just trying to decide what's most important to me, my sanity and ensuring that i set myself up for the best experience - a job that's a little less than "perfect" (of course none is perfect) in a better location or a job that's good in a less than "perfect" location...
gotta make a decision soon

[inkoreaforgood]

Incheon is a nice place, pollution is better than Seoul. With the subway to Seoul running through Incheon, you can't go wrong!! We like it here.

[UnJef]

I lived in Bupyeong-gu, and I found the pollution to be much worse than it is in Seoul. There were mornings when I couldn't see down the street because of the smog, and I spent about two straight months with sinusitis.

[riverboy]

I have lived here for two years and I really enjy it. Yes, the pollution is bad, but I don't see it as worse than Seoul. Buypong is about the best location to be in as well. If the contract is right then go for it.

[captain kirk]

I lived in Kwangmyong and Bucheon, still in Seoul but toward Incheon.
Do you Incheoners, or ex-Incheoners, get out to Kangwondo Island and the other islands out there in the West/Yellow Sea for recreation? Never been out to those islands myself. Would be interested. Kangwondo is full of history, I've heard, since the Royal Court ducked out there leaving Seoul when the Mongols invaded. So I've heard