Korean Job Discussion Forums

[james_baldrey]

So i am contemplating a job in Gwangju, and everything about the hours salary and conditions seems great which is the most important thing i guess for any job. I read the lonely planet on Gwangju, and there is only a little bit of info there. I am guessing the amount of things to do in Gwangju is nothing like Seoul or Bangkok where i previously worked, but i would just like to know what it will be like roughly, and if anyone could give any information on these points?

1) Is there a search tool on Daves to scan the post s for anything about Gwangju?
2)Are there any teachers sites about life there?
3)Is there much English spoken there?
4)Whats the nightlife like?
4) Will i get stared at!!?? Not a deciding factor!!
5) Any chance of meeting any foreign teachers?
6)Any chance of finding a Korean girlfriend?

Many thanks! Great site guys!

[rawiri]

[quote="james_baldrey"]

1) Is there a search tool on Daves to scan the post s for anything about Gwangju


Yeah...look up the screen a tad and you will see a little magnifying glass with the words "Search"...ummm....your coming to teach english right?




2)Are there any teachers sites about life there?



Not that iv'e come across


3)Is there much English spoken there?


Yes...but only by those that can...i mean how long is a piece of string?



4)Whats the nightlife like?



Dark!...There's 3 foreign bars and a host of soju rooms noraebangs nightclubs...whatever you want you will probably find...i'm told there's even a gay bar (i never went myself....really)

4) Will i get stared at!!?? Not a deciding factor!!


Yes....yes you will...and like all of us you will learn to absolutley love it as there only staring at you because of your uncanny resemblance to Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise/Sasquatch



5) Any chance of meeting any foreign teachers?


depends on you...are you able to meet people easily?...do you play any sports?...theres a soccer team down there that is only too happy to take on any new players regardless of skill level...do you like the odd tipple?...bars are a pretty good way to meet likie minded people over here...just go to mad season or seoul train with an open mind and a ready smile.



6)Any chance of finding a Korean girlfriend?


Depends....are you a raging Metrosexual...if so then i would say there is every chance...don't come here thinking hotties are going to be fawning all over you...unless you have some game i guess...could you score in your home country...if so then sure...there's every chance you'll do fine over here.

Many thanks! Great site guys![/quote]

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

rawiri, I saw you mentioned three foreign bars in Gwangju. I've been to Soul Train and Mad Season a couple of times. Just out of curiosity, what's the other foreigner bar in Gwangju? As I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been there yet and wouldn't mind checking it out sometime.

Cheers

[Pligganease]

Bars frequented by foreigners in Gwangju:

1. Mad Season
2. Soul Train
3. Juliard
4. Shooter

I like Gwangju, but you will get stares. Most poeple, and I mean 99.9%, DO NOT speak English, but I have no problems getting around. You will meet every foreigner here, because there aren't that many of us and everyone hangs out at the same bars. Hope this helps...

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

Cheers, Pligganease. I'll have to check the other two out.

james, Gwangju's a nice city, not too big, not too small. The stares will take a while to get used to but aren't too bad. The people are quite friendly compared to bigger cities like Seoul I've found and you'll often be the center of attention of curiosity, mostly in a good way. Many people will be interested in you and ask questions though, as previously mentioned the level of English is quite low.

You've got a good chance of meeting a Korean girl if you just be yourself and don't try to hard or act fake. Many girls will be interested in talking to you but, largely due to cultural factors and shyness, it's rare for a girl to come out of the blue and start chatting with you if she doesn't know you or hasn't met you before. You've normally got to approach them and start chatting. Though, bear in mind, many Korean girls are quite conservative so you've got to be a bit more careful than in the West. Korean guys are a lot more comfortable about chatting with foreign guys, a lot of guys are genuine though you'll get some who aren't though they're normally pretty easy to spot and avoid.

[katydid]

Gwangju was all right.

Is that craphole The Blue Monkey still around?

[On the other hand]

[discostar23]

Spent the last year there and partied like a rock star.

Blue monkey long gone

Soul train busy on friday and saturday

julliards...sometimes busy some times not

Mad S(l)eason- You will hate this bar at first but then learn to love it. I ended up being good friends with the owner (Sun-ee) If you like to drink then this is your place.

The gay bar is called Speed. Its a kareoke bar and can be tonnes of fun but mostly for gay people.

In chumdan (suburb of gwangju) there is a foreigner bar called Billboard. They usually get together on Wednesday nights. good crowd of people very friendly.

Love gwangju

Disco

[james_baldrey]

Thats great info about the nighlife, but does anyone know what else there is to do for a newbie to Korea in Gwangju? I.E Language courses, movies, trips shopping or how to get involved with football and any local or foreign clubs etc?