Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hanson]

I've been noticing a lot of anti-Korea posts recently (ok, more than usual, anyway), and it got me thinking about how bad it really is here. I was wondering what places would be worse to live in than Korea. Here's what I came up with:

All of the Middle East. Even though part of me wouldn't mind checking out Kuwait or UAE, I can just imagine a lot of problems living there (especially in this political climate). Not to mention the other Arab countries...

China. Although the culture and land would be incredible as a tourist, I don't think I could cut it there as an expat. I've heard the horror stories from people who tried it, and they sound a lot worse than Korea.

Taiwan & Japan. Both sound similar in many respects to Korea. What originally brought me to Korea was the free airfare and housing. Japan seems awfully expensive and Taiwan, I'll reserve comment cuz I just don't know enough about it. Worse than Korea? I don't know.

South-East Asia. Ok, here, I'm definitely of two minds. I would absolutely love to work and live there, but financially, it just isn't even comparable to Korea. The lifestyle would be bliss though!

The Western World (Canada, US, Aussie, NZ, England, France (I speak French), Spain, etc... As far as Europe goes, I think it would just be too expensive (very generally speaking). Portugal comes to mind as a country that wouldn't be too expensive, but I don't have a EU passport, so I don't think I'd even stand a chance vs. those that do... North America? How do you spell taxes? I used to pay something stupid like 40-45% taxes (including GST, PST - which are taxes on taxes, by the way). Sure, the benefits are great, but I don't want benefits at my age, I want income. Of course the lifestyle would suit me just fine - and that's why I will return to the west eventually...

South America, Africa, Antarctica, Iceland, and all other places not mentioned. Well, as a traveller/tourist, these places interest me, but I couldn't see myself earning a decent living there...

Any thoughts?

PS: Bear in mind this is coming from someone who has just started a family.

[andrew]

.....

[bigverne]

[Tiger Beer]

Its common to complain about Korea - particularly people who don't have any reference points to anything except their home country.

But yeah, to people who go other places.. we get a different perspective. I like Korea.. I would say there are definetely other places I'd rather be.. but I choose again and again to be in Korea because the plusses outweigh the negatives just enough comparitively (at least for now), that I continue to be here.

Plus in all honestly, there are few if any places I've ever been where I haven't heard people complain about something or another. Just for a test, you can say "I'm thinking of moving to ____" and watch negative responses creep up quickly (well at least from people who've been there)!

[Hanson]

[the_beaver]

Well, Canada sucks ass.

Unless you're really old, really sick, or one of those fucking tree huggers.

[rapier]

i've been to a few countries, and as tigerb says; nobody is happy anywhere.
They all want to move somewhere else, see another country as better. Most often its USA, paradise on earth.

There are some people who are perfectly happy where they are, but they're always the ones who have never been anywhere else. I mean going to the next town, would be an adventure for them.

Although I come across as a real whiner on koreas back, its not that bad. Plenty of plusses to being here so long as you learn how to handle the minuses.

[RachaelRoo]

[bigverne]

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Compared to Alabama, South Korea is like bloody heaven for me. Have not found much to complain about.

[jlb]

Beaver...what's so bad about Canada? I'm living in Vancouver now and definitely liking it! After I get the travel bug out of my system, I could picture living the rest of my life here.

[zappadelta]

[joe_doufu]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[the_beaver]