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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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 Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: Living in Seoul VS. Living In The Rest Of Korea |
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| For those of you that have lived in both Seoul and the smaller Korean cities, which do you prefer and why? For example, who was friendlier to you, the people in Seoul or the other place you had lived? Did you like the special attention you got in smaller cities or was it just a bother most of the time? |
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Khyron
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 8:08 am Post subject: Re: Living in Seoul VS. Living In The Rest Of Korea |
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| Dev wrote: |
| For those of you that have lived in both Seoul and the smaller Korean cities, which do you prefer and why? For example, who was friendlier to you, the people in Seoul or the other place you had lived? Did you like the special attention you got in smaller cities or was it just a bother most of the time? |
You lost me at 'special attention'. They're really friendly everywhere. |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Living in Seoul VS. Living In The Rest Of Korea |
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| Khyron wrote: |
| Dev wrote: |
| For those of you that have lived in both Seoul and the smaller Korean cities, which do you prefer and why? For example, who was friendlier to you, the people in Seoul or the other place you had lived? Did you like the special attention you got in smaller cities or was it just a bother most of the time? |
You lost me at 'special attention'. They're really friendly everywhere. |
Do you know Korea at all? You're posting says you're in Japan. Over here, if you're in places other than Seoul, you get stared at like you are some weird space alien. Only kids between 6~15 will dare to communicate with you. Younger kids will start crying if you return the stare. Adults, especially men, give you a look of shock like a deer in the headlights. You'll get rude treatment like people talking about you loudly in Korean thinking that you don't understand that they're talking about you (or they don't care that you may understand). At other times, people will be extra nice to you by offering you a piece of gum or whatever they're snacking on.
In Seoul, I get NONE OF THIS. Ahhh! What a refreshing thing it is to be regarded as just another person.  |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| I prefer Seoul. Cultural activies, people, the vibe. I feel best in this big monster of a city. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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I've lived in Seoul, Daejon, Jinhae and this little burg of 7,000. I can't tell any difference between the people anywhere. The level of friendliness seems the same to me. I also don't feel I get stared at anymore here than anywhere else. It was much more prevalent 10 years ago.
The advantages of Seoul are a) the number of foreign restaurants and variety of food and b) book stores. The disadvantages are crowds everywhere, traffic and bad air.
I've found things to enjoy in each place, but I do think this little town is just a little bit too much Korea for my taste. I can't recommend the small towns, but choosing between small cities, large cities and giant cities should depend on what you are looking for and need for a decent life-style. |
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kalbi
Joined: 27 May 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject: hmm |
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The people seem a lot friendlier in the smaller cities than in Seoul.. .... however, there is sooo much more to do.... and many more opportunities to meet other westerners in Seoul... so, chances are you will be doing more in Seoul and will have more western friends.. hence the friendliness of the people will become less of a factor than it is ina smaller town.
HOWEVER, and you are hoping to make a lot of Korean friends, I think that would be easier in a smaller town. |
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Khyron
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 6:48 am Post subject: Re: Living in Seoul VS. Living In The Rest Of Korea |
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| Dev wrote: |
| Khyron wrote: |
| Dev wrote: |
| For those of you that have lived in both Seoul and the smaller Korean cities, which do you prefer and why? For example, who was friendlier to you, the people in Seoul or the other place you had lived? Did you like the special attention you got in smaller cities or was it just a bother most of the time? |
You lost me at 'special attention'. They're really friendly everywhere. |
Do you know Korea at all? You're posting says you're in Japan. Over here, if you're in places other than Seoul, you get stared at like you are some weird space alien. Only kids between 6~15 will dare to communicate with you. Younger kids will start crying if you return the stare. Adults, especially men, give you a look of shock like a deer in the headlights. You'll get rude treatment like people talking about you loudly in Korean thinking that you don't understand that they're talking about you (or they don't care that you may understand). At other times, people will be extra nice to you by offering you a piece of gum or whatever they're snacking on.
In Seoul, I get NONE OF THIS. Ahhh! What a refreshing thing it is to be regarded as just another person. |
I just recently moved to Japan, from Korea, thank you. I lived in a smaller city and I wasn't stared at anymore than in other parts of the country. I had tons of ajosshis wanted to go for wonshots with me, and a lot of ajummas treating me great. The only bad treatment I got was by my director at my first hagwon job. I've also spend plenty of time in Seoul, and was treated very well by most. As for special attention, there was a little, but not excessively in either the smaller cities or in Seoul. Of course, it's a bit nicer in smaller cities. That's the same in any country. People are just friendlier in smaller places.
I'm sorry you're having a bad experience. You probably just freak people out with your waygookiness and assuming nature. 
I got along just fine. |
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