Korean Job Discussion Forums

[michinkorea]

I'll be arriving in Seoul in about 3 weeks. I've heard different things about drinking the tap water in Seoul and would like to hear from some people who have done so.

Did you treat it? (Britta? Pristine?) Or did you just go for it and let your body get accustomed to it?

Would you recommend bringing a filtration system/device, or can I buy one there?

Thanks,
Mich

[W.T.Carl]

Are you nuts? When overseas, DRINK BOTTLED WATER!!

[Newbie]

bottled water is very cheap here.

[Real Reality]

You might want to look at this post.
Source of Drinking Water for Seoul? Here is one picture.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=61951

[EDITORIALS] A failed water quality plan
Paldang reservoir recorded 4.1 ppm in chemical oxygen demand, qualifying it as water for industrial use only. In other words, the reservior's water quality is heading towards excessive levels of eutrophication.
JoongAng Daily (February 17, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200502/17/200502172301472339900090109011.html

39 people arrested for polluting Seoul's reservoir
The prosecution said yesterday it indicted 39 restaurant owners for contaminating a huge reservoir near Seoul with untreated sewage and erecting buildings on its shore without permission from the government.
The man-made reservoir is the main source of tap water for the Seoul metropolitan area.
by Joo Sang-min, The Korea Herald (November 4, 2002)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2002/11/04/200211040039.asp

[Billy Pilgrim]

Just drink bottled water. Seriously, use the tap water for washing dishes, and that's about it.

[wheek]

I can't speak for Seoul, but I'm in Daegu and have been boiling tap water for the past couple of days instead of using bottled and my stomach is an absolute mess right now. True, it could be something totally unrelated, but I don't think I'm going to take my chances anymore.

Stick to bottled water.

[heydelores]

I boiled water when I first got here, but then my Korean friends told me that they don't drink the tap water because of the chemicals and heavy metal content. Boiling doesn't get rid of those. Now I drink bottled water or stop by a mountain spring and then boil that.

[Real Reality]

Supplying Harmful Service Water for Three Years
Ulsan City has supplied city water, which exceeded the standard limit of harmful objects to its citizens for about three years, by forging inspected results.
Donga.com (April 01, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004040299698

[Corporal]

Don't drink the tap water. What is wrong with you?

[djmarcus]

So what about restaurants? I'm sure they don't use bottled water to cook with...or do most people not think about it when they eat out?

[michinkorea]

And what about brushing your teeth? How far do you go?

[SuperFly]

How bout that really cold and delicious mtn spring water that you get from the drinking wells on the top of mtns? Is that water ok? I drank a bunch of that water.

[W.T.Carl]

I did use the tap for brushing, but very little was swallowed. And I did use it for ramen-- but never for out right drinking. Good luck and use your common sense.

[heydelores]

[michinkorea]

Would you cook food in tap water (boiled or not), or use bottled water for that too?