Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nahanni]

hello hello,

will be heading to korea for the first time mid april on a one-way flight to find a teaching position.

think i've decided on Cheongju as my new home.

many thanks if anyone could pass on school names worth knocking on door ... seems easier than asking for names of places not worth visiting.

[soviet_man]

From time to time, people say good things about Cheongju University.

Cheongju's only other real drawcard would be the general lack of foreigners, particularly outside the city centre, although after a few months you would notice a sense of conservative close-mindedness by most of the Koreans there. (I've lived nearby in Chungju).

[techno_the_cat]

Hey,

Soviet Man, I think Cheongju, for it's size, has a very large foreigner population. I lived there for a few years and found it to be a pretty cool place to live, work, and party. Plus is was close to Seoul.
"Conservative" and "close minded" are very relative terms in South Korean. I always found them to be quite laid back, well for Koreans anyway.
Nahnanni, good luck with the job hunting. Word of warning though. Don't try to fly to Korea with a one way on a tourist visa. They probably wont let you leave your own country.

[Ryst Helmut]

Nahanni,

You may want to try O-chang (it is a new development/city that is booming and several English language institutes have opened up <with several more opening in the near future>). O-chang, although technically in cheong-ju, is/was trying to become its own city.

It's nice, new, clean <for how long....>, but a bit from downtown (a 20 minute-ish drive).

My wife is tutoring a child whose parents are opening up their school...I'll ask the owners about their school for you if you care.

!shoosh,

Ryst

[kat2]

Cheongju isn't bad. Its a bit small and provincial for my tastes, but not a bad place to start out. Downtown still offers you movie theaters, shopping, coffee shops, etc. The university area has plenty of foreign bars. YOu'l ahve a good time. And when you want to go to Seoul, its only an hour and half by bus. Nice day trip.

FYI--Don't work for "American School" run by Mr. Seo. There are at least two branches.

[nahanni]

Ryst, o-chang may be a little far. couple reasons i'm considering cheongju is so i can get around easily and go 'rock' climbing at the gym....although i'm not sure where it is....near downtown?

Techno, sucks about one-way flight. can i get away with oneway to korea and cheap onward to japan....and then possibly cancel japan flight?

Anyway, still open to other suggestions for spots to crash for a year....suggestions?....climbing, minimal smog, parks, something to do on weekends.

Thanks,

[spliff]

I lived there for two years. Want me honest opinion...IT SUX, big time..

[nahanni]