Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Czarjorge]

First off, I know there are already threads on Dave's and other boards. I've read them all, at least all I could find. But now I'm hoping the more helpful posters will narrow down the choices.

I like night life when I want to party, but a reasonable amount of peace and quiet when I don't. And by party I mean some drinking, some good food, some good people. I'm not much for clubbing, rather I enjoy pubbing. Good weather is a priority, I hear much conflicting information on this, and my web research is spotty at best. (I need to start learning to read Korean.) As is breathable air. Also, if there are some areas with traditionally good hagwons, those that don't abuse foreigners too much, that's good to know as well.

Like I wrote, I know these threads already exist. A good number of them haven't had posts for years, and given the speed of change in Korea I can't be sure what is still accurate. What I'm hoping for is a real discussion for those of us who are wanting to pick the brains of people already living/who have lived in Korea so we can make an informed choice.

I've narrowed it down somewhat based on the other threads into two categories, places that are good and places that are bad. The general consensus seems to be...

Places that are good

Near Seoul...

Hongdae
Shinchon
Daehongno
Bundang}These two don't seem to really be what I'm looking for
Kangnam}though, as the nightlife sounds thin at best

Not sure where these are...

Daejon
Andong
Anyang

Pusan-the weather sounds appealing at least

Places that are bad

Itaewon
Incheon

If I'm way off here, please let me know. Given the variety of spellings I've found some of these places might be the same places. Correct away, experienced expats. And thanks for all the help.

[RACETRAITOR]

[venus]

[ajgeddes]

[Czarjorge]

Anyone living in Busan have any information about what it's like?

What areas of Busan are choice given my criteria?

[VanIslander]

[Czarjorge]

Thank you VanIslander. I hadn't considered an island. As an aspiring writer meeting a variety of people is appealing. One of things I'm looking forward to in Korea is only a 40 hour work week. I live in Omaha, Nebraska right now, but I've lived all over the midwest, and since college I haven't had a job that made me work less than 50+ hours a week.

Man, I can't wait until I get to Korea. I just don't know where to go...

[VirginIslander]

Currently I'm in Pusan, in the PNU area. I'll be returning for a second year to Busan, although Vanislander description of island life appeals to my nature.

Why do I like where I am living? Five minute walk to four bars with tons of Westeners (the bars do get old, however). And in the opposite direction, five minute walk to the mountains with very few Westerners. Seven minute walk to the Turkish and American Chinese restaurants. These two places have helped me more n Korea more than Lonely Planet ever will.

Twenty minutes to the beach, short ferry trip to Japan and Korean islands,
and a 3 hour trip to Seoul if you want the Big City life.

In short, life is better in the South Korea when you are in the south of Korea.

[Cohiba]

"Cohiba's Rule"

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogenous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: brown bread, good beer, bars with good
tunes, English book stores etc.

Remember the FFF RULE. FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.

I, unfortunately, live in Inchon where the FFF factor
is almost in the negative range. I know!

[The_Conservative]

[Cohiba]

OK, I'm pretty lazy. I haven't upgraded this for a while. But this
is easy because Seoul has also upgraded since I first wrote the rule.

Here is the NEW version:

"Cohiba's Rule"

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogeneous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: Cuban cigar shops, French, Arabic, Greek and
Indian restaurants. Markets that sell feta cheese, ricotta cheese,
provolone etc. Specialty shops that sell things like dart accessories,
Basmati Rice, Jasmin rice etc.

Remember the FFF RULE. FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.

I, unfortunately, live in Inchon where the FFF factor
is almost in the negative range. I know!

[Miles Rationis]

Don't listen to the other posters...I have the solution, yes, the very best solution:

DON'T COME TO KOREA, YOU WILL BE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND MORE CONTENT FOR IT...OK?

[RACETRAITOR]

I have always believed a similar thing to Cohiba's Rule. Basically I've always said your quality of life, or FFF, is inverse to your distance from Seoul. The main reason is because you're pretty well going to head up to Seoul every weekend anyway. When I lived in Suwon it was a one hour commute, and my friends down in Gyungju and Waegwan have it very rough.

[freethought]

Anyang ,might be the best place on your list. It's a 30 min subway ride to the biggest electronics market in Seoul, and a 35 min bus ride from Itaewan.

It's got just about everything you can want night life wise, is cheaper than Seoul and gives you access to transportation to anything and everything you might want.

[VanIslander]