South Korea?

gertie

I know this is crossing a couple of borders...

I'm considering an expat assignment in Seoul and I admit to knowing absolutely nothing about Korea. I haven't had much luck finding a forum or expat info using Google either.

So, has anyone been to Seoul? Other parts of South Korea? Did you enjoy it? Anything you didn't like or found frustrating? The best bits?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Gertie

Nick-H

What?

Leaving Chennai?








.

gertie

Heh heh, hard to believe Nick, isn't it?

I'm only contracted here until December, so its time to start thinking ahead.

I'm at the 'considering' stage at the moment, but it would be a great career move.

capt_mahajan

Seoul is like any other South East Asian city. Developed, crowded, westernised.

And so are some of the other South Korean cities.

Korea always seemed a poor man's Japan to me, with less of a unique character. Can't see any pluses or minuses in living there, so sitting on the fence.

Living there will be more hassle free than Chennai, for sure. But less charming.

__________________
When I look up, I see people cashing in. I don't see heaven, or saints or angels. I see people cashing in on every decent impulse and human tragedy. -Heller, Catch-22

mairangi_vice

never been there myself, but a couple of my friends lived there teaching english. They both say it was fab, and one of them even went back for a second stint.

Lime80

First of all South Korea is actually a North East Asian country

I lived in Korea and my experience of Seoul was absolutely great. Some people compare it to Japan or China, which I think is really unfair because Korea has a character of its own. And I am saying that for the people who say that Korea is a poor man's Japan! As a Japanese, I can assure you that Seoul is not a poor copy of Tokyo, and that there are things that you can enjoy in Korea that you find neither in Tokyo nor in Beijing.

Korea is said to be the "latin country" of North East Asia where people are more outgoing than other asian countries, which I found really nice, especially when you are an expat and you appreciate the welcoming mood!

In Seoul you have the best of the developped capital (sky scrapers, flashy disctricts) and still find some human size places (road side restaurants, markets) with authentic people.

From Seoul you will be able to visit the DMZ which is really impressive, you will be escorted by the army to see some parts of North Korea.

Since it is a small country, it is very easy (and affordable) to get out of the busy Seoul for a weekend trip (in the mountains or at the beach in the south).

The only problem might be the spicy food, but as you lived in India this might not be a problem at all!

Sorry for the enthusiasm about Korea, don't worry I have the same about India where I am living now, so there are no hidden wish to do publicity for another country!

Have fun in Seoul!

Lime

gertie

Thanks for the insights. S. Korea for me is one of those countries that slips underneath the radar - you know its there and thats about it!!

Great to hear some positives about the place. I'm particularly pleased to hear that its easy to get out and about in the countryside - one of the things I miss living in Chennai.

How about pollution, particularly air quality? I've just been to Bangkok for the weekend and I've come back with a nasty sore throat from all the smog - ick!

Cheers,
Gertie

capt_mahajan

Much better than Indian cities, or Bangkok.

funinsun

I live in Seoul and am going the opposite way of you, as I am moving to India next month. I've been here for 5 years.
Korea has it's positives and it's annoyances like anywhere else.
It's an extremely safe country, and the subway system in Seoul makes it easy to get around.
The pollution level is varied throughout the city. I have had some problems with allergies here myself, but I guess it's not too bad.
Summers can be hard to take as it can be hot and MUGGY. Rainy season is supposed to start this week and usually lasts about a month.
Seoul was recently named the 3rd most expensive city in the world for expats to live, but a big reason for that is that housing here can be quite expensive. Your company is probably supplying housing for you though.
One of my biggest complaints is that if you are following Korean holidays at your workplace, it is extremely difficult to move around since everybody in the country has the same days off, and everybody is trying to move at the same time. So for example, during Korean thanksgiving, the roads are jam packed, train tickets must be booked WELL in advance, and flights out of the country are expensive and full months in advance.
A website to checkout is www.eslcafe.com
It's mainly for English Teachers, but can probably answer any questions you have about living here.

skinnylatte

S. Korea is really lovely. Like an earlier poster mentioned, the 'dae han min guk' really is one of those countries that you know of -- but never think about, much less think about visiting. Which is a pity. It has a ton of history (obviously) and culture. It rewards the ones who try the hardest: if you're there just hanging out around the foreigners it might not seem like much, but once you get in there, live in the 'burbs, learn the language (Korean, IMHO, is one of the easiest Asian oriental langauges to learn, and even to write).. and meet the locals. (I suppose this is true of many countries, but in Korea more than anywhere else in Asia -- given how little English anyone speaks there!)

It's an ultra-modern fast-paced society, yes, but outside Seoul -- even on the periphery of the city, or in the rural parts or smaller cities... there's something about the country that makes me happy. Sorak-san (Mt Sorak) is beautiful in the winter, Jeju-do (Jeju island) beautiful in the autumn. I highly recommend S. Korea to anyone who is up for a 'different' experience. I love the country to bits.

skinnylatte

If you need to know anything about S Korea, let me know. I'd be glad to help. I used to visit twice a year when I was a teenager -- and have some relations by marriage there.

ddevadatta

I spent time in Seoul many moons ago. Frankly I hated it. The food is so predictable and feels the same. There is no variety to it and get served the same stuff no mater where you go.

If you love good food, Korea isn't the place

__________________
Ayurvedic cure for an Indian headache

skinnylatte

That's not really true. Korean food can be diverse and great -- if you let it, and if you know where to go. Speaking the language helps.

First time i was in Seoul I hated the food. Second, third, fourth times, with some research and with the assistance for some local relations, the food was just as good as any other Asian metropolis. Fresh BBQ, mindboggling array of 'live' seafood culture in Busan, good noodles and rice -- in addition to the handful of excellent restaurants of every cuisine (there's a fantastic french dessert place whose name escapes me). Food in S Korea can be very good if you give it a chance. I could eat samyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and a good bibimbap and kimchi every day for the rest of my life. And I'm a foodie.

capt_mahajan

Love Kimchi. And Bulgogi.

ddevadatta

My problem was wherever you went you had the same food; it even tasted the same. In India you can have a dish by the same name and it would taste very different. That is what I found missing in Korean food. Korean food lacked variety like I find in Indian food. That's all! That you enjoyed it doesn't change my experience.