How is the life in Korea?

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Korea's not clean at all. Koreans seem to have no qualms whatsoever with throwing shit onto the street and letting it pile up, so of course there's some smell. I've been to Japan and whoa! - while the air pollution is comparable, Japan definitely is a lot cleanier and classier, even Tokyo. No wonder my Japanese classmates always complain about the garbage here. Japanese people seem to feel a lot more responsible about taking care of their own garbage.

The dirt doesn't really bother me though, it's just one of those things about Seoul. You get used to it, and I still love the city more than Tokyo even if it's dirtier. One of the perks of a "dirty" city is that there's food stalls on every corner in Seoul selling street food for ridiculously cheap prices. Those are painfully missing in Tokyo.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:26 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:29 am Post subject: Re: life in korea Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:33 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:46 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

korea is one of the fun country in the world.
lots of everything.
lots of good food.
lots of good friends you can make.
lots bad situations if you don't speak the language too, so to have a friend to help you by would be nice.
i travel alot around the world but i would have to say that Korea is one of the exciting country in the world both during the day and the night.
btw, lots of places to visit too. don't forget jaeju island.

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:29 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

i'll definitely go to Korea and Japan one day. i always love Japan and Korea. thanks for all the infos. they are very2 useful Smile

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:04 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I haven't been there in so long, I barely remember anything. Plus, when I went there, I was still pretty young and my cousins didn't really know where to go and what to do. I did all the tourist stuff which I didn't really care for. I wanted to party lol.

Ok, so I'm seriously considering moving to Korea for a year or two. Only problem is I have no idea what type of visas or documents I need to work there during that time period. Also, how hard is it to find a place to live around Seoul? In the US most places have lease agreements for 6 months to 1 year depending. How does it work in Korea? Thanks in advance. I have other questions, but I guess I can ask later. Smile

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:16 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Anyone?

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:44 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

As what? As an English teacher or at a Korean company or as a student? Visa requirements are different depending on what you do there (of course).

They recently made the requirements for an E-2 (teaching ) visa a lot stricter (which has resulted in even more illegal teaching going on, but that's another topic). Whereas you didn't need these things before, you know need to turn in a medical certificate (including an HIV test) and a criminal background check (which I heard is a pain in the butt to get). Other things you need are a 4-year degree or higher and a passport from an English-speaking country.

Requirements for other types of work visas you'll have to research yourself, but I know a degree is the base requirement for almost every type of work in Korea (only athletes and celebrities seem to be exempt from this).

If you're an English teacher, you won't have to worry about accomodation because it is usually provided. But if for some reason you need to find accomodation yourself....

Housing works either under the 월세 or 전세 systems. The first rents you an apartment on a monthly fee and the second on a huge deposit and key money. Typically most housing is expensive in Korea but if you're willing to put up with meager living standards you can get by cheaply enough. I have a friend who lives in a tiny one-room apartment for $350 a month. Myself I stay at a homestay (no deposit or key-money required, whoo!) with shared bathroom and no kitchen but 2 meals a day provided for $350 as well. But we're both very lucky to have found such cheap accomodations.

Another friend of mine stays at a guest house permamently and it's really cheap (something like $200 a month) with a TINY room. It really depends on what you want and what your budget is.... if you want a nice snazzy big apartment in Kangnam, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg.

Just decide on your price-range, the area you want to live in on on your type of accomonation. Koreans typically find housing either on the internet or from a 부동산 (a real-estate agency). Because the former is free and the latter costs a fee, start with the internet. If you don't know Korean, it's best to ask a Korean friend to search the net for you. If you're not happy with whatever your friend digged up, come to Korea, stay at a guest house for a couple of days and go to an agency. It's not that hard to find accomodation here.

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

it's a nice topic. it answered many of Qs i' had after knowing korean culture but still there r one question.
almost every korean drama has a sceen where a woman beats a man usualy in tha street where everybody watch. is it normal to beat a man whether he's son or forigener in korea?