Now matter what I pretend, I don't know everything
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If you know of any more that might help the newcomer to Korea, feel free to contribute them. Just visit the Feedback page and drop me a line, I'll be glad to add them.
Travel and tourism
Recruiters and job searching
ESL Job Boards:
General job boards:
The most popular (that doesn't mean best) source of information for
travellers on every country in the world. Learn about Korea before
you come.
A second information bureau in Korea, intended mainly for long-term
residents.
A tourist information website for foreigners. In English.
This is the main source of information for tourists in Korea. Help
is available by phone 24 hours per day (Dial 1330 from anywhere
in Korea) and you can receive information or even free translation
for commercial transactions. Service is available in English,
French, Chinese, Japanese, and possibly other languages.
Although the website first loads a map of Seoul, if you zoom out the
furthest possible and move the map with the "grabber", you can isolate
any part of Korea, as far away as Busan and Jeju.
This has the appearance of a one-man show trying to look like a
cooperative. Regardless, it is a good primer on Korea, its culture,
its language, and its history.
As the name might suggest, this is a website about the law for
working and teaching in Korea. This is a private site, not
run by the Korean government. That means their information
could be out of date or in error without the original sources
(though I find it is accurate). But on the plus side,
it is run by foreigners for foreigners and seeks to
help rather than dictate.
Probably the biggest and most well known ESL job site in Korea, this
is also the most up to date. But it's not just for those on the job
hunt, there are teaching tools, forums, and places to hear other
people's opinions. I'm not a fan of the unreliable registration
system for the forums. Plus you need two passwords for
one account?
ESL Recruiters:
The Hi Seoul website is kept well up to date and lists some
teaching jobs but also others in the private sector (business, IT,
accounting, among others). It requires an email address to register,
but their system does work (nor do you have to fill in an online
"resume").
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- News On Korea
This is a collected list of news items from various sources, updated almost daily.
- The On-line Guide To Korea
A general information site about Korea. It contains links to several English language websites of Korean newspapers.
- The Teen Times
An English language website and newspaper on Korean popular culture (music, film, TV).
- Kimsoft.com
An interesting collection of news both good and abad about Korea, plus its history. Unlike most Korean-run sites, this one is objective and doesn't blithely sing Korea's praises.
- The Korea Times
- The Korea Times (secondary link)
Daily except on Sundays and holidays, this English newspaper is printed by the Hankook newspaper. Outside of Seoul or Pusan, it is hard to find.
- The Korean Herald
The Herald is actually a combination of two US newspapers. Obviously the content won't be objective, but at least it is in English.
- Seoul Classified magazine
A free biweekly magazine in Seoul which features articles and (surprise!) free and commercial classified ads. Buy, sell, trade, join a club, find a soulmate or a playmate....
- Seoul Selection
Their free English language magazine is available monthly in many places, but do not subscribe on their website. They spam and distribute email addresses to spammers.
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There are two English language channels in Korea (sans satellite) but many Korean language channels broadcast movies and US TV series with Korean subtitles.
- AFN Television in Korea
Although it is a US military network aimed at Americans, it is the only North American channel available in Korea without a satellite dish.
- Arirang TV
This is a Korea-based channel in English, available on satellite in North America. It is the only source of TV news in English not from the USA, showing Deutsche Welle (from Germany) and England's BBC World News twice per day.
- Star Sports
Star Sports is available and shows many events from around the world. Many programs are broadcast in English, but a lot of show have Chinese commentary.
- NHK World
NHK is available in Korea and broadcasts news in English several times per day. They also broadcast Japanese baseball games regularly throughout the summer, plus sumo wrestling, if you are into that sort of thing. Their childrens' educational shows are so kawaii!
- The Eagle, 101.3 FM
The propaganda mouthpiece of the US government and military is the only English language radio station in Seoul. The music they play is the lowest common denominator (Top-40 US crap) but in off-hours they rebroadcast a hardrock station from the US.
- KBS, 93.7 FM
Korea's classical music station. If you are sick of repetitive K-pop and the Eagle's lies and nonsense, an hour of wordless classical music can be so soothing.
Transportation In Korea
Commercial and Consumer Information
Medical Websites for Seoul
Two caveats on Korean doctors:
Many doctors here are graduates of Yeonsei university and are
creationists. They would be best described as "memorizers"
rather than scientists. If, like me, you don't trust such doctors,
be sure to check their accreditation and ask their views.
Second, some Korean doctors do not respect the "doctor-patient" privilege
and respect for privacy that we are accustomed to in North America. I
and others have found doctors discussing personal medical information with
school directors. (If you get tested for an STD, do you really want
the doctor telling your employer?)
Sites from around Korea for Foreigners
As you might guess by the similarity in names, these sites are
interconnected. I don't know if they are all run by the same
people or by different groups in each city, but the sites contain
links to each other and a wealth of information for people who
live in cities other than Seoul. (I haven't lived anywhere
else in Korea, so I don't know many links outside the city.)
Lifestyles and Recreation
Seoul is changing their bus system effective July 2004. Buses are being
colour-coded and more efficient routes are designed. Unfortunately, some
genius decided not to print a new book in Korean (never mind English) to
inform the public of changes in the routes.
Brilliant move, people.
The homepage of the national railway, with pages in English.
The railway will soon be connected through North Korea to the Russian
railway line. Imagine, within a year it will be possible to travel by
train from Pusan to London.
The homepage for Seoul's subway system, with English pages available.
Listing this bank here is not intended as an endorsement. I mention
it only as an example of Korean banking and how readily available is
service in English. KEB is notable for one thing: it has branches
in Canada and can handle overseas money transfers or payments.
The many Carrefour ("car-foo") outlets in Korea and sell a wide
range of western goods. Service in English or French may be available
depending on the store.
Several Costco outlets can be found in Korea, selling products in bulk
and sometimes western products not available anywhere else
This page contains a list of business offering various products and
service. Some (many?) of the businesses offer service in English.
An online English telephone directory. The site is terrible
and the "search" function does not work, but it is the only
English language phone book for Korea, printed or online.
The closest thing to a "no questions asked" medical clinic in Seoul, it is also the most
ridiculously overpriced. People go here only for emergencies,
if they are working illegally, or don't want their employer
talking to your doctor. The doctor is very professional and
went to school in North America.
According to my phone book, this clinic offers service in English.
In the need to feed? This website contains a valuable link:
A guide to shopping malls in Daegu
Twenty years ago computer clubs were solely for geeks who couldn't
intimidate anybody in any other field (except math). Now they are
for everybody, as is this biweekly group that meets at the USO in
Seoul. To go there, go 500m north from Samgakji station, or 1500m
south from Seoul Station.
A group for joggers and triathletes in Seoul to meet for
workouts or discuss their sport.
A site suggested to me, this is for gay men in Asia. I have no
idea of the contents (it is not pornographic)
or if there is a sister-site (no pun intended) for lesbians.
This website in English features information on the Korean pop music scene,
with pictures and band information. It is not a well updated site, possibly
abandoned or at least not as well kept as it once was.
A Philippine-based website on motorracing. It contains news,
information, and lists of events and series mostly in Asia but
also from every other continent.
For the motorheads out there, auto racing is popular in Korea:
two F3 races per year, GTs, motorcycles, and gokarts
among others. And because of the proximity to other
race-crazy countries, road trips are a possibilty (F1 at Suzuka,
Malaysia, and China, for example). In October 2004,
(barring bankruptcy) the North American
CART series will also be paying a visit.
Korean baseball is very good, not much below the
Major Leagues. Tickets are very
affordable and games are played in seven Korean cities (two teams
are based in Seoul).
Two regularly updated sites on Korean professional soccer.
Basketbore Basketball League
I don't follow basketbore basketball closely, so I can't tell
you much.
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