Is it safe in South Korea?

[casey]

Hi there
I have just completed my Bachelor of Learning Management degree and I am very keen to teach ESL in an Asian country, in particular South Korea. Earlier in the year I completed four weeks of my internship with college students from South Korea and I really enjoyed this. My only concern with going is the problems in North Korea.

I would like to get an opinion from ESL teachers in South Korea at the moment (in particular in the Busan or Ulsan area) about the safety over there. Many people here in my home town are trying to talk me out of going for fear of ending up somewhere that has potential to become very unsafe.

Would I be better off travelling to a different country for fear of my safety? Or is the media and people in my community overeacting?

Please help! Cheers, Casey

[gfell]

Not sure about South Korea, but I live here in Kobe which is close to Korea - 1 hour by plane. There's lots of tension in Japan especially by the politicians due to the missiles being fired into the Sea of Japan.

Life goes on normal, and whilst the news does broadcast about Korea nearly everyday, I personally don't think safety is compromised. Korea will be very foolish to cause civilian death in another country and the US and Japan are positioned to take swift action.

[Geriatric]

You will be fine. The best advice for travel warnings is by your governments travel alerts.

There are no travel alerts advising against heading to South Korea. North Korea is more interested in flexing their muscles to the international community rather than to South Korea. They do not have the power to attack South Korea or any country for that fact. The United Nations and it's member countries have made sure of that by way of sanctions and satellite surveillance.

The tensions with North Korea have been going on for a long time. But what wouldn't surprise me is if the US decide to invade North Korea like they did to Iraq. The US will make up any old excuse to attack a vulnerable country in order to seize it's oil or other natural resources.

I feel sorry for the North Koreans due to mismanagement of funds. More spending should be put into agriculture rather than military. Unfortunately now the people are facing their 11th year of food shortages.

[Geriatric]

I would be more worried about the article found at The Seoul Times - troubles in Seoul.

I'm not in Seoul, but would take the advice of the US embassy when they warn to be careful in certain parts of Seoul. But as a female, you would be safer in South Korea. The articles mainly talks about how western men flirt with local Korean women treating them as objects of sex only.

It all stems from the US military misbehaving when on foreign soil.

Now however, the focus is not on the military but on the thousands of English teachers working all over Korea.

But why is such tangible hatred being directed towards teachers?

When you do arrive to Korea, you will no doubt come across classifieds by western men looking for Korean girlfriends. And the ads aren't discreet when they mention things like "looking for sexy korean girl for fun times".

[casey]

Thanks very much for your input. It is refreshing to hear and read about how many foreigners are enjoying teaching in South Korea fearlessly. I made up my mind about travelling to South Korea earlier in the year and the negativity I have received has been really disappointing. It's good to finally receive a little encouragement!

[english grammar man]

If you go to Taiwan, there is negativity with relations between China and Taiwan. If you go to South Korea or Japan, there is negativity with relations between these countries and North Korea.

You will be fine and really have nothing to worry about. Neither China nor North Korea can afford an attack on another country resulting in civilian deaths.