An Expat Talks about Living in Seoul, Korea

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Seoul

How long have you lived there?

5 years

What activities, clubs and organizations would you recommend to newcomers to help them meet others?

SIWA Women's organization Seoulsynergy- a club for triathletes and runners Anzcck- Aussie and New Zealand chamber of commerce

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Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
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In terms of religious, racial, economic and cultural diversity, are the people of this city or town diverse? Are they accepting of differences? Describe.

No, Koreans are the most homogeneous people in the world. They are very proud of their culture and don't want outside influences to change it too much. They have a very strong and interesting culture and the greatest thing about Seoul is the fact that it's so safe.

What are the main industries in this city? What types of career opportunities commonly exist? How do most people find new jobs?

For foreigners, teaching English is the most in demand job, some people work doing voice overs. Acting and modeling jobs can be found here and there. Many are also freelance writers. If you are qualified, you can try to get posted in Korea with one of the multinational banks or companies.

In general, what are peoples' priorities in this city? For example, do lives revolve around work, family, socializing, sports, etc.?

Most expat men come to work and their wives tag along (mostly reluctantly). Expat wives spend alot of time shopping, caring for their children and lunching with the ladies.

A lot of men try to do sports in Seoul and if single, there's a lot of drinking and partying going on. Korean people run in their own circles and don't really associate with foreigners that much, mostly due to the language and cultural barriers.

If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.

Look at these websites: http://www.worknplay.co.kr http://www.seoulstyle.com There's also the Seoul metropolitan website which I don't know the address to offhand.