Outside of Seoul and Busan and then maybe Daegu, Daejeon is probably the most popular destination in Korea for English teachers.
When I first thought about applying to the EPIK program I had my heart set on the pumping heart of the Korean wave; Seoul. But after doing some research and realizing really what kind of experiences I was looking for, I found other cities would be perfectly capable of fulfilling them. I chose Daejeon as my favourite and all the following are reasons why I didn’t regret it.
1. The Daejeon Metropolitan Office Education
You are first welcomed by the DMOE into Daejeon with an opening ceremony where you will meet your co-teacher. Later, you will attend a Welcome ceremony where you will meet your mentor, an experienced guest English teacher who you will meet with once a month to help you with anything you need advice on. You will also have a 3 day in-service training and a half-day co-teacher training course. All these setting-your-mind-at-ease programs are unique to Daejeon.
Along with your 1 week EPIK orientation, you can absolutely rest easy that you will feel more than capable and comfortable in your new teaching position.
2. The Most Livable City
When Daejeonites use the phrase ‘most livable city’, it’s sort of said ironically as many equate this to meaning it is the most boring city. I can see how this may be reasonable coming from a Seoul native long-term capital dweller, but as a South Korea virgin, Daejeon is not only not boring but provides a more authentic Korean experience than many other places in Korea.
It is livable precisely because it has everything you could need from a city; good transportation, lots of entertainment, food and shopping options, a large expat community, a good mix of urban, residential and green areas and affordable living prices.
In sum, Daejeon is the perfect place if you’re looking to experience Korea as an average of all Korean cities put together. It is also good if you are looking for a slower pace of life but still want to experience all the things that make Korea, Korea.
3. Perfect Location
Daejeon is located pretty much right in the middle of the country. The fact that you can get from one end of the country to the other in about 4-5 hours, means that you are therefore at a perfect distance to visit pretty much anywhere as a day trip.
Being an hour away on the KTX train from Seoul always makes it highly appealing to those who don’t want to live in the crazy hustle and bustle of the capital (or don’t think their application to EPIK is good enough to get in) but still want to dip their feet in every few weeks for the tourist attractions or insanely lively nightlife.
4. Expat Community
There is a relatively large expat community in Daejeon, made up mostly of English teachers, some students and the remaining are engineers. You can find friends via the Daejeon International Social Gathering who meet every week and has a group you can join on Facebook. The Daejeon Peeps Facebook group is also a useful tool to see what events may be happening, ask logistical questions or if you’re looking to buy odd household items off other expats.
Around the city, you’ll find a few foreigner bars, the most popular being in the downtown Dunsan area. Though the nightlife is nothing like Seoul, and a few places refuse to let foreigners in, there’s still a good opportunity to mix with Koreans as well as foreigners in Pochas (Korean pubs) and hunting bars.
Daejeon is known for having high quality teachers. This is probably due to an exceptional DMOE (as previously mentioned) and because Daejeon is a hub for research institutes, and therefore they take their education very seriously. So you will be in good company, should you need advice from experienced teachers.
5. Free Korean classes
Free Korean classes are offered at Seo-gu office in the centre of the city. They offer beginner 1, beginner 2 and intermediate classes. There are also free Korean classes offered on Saturday at KAIST, one of Korea’s leading universities.
However, given the large expat community and general enthusiasm towards speaking English in the city, you’ll find that learning Korean is less than necessary to get by. It is however, helpful and will provide you will a more immersive cultural experience. Korean people are likely to gawp at any attempt you make to speak Korean to them, and if you’re lucky you’ll be offered something free from a friendly convenience store clerk as a token of their appreciation.
6. All the fun to be had
Pretty much most hobbies can be accommodated for here. There are plenty of sports and gym facilities in the city and outdoor parks for recreation. Bicycles can be hired and taken on a tour round the city or along the picturesque river and over the iconic Daejeon bridge leading to Expo park. Expo park is an exhibition space which hosts many museums and events all year round, including the ever popular Wine festival.
A very popular pastime in Korea is to participate in various activities in a room with your friends. There are PC rooms, DVD rooms, drinking rooms, sauna rooms and even kissing rooms but most popular is of course the singing room or ‘Norae-bang’. These are more common than convenience stores in Daejeon and an unmissable Korean experience.
7. The Great Outdoors
Daejeon has some beautiful national parks on its doorstep and is the perfect city for hiking opportunities. Koreans take their hiking very seriously and it is not uncommon to see a group of older Koreans decked out in extensive hiking gear for even the shortest of walks.
It is of course because Korea is covered with mountains, some 70%. Daejeon is surrounded by these, all with humble Buddhist temples, some of which you can book a temple stay at and learn the ways of traditional Korean Buddhists over a weekend or longer.
8. Café Culture
Daejeon has an endless array of cafes, open all day long. This is where a lot of socializing will take place, at least when the hour is not yet nigh for beverages of the more inebriating sort. And even then, Koreans stop for coffee in between hopping from one drinking hole to the next. You’ll find cat cafes, dog cafes and even raccoon cafes. Or if you’re just looking for a quiet, stylish spot to study or read, there are plenty of introvert havens on offer.
