Why I Enjoy Living in Daegu, South Korea
Once I got notified that I would be teaching English in South Korea, the next big decision to make would be to decide where I would be living in South Korea. Historically, many foreigners interested in traveling here are primarily concerned with living in Seoul. In fact, many people who are even somewhat familiar with South Korea are often times only aware of Seoul. However, during my time of deciding what area of South Korea to teach English in, I wanted to pick an area that I foresaw myself being the most comfortable in. Though Seoul is a bustling cornerstone of the eastern hemisphere, I have never been a fan of living in huge, overpopulated cities. Instead, I am always interested in the areas that are big enough for me to find things to do and explore during my of time, but also relaxed enough so that I can feel confident navigating the city solo. As a result, I ended up deciding on the city of Daegu, and I could not be more satisfied with my choice. In the following, I will describe some of my reasons for enjoying life in Daegu, South Korea.
Whenever a Korean person asks me about my life in Daegu, they always seem to be surprised by my level of satisfaction with living here. Judging me purely off my American background, they wonder if it is “exciting” enough for me to live and always mention how traditional Daegu can be. But that is exactly one of the reasons I enjoy living here. Daegu is currently the 4th largest city in South Korea and it is considered the Texas of South Korea in that its culture remains very traditionally Korean. Many Koreans who live here hold on to traditional Korean values including style of dress, gender roles, and their views on foreigners living in Korea. Although I may not strongly agree with many of these views, I appreciate this experience because it allows me to observe first hand the purest Korean values and to learn more about the culture overall. Many bigger cities such as Seoul and Busan have more western influence that may have made it harder for me to experience cultural Korean traditions and instead keep me trapped in a “foreigner bubble” that many foreigners unfortunately fall into here.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, Daegu is the 4th largest city in South Korea. That being said, it is big enough to where there are enough foreigners for you to connect with when wanting to spend time with familiar people and stores for you to get food and common household staples from, but also small enough where you aren’t completely confused by the subway station and feel your personal space being threatened every other second. Daegu has a lively nightlife and downtown area that attracts many young and old Koreans alike. Karaoke bars are around every corner and there are a number of culturally diverse restaurants where you can try foods from other countries. It is of course at a much smaller scale than Seoul or Busan, but it will definitely satisfy those interested in a taste of the city life. But at the same time, Daegu is small enough where you won’t feel anxious when moving about the city. There are public buses along with a subway station that has only 3 lines—the Red line (Line 1), the Green Line (Line 2), and the Yellow Line (Line 3). Although in the future there are plans to build a 4th line, currently navigating three subways lines is definitely manageable for someone moving from any sized city. I was able to somewhat master the subway system and I grew up in a city where buses are the only mode of public transportation.
Perhaps one of the most alluring assets Daegu has to offer is its natural beauty and its people. Daegu is covered with beautiful mountains and landscapes that are awe inspiring. In fact, one of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice and the fine dust in the air is low is to go hiking. There are so many mountains that have hiking paths and it is a wonderful way to steal a free view of the city’s skyline. Also, in my experience, the people here are very welcoming and are generally very excited to tell you more about their country. People in Daegu aren’t used to seeing many foreigners so when they do, they are very excited to practice their English and learn more about where you are from.
Overall, Daegu is a very beautiful, traditional city that some may overlook when planning a trip or a move to South Korea. I suggest to you as a foreigner that you do your research into the kinds of things you look for in a travel destination and decide whether any of the items I mentioned above may convince you to make a visit here—I surely hope it does!
Once I got notified that I would be teaching English in South Korea, the next big decision to make would be to decide where I would be living in South Korea. Historically, many foreigners interested in traveling here are primarily concerned with living in Seoul. In fact, many people who are even somewhat familiar with South Korea are often times only aware of Seoul.