The warmest cities in Canada are about the same as South Korea— Seoul is not far from Toronto in weather, and Busan is not far from Vancouver. But nothing in South Korea is as cold as a prairie winter. The very coldest I’ve seen here is about -25 C in Gangwan, in the northeast mountains, and where I am now in Incheon maxes out at -15 C on a very icy day. Typical winter temperatures hover around zero in the north. Edmonton and Winnipeg still have harsher winters, and longer ones— I’d say winter is about three weeks shorter on each end here.As their latitude is about the same, I’d compare South Korean weather overall to that of the northern states, or at a stretch the Canadian border.
Yes I would say it is one of the top places to teach English. Busan is a clean, safe and modern city to live in. Where ever you stay there are mountains to go walking in or you can go down to one of the many local beaches. There are plenty of things to do around the city including parks, gallaries, sports areanas, sculpture gardens, beach activities, walks. fishing, gaming halls and a whole host of other things, some which are very touristy and others not. There are also some great places within a short distance from Busan such as Japan, only a thirty minute boat trip, JeJu Island which is well worth a trip and many other great places.The climate is somewhat like England except that the summers are very long and the winters are short plus it doeasn't rain all the time. But it is very very cold in the winter which gives you the chance to go skying if you like.Most of the schools pay around $2000-$2600 for a month and that's with your apartment paid, you pay the bills. I had saved $6000 when I left after a one year contract. There are higher paying jobs in the universities and you can find some really cushy jobs if you search around. The Korean people in Busan are friendly and I never had any problems but I did come accross an undercurrent of racism in Busan. This played out in Various ways when locals would give certain names to people from other coutries or foriegn people were not allowed into certain places. Many Koreans are well travelled and I believe these incedents are isolated to a minoruty of ignorant, insular people just the same kind of people that you would find in every country. I never really paid much attention to it but it did bother some people.I will be heading back there at some point as it was one of my fave countries I lived and worked in. What could be better than living in a clean modern city surrounded by mountains, with forests and beaches, long hot summers, great food and high speed internet.
Soon after we were married, my wife and I went to Italy. (That was a few decades ago.) We were on a train, and another passenger saw us, came up to us, pointed out the window, then out the other side, but spoke only in Italian. We couldn't understand a word. He got more and more frustrated. Time was short, and he had to get us to understand. He started pointing backwards a little. Whatever it was, we were passing it, totally unawares! He was very upset.Finally we heard the key words: Capulet and Montague! The path of our train was taking us right between Verona and Mantua, the two cities of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The native Italian was distraught that a young couple was right there and didn't know it.That was the beginning of my love for the Italian people. Italy is a wonderful and romantic place to visit. I also recommend Rome, where you can spend a day or two walking around from one great fountain to another.