Why stay in Mokpo? I have been asked this in person and online. I feel that I should put my answer here. It’s pretty simple why I like and choose to stay in Mokpo.
#1 Mokpo is NOT Seoul!
I like visiting Seoul the odd weekend for shopping, foreign food, and to escape Mokpo, but I never ever would want to live in Seoul. It’s just too big and in your face for me to handle living there. The people may speak more English than in Mokpo but hardly seem as friendly. Same goes for the foreigners. Mokpo may be smaller but it is comfier and I feel safer here than I do in Seoul.
#2 Community
There is a solid foreigner community here. It is a relatively tight knit and friendly group to be part of.
#3 Location
Mokpo is not terribly far from anything. A three hour KTX train to Seoul. A ferry ride to jeju, a one hour bus ride to Gwangju, etc. If I do want to leave it is very easy to. Korean transportation is pretty decent and affordable.
#4 Small town feel
I LOVE the small town/city Mokpo has to it. I come from a farm in rural Ontario, Canada, so it is nice to be in a city and still have that small town feeling. It’s comforting.
