Would you rather work or live in China or South Korea?

[*Significantly* edited since first post]

I have to say South Korea, even though I'm Chinese (from Taiwan & Hong Kong).

1. Why not China?
It's NOT because of China's government, economy, or living conditions (cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou are comparable to any in South Korea)... but the people. Mainland Chinese people just came out of poverty one or two decades ago, so even if some of them are quite well-off these days, they still often lack proper hygiene and manners.

Also, the Mainland Chinese culture is too money-oriented, with no room for creativity or even elegance; sometimes, it seems like every squre inch of the country (and Chinese websites) is covered with poorly-designed, aesthetically-lacking advertisements. Mainland Chinese people of working age are just too busy making money to care about things like art, design, music and technological innovation. This may be about to change though: younger Chinese people, especially university students, have much better taste and much more creativity than their parents who were brought up during the Cultural Revolution.

Finally, health care in Mainland China is somewhat unreliable and Chinese hospitals are not up to the hygienic standards that people in other developed countries have come to expect.

Well, hopefully things will change in a decade or two. Most Mainland Chinese of MY age whom I have met are very nice, polite and creative. Another thing I've noticed is that young Mainland Chinese people are receptive to Japanese and Korean influences whilst older people in China hate Japan with a passion. So as soon as the "Cultural Revolution generation" retires, things will start looking brighter... the new Chinese generation will be more civilised, cultured and open to learning from the more positive aspects of Korea and Japan.

2. Why South Korea?
Haha, my reasons in favour of South Korea are more trivial. It's a place I've always wanted to visit... I love Korean culture and I think that - ironically - they've done a far better job maintaining Traditional Chinese culture (i.e. Confucian practices, rituals and etiquette) than China itself.

Like China, Korea has developed at an enormous pace over the past few decades but it has also managed to develop its creativity alongside its economy. South Korea just seems to be much more "alive" and "real" than China, which is all about money and trying to impress foreigners.

Hong Kong for effective. you will have a difficult time living in South Korea in case you do no longer talk/comprehend Korean. while in HK, whether all you comprehend is English, you would be high quality. merely approximately each little thing is written in the two chinese language and English (exceptionally highway names, government-respected notices, and so on.)

DONT work in China...you'll make 4 dollars a day. If you actually have a skill like digging tunnels or building freeways - you'll make $11 a day. I'm not kidding. This is today's China. Have fun being poor and fighting a well know corrupt Chinese Government. They wont even provide you with water - you'll have to walk 3 miles and find a well. This is in the city.
South Korea is a free country that is very clean. Although Koreans are known for being the most racist group of asian in the world and have the biggest tempers. You'll make a good living if your not white or black living in Korea.

Definitely South Korea.
Korea is cleaner, safer and much more fun
I'm French by the way.

I rather go live in china... like beijing or guangzou thou.. not the ghetto china.

work sucks, i know.

china