I will yield to your insight, as it as insight I lack as I have not yet visited South Korea, only the North.

I was intending to work in South Korea, but at the time could not afford the cost of having my degrees notarized and apostile. As such I decided to return to China, based on the rationalization that a different set of students, in a different part of China, would be a different, and hopefully more positive experience.
I wagered that I shouldn't form an opinion on China based on experiences in Beijing, however experiences here, at least as far as my generally dreadful set of students are concerned, are similar. Though I can't be replaced so easy due to the abject lack of foreigners in this part of China.
I try to avoid making generalized judgments on places, but I often wonder if people who make simple judgments lead happier lives. However, lets not get all philosophical.

What I am curious to is why anyone would trade life in South Korea for life in China. I am in part kicking myself for not going to S Korea instead, but I had academic commitments in the coming year, and needed a one semester contract. At least it is a one semester contract.
But life in South Korea vs life in China. Again I stress, I haven't yet been there, but I still struggle to comprehend why one would trade S Korean life for life in China. Do tell.