Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Scarlet13]

Anyone from Chang-won? I need a hand finding a few things....

[just because]

I live in changwon and know it very well.
What do you need to find???

[Bigs]

Sorry to hi-jack.. but -

Is there a bus that heads to Immi in Masan?

[just because]

[Bigs]

Thanks - much appreciated.

[ChangwonTom]

Hey everyone, I've just arrived in Changwon.
I thought I'd just say hi...

I'm going to my Hagwon for the first time today... fingers crossed!

Anyway, if you know the area and wouldn't mind helping me find a few things or recommending some decent, cheap local food, that would be appreciated!

However, right now I don't even know WHERE in Changwon I am... so...

Wish me luck!

Tom

[SuperFly]

I fly down to Changwon on business trips to one of our factories sometimes.

[cbclark4]

Changwon:

Meet up with friends at O'Briens. take a cab to hotel international.

Look around for a green sign that says Obriens.

I think they have a website.

If you want your beer to be cold your better off at a Hof.
For some reason O'brien's beer is not iced, Korean beer taste awful warm.

However seems all the expats go there and the food is acceptable.

There's a pool table.

[just because]

obriens website is here

www.obriens-bar.com

However it isn't open today and the owner has gone back to ireland for the next 3 weeks but the food should still be good....

[matthews_world]

You'll probably find a bit more 'southerners' chatting on Pusanweb's Koreabridge Forum:

http://www.koreabridge.com/forums/index.htm

[Yu_Bum_suk]

O'Brians has great food. The few times I've been there, though, I've found the atmosphere a little dull. It and International Club around the corner seem to cater to an older crowd. Eisen-Brau across the street has good live music and is a fun place to go with friends, but not really a place to meet and mingle unless there is a table or two of friendly Filipinos (the customers are mostly groups of Koreans wanting something more upmarket).

Generally I don't care for the layout of the city; it's a difficult place from which to travel to other parts of the country as you often have to take a city bus to Masan first; and I think it will end up turning out a lot more like Korea's Brazilia than a pleasant, efficient city.

[sojourner1]

Changwon has an E-Mart downtown at the rotary and a Homeplus near the bus terminal. There are also major banks downtown too that have English services such KEB. I have been in Changwon for close to going on a year and it is quite a lonesome place to be as I haven't really made friends here. Probably better that way so I can move on in life next year and try other places out. Better get into downloading movies and solo walks as your primary recreational activities as you will probably be the only one in your dong or may know others who are settled down into the family home lifestyle. (boring, no social life) There are lots of long timers here who are married who like the tranquility of Changwon. I think if was having kids with a Korean wife and staying in Korea, Changwon would be high on my list as a place to live. For a single guy looking to do hobby things like fishing, weekend travel, or playing music with new buddies, you probably won't find that here.

I go to the 2 foreigner bars every now and then, but meet only older men who are engineers on short term assignments and a few military guys. Changwon is not a bad place to be, but it's just very dull and boring. It's a great place to save up some money since there is not all that stuff available and things to do like in Seoul. I could bet you that you have a greater chance or likelihood of getting a better job here than in a big city like Seoul or Busan. It's probably easier for an older person to do well here as it would not be as competitive as Seoul nor as congested traffic wise. I know it doesn't require a masters degree to a teaching position at the university either so these are attractive reasons for living in Changwon.

A previous poster is right about the bus situation, despite there being a shiny new bus terminal, not many buses go out of it like they do out of Masan. Masan in a smaller town nearby, but it has the immigration office and a bus station with more service to other places. Masans foreigner bar is more English teacher oriented too. Changwon has a train station with very limited services where you might wait 1 1/2 hour or longer, but it's on the far outskirts of town near Masan, requiring a 15 to 20 minute bus or taxi ride. It takes too long to get in and out of Changwon without your own wheels.

There's a great nature reserve called, "Junam resevoir", 15 Km north of Changwon, but bus service runs like every 2 hours only. It's a beautiful bird migration lake with largemouth bass fish that is popular Korea wide and cherished as it's a rare nature sight here similar to a conservation area in the states.

[just because]

You guys are painting the foreigner bars in a boring light but I think it is the times you are going that is the killer...

During the week it is dead...with the exception of Thursdays after 10.

Early on friday and saturday it is too as people are in other places eating or getting first drinks in at a different bar but usually congregate around 11 to midnight. From midnight till about 5 am on friday and saturdays it can be a raging place......

I have made so so many friends here in Changwon. I swear sojourner must hide in his home...there are lots of foreigners in changwon and most of them are pretty friendly. there are a lot of long termers here as well but there is a good young crowd to...you just need to learn where to look.

The bus terminal is fine as well....
Hourly buses to seoul, buses to busan every 15 minutes plus a tonne of other cities....I have no idea what he is talking about.
A lot of buses that go to Masan originate from changwon apart from some that go to very small towns or very big cities...I use the bus terminal all the time and it is bilingual(eng and korean on the electronic sign) which is great.

Will agree about the train station as it is only useful to go to Seoul and to connect with the KTX at Milyang...

I love it here...wouldn't live anywhere else in korea. There is a good scene, you just have to know where to look and have some social skills to go with it.

[BigBuds]

I totally agree with Just Because.

There's plenty to do in Changwon and plenty of night life. It's like Just Because said, you just need to know where to look, and it isn't hard to find. I was out till 7:30am last Saturday partying on and so were a lot of other people.

I think some people need to get out of their aprtments a bit more often, and maybe get some social skills while they're at it.

[rednomad]

while on the topic of changwon...anyone know of a good, safe place a woman can get a decent sports massage??