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johninmaine
Joined: 29 Jul 2007
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 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject: Top 5 rural towns?? (less than 500k) |
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...might be a stupid question but what would everyone consider the Top 5 rural towns to live in Korea?? (less than 500k pop.)
im 37, and retired from my Jimmy Buffet days....on Fri night, rather read the NY Times with a strong Italian style espresso |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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1. Geoje Island
2. Seogwipo
3. Tongyeong
4. Hadong
5. Sokcho |
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matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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Masan is a city and it has 500,000. Better lower that figure a bit.
Tongyeong is pretty cool for a developed urban center with modern amenities. Right next to the beach.
Geoje seconded as well.
Anyone been to Yeosu? The have the world expo coming in 2011 with the KTX link currently being stretched from Busan.
Icheon is in the sticks. Not much there if you like solitude.
Last edited by matthews_world on Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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twg
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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| johninmaine wrote: |
| im 37, and retired from my Jimmy Buffet days |
I lived in Cheonan for two years. Which, if I recall, is around the 500,000 - 600,000 mark.
My only advice is to make damned sure you're completely settled. That you have no spirit of exploration left. I had Cheonan so completely explored that by the time came for me to go, I was crawling the walls for want of something new.
While Seoul keeps vacuuming money out of my wallet, I'm still finding new things here... Near six years after I first stepped off the banana boat.
Anyway, be sure of what you want to be doing here, and good luck. |
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daz1979
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Gangwon-Do
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Samcheok has to worth a mention |
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johninmaine
Joined: 29 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| twg wrote: |
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Anyway, be sure of what you want to be doing here, and good luck. |
...im married to a Latina and have a 1 year old, ....those two alone, eat up 96% of your free-time....im lucky if i have time to fry an egg -- (plus im 37) health-wise, i stopped drinking....your liver can only take so much --
also, rural living, im used to....I was '94 Peace Corp Paraguay and 1 year on a Galapagos Island... |
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MarionG
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Andong is wonderful, 186,000. I love it here. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| I do like Andong, and Gangwon-do province near the ocean would be alright as well. Gangneung or Seokcho. |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm not going to make a Top 5. Though all cities and towns in Korea pretty much look the same, they do have different thing going for them and different things that make them more or less attractive (scenery, mountains, department stores, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.) I like Chuncheon, Namwon, and Suncheon. |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm currently living near Cheonan. I wouldn't put it in a top 5, but it is an OK place. I would definitely recommend Gyeongnam Geochang (about 40,000 pop) and Gyeongbuk Gyeongsan (don't know the pop, but too small for a dunking donuts outlet). Rural Korea is not like rural New Zealand, but it certainly has its charms, it is also much, much more enjoyable if you have a car. |
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Dome Vans
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| After visiting and looking around I'd say Jinju (350 000), looks really nice, especially after being there for the festival. Like big rivers through the middle of cities. Another one if Boryeong (110 000), it's a seasonal seaside town but looks pretty lively. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:04 am Post subject: |
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| Dome Vans wrote: |
| After visiting and looking around I'd say Jinju (350 000), looks really nice, especially after being there for the festival. Like big rivers through the middle of cities. |
I was tempted to put Jinju but since I have been living in a small town not far from there for the last year and a half I have had plenty of time to second guess the selection.
There really is nothing much to Jinju as a city but as a town it is better. The riverside park is great to walk along, exercise along, have a picnic on, drink with friends on, relax at. The fortress "castle" hill is nice as a park to go to to clear one's head as well, watch sunsets, simply unwind or bring a good book.
But the best part of Jinju is its awesome location! It's the perfect place to launch from to: Namhae Island, Jiri National Park, Geoje Island, Changwon, Busan, even up to Gyeongju and - heaven forbid - Daegu. The buses and trains through Jinju go often and direct to great places. I'm very glad I live in a real town (population under 50 thousand) rather than Jinju proper. People describe Jinju as "quiet" and yet if you really want quiet then a small town 30 or so minutes from there would be ideal, as it almost is for me. |
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Boodleheimer
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Location: working undercover for the Man
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| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:07 am Post subject: |
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| deffo not mine. Jukbyeon is an armpit. |
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BS.Dos.
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:11 am Post subject: |
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Changnyeong
Population: (approx) 25,000
Bars: A few, though we only really frequent one in particular
Supermarkets: About 5 though small and none carry Western branded items
Local specialties: Onions, they're everywhere.
Best things about the area: 30-minutes to Daegu. 40-minutes to Masan. 50-minutes to Pusan. Cool mountain on doorstep. For it's size, it has a good selection of oddball FT's.
Worse thing about the town: If you're under 30 you may die of boredom. If you're over 30 and can make your own fun, it's not so bad.
In a nutshell - just enough of the everyday basics to keep you sane. Once you learn to roll with it, you'll save some good coin. |
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BS.Dos.
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:20 am Post subject: |
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I'd like to second Tongyeong.
Lucky enough to know one of the very few FTs' down there and spent a few days visiting him over Cheosuk. It's got a very good selection of modern shops etc and also has a cool old town section down by the harbour area. Best thing though by far are the numerous Islands which are serviced regularly by a good ferry service, which you can go and explore. |
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