Korean Job Discussion Forums

[waltjocketty]

It's been asked before but nobody gave a good answer, so I thought I'd try again: Where in Seoul can I swim laps, other than the olympic sports complex in Chamshil and hotels?

[Cheonmunka]

There are several pools around. Usually they are linked to Sports Centers.
I have many problems with swimming here. I will let you find out about them once you find your pool.

[mistermasan]

pleasse share your knowledge of problems with pools.

[smilesalot]

I'm outside of Seoul in Bucheon, but I've managed to find a pool at the big department store here. You can sometimes find them at larger gyms. The problems I've found swimming here are the lack of 'fast,' 'medium,' and 'slow' lanes, the old dudes showing off their butterfly (not impressive), the old ladies that just keep swimming their laps in the middle of the lane, and getting stared at underwater when I do flip-turns (no one in my pool does them except me). Oh, and people always try to stop me so they can practice their English on me and ask me how to do flip-turns (twelve years of year-round training is all it takes). Good luck with your search, PM if you're in Bucheon and need a place to swim.

[CeleryMan]

Simply walk into the pool area of any 5 star hotel in Gangnam, if they ask what room number you're in yell "7th floor!" Works like a charm.

The alternative is to pay upwards of 300,000 KRW per month to swim in congested lanes with restricted hours. I never knew I was capable of experiencing 'road rage' in a swimming lane ....

[grnmle]

I think swimming rage is pretty common. It is one reason I don't swim in Korea. After walking down the street to go to a pool, I know I would build a little hostility becaus of the lack of awareness of one's surroundings that goes on here. If it is bad on the street it has got to be bad at the pool.

[maeil]

Is anyone on this board a member at the pool across the street from Noksapyeong station? I'm considering joining but would like some info about the facilities/members.

[kalkamagi]

[maeil]

Right - the monthly rate is incredible.

It seemed to me that the free swim time started at 8am, and that classes began at 6... but can you do free swimming at 6 as well?

[kalkamagi]

found the flyer-
free swimming m-sat
6am-9am, plus the two times i mentioned earlier. saturday they have an extra free swim time, 5-7pm

sunday is free swim except for 12-1 and 3-4, but they don't open every sunday.

it's only a couple years old, but the facility is a bit cramped and the locker rooms feel a bit dated. that doesn't matter swim-wise, but you would think this day and age in korea, they would have some really flashy interior. but it is somehow connected to the public high school, maybe that explains the apparant budget issue.

[maeil]

Thanks for the info... I'd heard that a new pool was opening in the Itaewon area. I'd never really noticed this one until they put the big banner outside, so I figured that was it. Maybe I'll check out the other one before signing up here.

[CeleryMan]

Funny how hydrochloric acid is used in rest. but chlorine is perceived as toxic? Lack of lane etiquette is a walk in the park, beware of pink-eye and staph infections; Korea's dirty little secret when it comes to communal swimming.

[hogwonguy1979]

spo land at the world cup stadium has a pool, very expensive though, 160-200k/month

[Cheonmunka]

By 'Free Swim' I take it you mean free time, that is, not lessons and ajumas classes' but free to do your own type of free-style swimming without someone blowing a whistle telling you to get out or slow down or move to another lane ...?