Korean Job Discussion Forums

kara_gina · Joined: 21 Jan 2008

Any idea what this area is like? Is there enough to do (bars, shops, restaurants, etc)? Is it relatively easy getting to other areas in Seoul?

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

That's Nowon, which is the most NE district of Seoul. Nowon's not a bad area, but Bonghwasan is right on the east edge of it, so they might be trying to stick you on some place that's technically in the city but is beyond the outskirts of real urban development, don't know, I haven't been to that bit of Nowon.

Nowon in general is an area where there's a lot of Middle Class/Upper Middle class families, so there's a huge number of hagwons in the area (so there's at least a decent number of foreigners). Pretty clean/nice/modern but fairly far from the heart of Seoul or the main night life areas, however by subway you're a straight shot to Itaewon (foreigner ghetto, with foreigner stuff) which should only be 35-40 minutes or so away from you.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I laugh about that station name. "Whassen" sounds like the german word for water. Bong Water.

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

Just so you know: You're a ten minute walk from exiting the city there.

It's developed pretty quickly since I was living there, though. There's a strip of recent buildings that acts as a restaurant/ entertainment / shopping area. But generally speaking, the area is like living in a small country town with a lot of elderly.

But, you're not too far away from a lot of the busier university areas like HUFS and Kyunghee. And Itaewon is just a 30 minute ride away.

It sucks if you want to go to Kangnam or Shinchon. The buses take forever for that area, and the number six line is crap for useful transfers.

To sum up: if you're a bit older and more settled, it should be fine to live in. If you're fresh out of university, you'll probably wind up hating it.

Col.Brandon · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

32 mins Itaewon - Bonghwasan.

MidwestRepresent · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject: I Loved Bonghwasan

I lived right at Bonghwasan station in an officetel for almost two years and
I loved it. I know a Homeplus or other mega-store recently went in right there, too. I thought that the restaurants in the area were great for korean and chinese food and there are something like 20 of them all right next to the station. Lots of good galbi choices.

It's good for transport as there are buses right by the station that'll take you to the 7 line (which gets you to Kangnam in about 40 minutes), and its right on the 6. Sangbong station (with a Costco and a decent bus terminal serving parts of the rest of Korea) is a 5-10 minute taxi ride away.

It's quiet and the air is pretty clean for Seoul. Good running and biking routes are nearby.

On the downside, there's an abundance of Soviet style apartment blocks just like in any other residential area in Seoul, but at least they have mountains right behind them at Bonghwasan.

The best thing was taking a cab to work on clear morning and seeing the mountains towering over the road.

I would recommend it if you get the chance and I lived there as a 24 and 25 year old.

Writing about it makes me want to move back.

dr. love · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

I lived in the area for about 3 years. It's pretty clean and there is access to some decent parks and mountains. It is close to a Homeplus and only a few thousand won taxi ride from the costco at sangbong.

The Night life is pretty quiet, but there is a nice Brew House at Hwarangdae called Vanaheim. Good Beer.

All considered not a bad place to live.

kara_gina · Joined: 21 Jan 2008

could you compare it to saejeol station on the other side of seoul? is this area also on the edge of the city, or has it got more to offer than Bonghwasan?

MidwestRepresent · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:12 am Post subject: Never been to Saejeol . . .

I've only been out as far as World Cup Stadium and if that is indicative of the other end of the 6 line, I would say that there is more going on at and around Bonghwasan than at Saejol station.

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

My wife lived there for a year and a half. It's not actually in Nowon-gu, it's Jungnang-gu. It's really quiet and slow. There's not a lot there, except a really good HomePlus and a nice easy mountain to hike. There aren't many foreigners there, and not a lot for entertainment. But like a previous poster said, it's a straight subway trip to Iteawon.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

The brown subway line is a good one for access to most of Seoul.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Hwasan means volcano in Korean.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!