Korean Job Discussion Forums

wsiggins · Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Location: Chuncheon, Gangwon do

I am currently reviewing job offers and I am trying to find a couples position in a fun area of Seoul. So far I've got several "around" it, like Incheon or Suwon (south) or Guri (North East) but I'd rather be more central or close to the action (not that I know where that even is, but employers have said atleast 40 minutes by subway for the first two to the 'downtown')

I have heard so many great things about Sincheon/Hongdae (that it is a fun young area for new teachers)- is it hard to find teaching positions there? I know it is cheap to get there on the subway from most places but I think I'd rather live closer/there, is that possible or really difficult to find such positions?

If anyone knows Toronto, I lived near Kensington Market and really loved it. Queen street is great too, are there any areas of Seoul you could compare to it?

Thanks for any input!

seoulsucker · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

The Sinchon/Hongdae area is great. 4 of the country's largest universities are located in the area, which makes for a very young and vibrant crowd. It's pretty crowded, and traffic can be a beeyotch sometimes but for me it's definitely worth being in the thick of things.

genezorm · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: Mokpo

if you like the kensington market vibe, i agree that sinchon/hongdae would be good, but jobs are much easier to come by in the satellite cities

nothing wrong with incheon or suwon, though, especially if you are a couple....you can go "where the action is"

i lived it guri and it sucked balls

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

I like going to hongdae and sinchon, but I would hate living there.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

You usually have to go where people have kids, unless you're teaching adults. Alas, people with kids are not typically known for living near swinging parts of town. However, anything in Gangnam should be fine.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Yangchun-gu is another solid option.

It's just across the river from Hongdae and Sincheon. Very nice middle and upper-middle class neighborhoods with tons of hagwons.

Relatively close to both airports as well.

Something around Mokdong or Omokgyo stations is ideal.

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:38 am Post subject:

Even though I will be in Incheon come September, I like Mok dong as well.

petethebrick · Joined: 25 Jul 2006

Yeah Hongdae and Sinchon are cool, dont know many people living and working there to be honest though. I'm reviewing job offers at the moment also. I used to live in Sincheon, near Jamsil and love it there, godd and lively during the week, near the river and parks, and easy to get to most places by bus/subway.
I'd definitely recommend not living in Suwon are Incheon if you wanna live in a lively area although both those places are ok in their own right

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007

sunnyvale · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: Korea

I wouldn't recommend Mok-dong or Omokyo. There are worse areas, but aside from a big department store there isn't much around there. There's the Anyang River I guess, but you can find similar smaller rivers all around Seoul.

I'd recommend somewhere near Jamsil/Olympic Park.

And although this isn't technically Seoul I'd highly recommend somewhere in Bundang, particularly near Samsung Plaza, Sunae, Jeongja, Migeum, or Ori.

Seoul_Star · Joined: 04 May 2007

simpleminds · Joined: 04 May 2006

Gangnam is dirty, crowded, expensive and noisy...it's supposed to be the poshest part of Seoul. It's boring. There are more interesting bits of Seoul, like Bundang and Jamsil.

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:02 am Post subject:

You will like the women in suwon.

robja · Joined: 02 Feb 2007

I live in Sinchon and will probably do a second year in my apartment, all being well.

As well as the ridiculous number of party/restaurant options there's a healthy selection of shops more or less on your doorstep and a couple of cinemas.

The only downside for me is the noise - I'm a light sleeper and I get woken up at least a couple of times a week by drunks arguing, singing, saying long, loud goodbyes and what have you. And that's on the 10th floor facing a relatively quiet backstreet. Payback for all those drunken singsong walks home when I was younger I guess!

If you fancy working for a big chain (not a bad 'safe' option for your first year here), there's a YBM and a Pagoda in Sinchon, also other smaller options. I personally work in Jongno which is 15 min towards downtown on the bus/subway and again has a couple of YBMs and a Pagoda.

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007