Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ninjaniki]

Hi everyone. I was wondering your thoughts on Ilsan. I accepted a job there and will be moving there late August. I chose Ilsan over Masan because it seemed like a better place to live. Also is there a large foreign community there? Thanks

[lohengrin]

I couldn't say its the best city in Korea, not having been in all the cities in Korea, but its pretty good.

[wylies99]

It's a wonderful place and is only 30-45 minutes from many locations in Seoul by subway.

Where will you be living in Ilsan?

[PRagic]

Always interests me to see that people say a places is great, but then justify the statement by saying that the place is however close to Seoul.

Seoul is really the place to be, in other words, but Ilsan is Ok and close enough. You'll have a great time there.

[soviet_man]

I lived in Ilsan 2005-2006 (Hwajeong to be exact). It was ok, in as much as that it wasn't terrible.

The downside to living there is the vast amount of time wasted on subways going to other places, particularly on weekends and late nights.

40-55 minutes to Jongno, 1 hour + to Itaewon/Gangnam (or anywhere south of the river) and the endless standing up and getting crammed in to buses and subways.

But if you like being an anonymous homebody and rarely go out, then yes I suppose it would be ideal.

[Ninjaniki]

Im not sure where in Ilsan I will be living yet. Thanks everyone for the info.

[milspecs]

my uncle has a house in Ilsan, its kinda boring...

[Oreovictim]

I hate it when people say, "Don't move to ________. It takes too long to get to Itaewon." (or) "________ is a good place. It's only ____ minutes by subway to Itaewon." Screw that place.

I've been to Ilsan twice. It's seemed pretty nice. But visiting and living are two different things. Just try to find out what area you're in. It would suck to be in a run-down area of town.

I live in Bundang, and it's annoying because you're at the end of a subway line. I can't shoot out from many directions. I have to travel for about 50 minutes just to make it to the green line. I think that Ilsan might be the same.

But Seoul and its suburbs are a lot better than any other area of Korea. You won't deal with as much xenophobia; there's more things to do, and most importantly, the women are a lot more attractive/it's easier to get a girlfriend. Best of luck.

[wylies99]

[PRagic]

Who said anything about the Twon?

[wylies99]

It's not you, PR, it's others.

I'm sick of hearing how "Ilsan sucks" because some "gotta have action" like they have in Itaewon.
Like most "teachers" live some sort of rock-n-roll lifestyle. Whatever.

[howie2424]

I'm with wylies99. Ilsan is is a nice suburb of Seoul. There's plenty to see and do here and wylies99 has listed most of them. If you really feel the compelling need to be in big city don't come here. If you don't mind a slightly slower pace in reasonable proximity to big city amenities then you'll like Ilsan.

[PRagic]

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, some of the recent grads go a bit off the wall. Money in the pocket, lots of bars, newfound freedom, still getting used to not being in school... Guess I don't hold it against them, it's just that there's so much more to do.

[Toon Army]

I lived in Ilsan city (near Madu/Baeksok) previously and it`s a good place to live. It`s 45 mins on the subway to the city center (depends where you live in Ilsan of course)but there are late buses that run from the city center to ilsan if you want to stay out later.

If I went out in Sinchon or Hongdae there were late buses from Yonsei Uni near by until 2.10am that go to Ilsan so it`s not too bad if you want to stay out a little later. Plus the buses are faster so it only took 25 mins or so back to where I lived

[sojusucks]

I also haven't been to all the cities or towns in Korea, but I have been to quite a few. So far, Ilsan is my favorite.