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nandatte
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:48 pm Post subject: where in Seoul do YOU live and do you LOVE it? |
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Hey everyone, i'm new to the forums here so please be nice to me 
I'm interested in going to Korea to teach in a public school next year and am wondering which areas of Seoul people consider to be the "best"?
My criteria for good areas include:
1. close vicinity to supermarkets (e.g. 15 minutes walk), train station (again 15 minutes walk), and gym.
2. Reasonably close to the main CBD areas, like where the nightlife and fun is. (e.g. approx 30-45 minute by train)
3. Close to facilities like swimming pool/park/library etc.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
regards,
Matt |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| when you work in the public schools via SMOE and a recruiter...placement is random...and you have no input in the matter...my location rocks...apartment is decent, school is great....some have the total opposite and live on the fringes of seoul or 40 minutes from any fun places.... |
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| What is "CBD"? I'm close to the subway and nightlife, and not close to a supermarket. For the rest of your criteria, no idea. |
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blade
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:42 am Post subject: |
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| Draz wrote: |
| What is "CBD"?. |
Central Business District |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| Draz wrote: |
| What is "CBD"? I'm close to the subway and nightlife, and not close to a supermarket. For the rest of your criteria, no idea. |
CBD is Central Business District, I think you Americans call it "Downtown"
I second what Ukon said. To work in a public school in Seoul, 95% of the time you have to go through SMOE which is a crapshoot. Often you can be closer to many of the better/fun areas of Seoul from a place such as Suwon, Ilsan, Anyang, Ansan or Bundang than from the fringes of Seoul proper.
This is one of the few areas where a Hagwon has the upper hand as you are able to pinpoint your exact location. |
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nandatte
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:08 am Post subject: |
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So you guys think i dont have any input in where i will be placed if i go with SMOE? I would rather do a public school than go Hagwon since reading all of the horror stories has given me enough of a headache
How about transport? Is it easy to get a motorcycle license over in Korea if i don't have one in my own country? Are there any places that would have english instructors and is it easy to obtain said license? That would seem the cheapest option for motorised transport, since i can't really imagine myself biking everywhere  lol i'm just very unfit
I would of course be looking at second hand pricing for motorbikes (250cc or smaller). How would the cost side of things go for motorcycles over there? |
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nandatte
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:12 am Post subject: |
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| Ukon wrote: |
| when you work in the public schools via SMOE and a recruiter...placement is random...and you have no input in the matter...my location rocks...apartment is decent, school is great....some have the total opposite and live on the fringes of seoul or 40 minutes from any fun places.... |
Ukon, where are you placed and how far are you from "fun" places?? I'd just like to gauge general areas from people to see which are the good areas and which are the not-so-good areas not that i have any say in where i'm to be placed...but still it's better to know |
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:43 am Post subject: |
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| Otherside wrote: |
| Draz wrote: |
| What is "CBD"? I'm close to the subway and nightlife, and not close to a supermarket. For the rest of your criteria, no idea. |
CBD is Central Business District, I think you Americans call it "Downtown" |
Ah. I work in the CBD (south of the river), but I wouldn't want to live here. The nightlife is better where I live, north of the river, and so are the apartments. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:47 am Post subject: |
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| nandatte wrote: |
| Ukon wrote: |
| when you work in the public schools via SMOE and a recruiter...placement is random...and you have no input in the matter...my location rocks...apartment is decent, school is great....some have the total opposite and live on the fringes of seoul or 40 minutes from any fun places.... |
Ukon, where are you placed and how far are you from "fun" places?? I'd just like to gauge general areas from people to see which are the good areas and which are the not-so-good areas not that i have any say in where i'm to be placed...but still it's better to know |
I live west of the center of seoul and more importantly next to line 2 subway...which conviently hits up most of the night life/fun areas as stops. I'm in gwangju.
Nothing beats Line 2....it's god's gift to subway lines.
Last edited by Ukon on Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ultimo Hombre
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Location: BEER STORE
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:49 am Post subject: |
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Mokdong.
It can be okay, but mostly it's lame.
I'm not too far from fun though. |
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Yesterday
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Land of the Morning DongChim (Kancho)
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:41 am Post subject: Re: where in Seoul do YOU live and do you LOVE it? |
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| nandatte wrote: |
Hey everyone, i'm new to the forums here so please be nice to me
I'm interested in going to Korea to teach in a public school next year and am wondering which areas of Seoul people consider to be the "best"?
My criteria for good areas include:
1. close vicinity to supermarkets (e.g. 15 minutes walk), train station (again 15 minutes walk), and gym.
2. Reasonably close to the main CBD areas, like where the nightlife and fun is. (e.g. approx 30-45 minute by train)
3. Close to facilities like swimming pool/park/library etc.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
regards,
Matt |
It sounds like you are seeking Jamsil
Jamsil has -
1. close vicinity to supermarkets ( 2 minutes walk to HomePlus and Lotte Mart) , train station (1 minutes walk), and gym - many.
2. Reasonably close to the main CBD areas, like where the nightlife and fun is. (e.g. approx 40-50 minute by train to Itaewon/Hongdae - 10,000won by taxi)
3. Close to facilities like swimming pool/park/library etc - 3 minutes walking to Olympic park. |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:18 am Post subject: |
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double post
Last edited by T-J on Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:18 am Post subject: |
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Agian! I'm an idiot.
Last edited by T-J on Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:23 am Post subject: |
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I would recommend something toward the outside of Seoul, it's kind of a happy medium. 30 minutes to downtown, 30 minutes to get out of Seoul, which after some time here you will want to do.
The CBD of Seoul isn't really one area per say, and living in it really doesn't offer any advantage unless you seek the status of living in a posh area. Transportation in Seoul is incredibly convenient.
Reading your other criteria it really doesn't matter where you live in Seoul, all are prevalent throughout Seoul.
The biggest differences you will find is if you live in Itaewon or near a university. The first as I'm sure you know is the foreign district of Seoul and the latter will offer a younger, more exuberant night life. I lived in ShinChon for two years and HongDae for another two. While I still enjoy going I'm glad I don't live in those locations now. It's one thing to visit and have fun, it's another to be in that environment 24/7.
Imagine the French quarter in New Orleans. Great to go and party in, but would you want to live there? At that time I did, but now I live in northwest Seoul where the 3 and 6 line intersect. It's convenient to get anywhere in Seoul and at the same time very easy to get out of it. |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:56 am Post subject: |
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I live in Ansan (Metro Seoul but not Seoul proper)
45 min - an hour and thirty into Seoul by subway (depending on where you wish to go)
Less crowded than Seoul
Cheaper than Seoul
I have great restaurants all around my house, live 5 minutes walk from down town, 5 minutes from the bus station, 5 minutes from the big grocery store, 5 minutes from a movie theatre, 5 minutes from all the bars I need, 5 minutes from my friends. I like this but it ins't unusual in Korea. I also live 45 min from the ocean and a nice mountain called Surisan. Go to the ocean to eat raw fish, take a ferry to a local island, or visit the muddy beaches. The mountain is good for hiking and mountain biking.
The town itself is ugly...I don't actually like it. It happens to be convenient for me though and I like being outside of Seoul
I would suggest Gunpo as a nice place to live, planned city next to Anyang outside of Seoul, treed streets, nice downtown center, Surisan behind you and a shorter trip into Seoul.
Youngdungpo in Seoul is pretty nice, low end, but in the heart of Seoul, minutes from Shinchon, Hongdae and Itaewon without being in any of them. A little more Korean, close to everything you'd ever want except nature...other than the Han river. Minutes from miles and miles of bike trail along the Han and minutes from one of the few parks in Seoul (Boramae park).
Itaewon, the most foreign friendly place in Korea, best Burritos, best Thai food, best ...anything foreign. Great place.
Nowon, up north next to Dobongsan (mountain) this offers the most relaxed feel in Seoul and the best hiking. I like this place too. You can actually smell trees and the mountain is a grat backdrop to the city.
Last edited by earthbound14 on Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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