Korean Job Discussion Forums

anyangoldboy · Joined: 28 Sep 2007

What is it like to live there??? (Compared to Seoul if you have experienced both-I used to live in Seoul and in the middle of no where too)

Any decent gyms etc???

anyangoldboy · Joined: 28 Sep 2007

No one???

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Can't say I know much, but I spent 1 night there last spring on a motorcycle trip.

The touristy area by the ocean is ok. They don't allow restaurant workers to call you as you walk by, so it's more peaceful.

I drove through the city twice. It is on a major route up and down the East Sea and to Seoul. Actually, it was the first beach resort on the East Sea popular with people from Seoul. I'm sure you can get buses to anywhere. If you had a motorcycle or car, the sky's the limit. The city looked like a regular small Korean city. Just remember, it's a small town with a famous tourist area.

I'd get bored there, but would rather be on the ocean then stuck in the middle of the country. It's also very close to Yongpyeong ski resort.

Once again, don't know what it's like to live there.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

There is no McDonalds in Gangneung Emart food court anymore, but downtown there's a huddle of restaurants with a 24/7 McDonalds in the middle. There are several pizza places and many various Korean restaurants and fashion stores in the city center. This area seems to cater primarily to young college students. I like how Gangneung is a city, but lacks the hustle bustle of the larger cities. I would say it's not that bad if you want to live in a small town with shopping lacking the pressures city life carries. You also have 2 foreigner bars where you can socialize a bit with others, but it's a fairly small pool of foreigners.

I go there at least once a month for shopping. I noticed the taxis road rage there a lot, but it's a small city. I think out in Gangwondo, drivers are just used to not being cramped so they trip out on a little slowdown in Gangneung, but it's nothing compared to a 500,000 or more city. It's not as stressful of a city as it's quite small in comparison to Changwon, Daegu, and Seoul, but has most things a real Korean city has that you will find useful though the immigration office is in Donghae should you need to visit them.

refikaM · Joined: 06 May 2006 Location: Gangwondo

There's a wonderful Italian restaurant there (2 locations.. one downtown and another on the outskirts).. Tera Rosa... Great "real" pasta dishes and wine selection.. They also roast their own coffee beans.. expensive but quite tasty...

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

damn, why did they remove that mcd's?? it was so popular! maybe they had a protest or demonstration against US beef there or something haha

McGenghis · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Gangneung

I moved North of Gangneung after a two year stint in Southern Gyeonggi (Near Pyeongtaek) and I never regretted it. I have been accused of being a reincarnated Korean, though. I've never pined for McDonalds, either.

The scenery here is great, the people are kind, and the raw fish falls off the truck and on to your plate. It's very Korean, though. I rarely use English, even at school.

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

It is big. Try Samcheok or Donghae if you need to get away from it all. G-city has nrearly 100 foreign teachers.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Dogye is even more smalltown than Samcheok or Donghae. Try that for total Koreanness...!

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

I used to be in Hosan...Dogye...is like West Virginia after the coal mines closed.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

yeah a Coal belt town. That`s what I always think of when I remember my visit there.

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:18 am Post subject:

My little town is a place where the mines shut down 20 years ago, but tourism is the main focus today and it's working as new development is slowly happening on a small scale such as newly redone streets, new chrome street lamps with cool color changing light effects, a new gym, a new western restaurant, and many new small Korean restaurants. Gangwondo is focusing on tourism now which is working, but it's not a booming happening thing like Paris or Hollywood or Thailand or even Colorado. It's the place for Koreans to come slow down, take a rest, relax, and do some light shopping for traditional wares. Kangwonland is like 1.5 hours away and it's only starting to develop as it's really not near finished.

I only wish there was a cozy little sit down bar where you can chat with others, carry on conversations, and just meet people to make friends or just flap our jaws for the fun of it. All the bars have seating booths in them except the western restaurant has a real bar, but no one sits at it nor are you allowed to go by yourself.