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ITT why Itaewon is great.

 
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LURKER



Joined: 26 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:00 pm    Post subject: ITT why Itaewon is great. Reply with quote

Seriously. It's got a great variety of food, a cool metropolitan feel to it, yeah it's a bit sleazy, but who cares? I'm tired of hearing people go on about how it makes them "uncomfortable," as though some dodgy Nigerian blokes and other foreigners *shock horror* out to meet women are ruining their "authentic" Korean experience or something.

It's my favourite place in Korea, and I don't know why people diss it so much.
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samcheokguy



Joined: 02 Nov 2008
Location: Samcheok G-do

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You know EXACTLY why they dislike Itaewon. They have said so. Now you may think have dumb reasons...but you have seen all the reasons typed out here. You fail symantics.
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LURKER



Joined: 26 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nah, I still don't understand it. It's hardly as though prostitution and the seedier side of life isn't pretty easy to find in other parts of Seoul (or Korea, for that matter).
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Straphanger



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can someone consolidate these threads? This is the third one on Itaewon.
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Ukon



Joined: 29 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm susprised by how dissed it gets...I've heard plenty of cool people straight out say "I hate that place". It's a fun and interesting neighborhood.

However, I'd HATE to live there. Aside from cheap rents, the place is like an foreign ghetto...I didn't come to korea to live in an American version of a 1970's China town. Not to mention everything is overpriced...It is centrally located which is a plus.
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LURKER



Joined: 26 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ukon wrote:
I'm susprised by how dissed it gets...I've heard plenty of cool people straight out say "I hate that place". It's a fun and interesting neighborhood.

However, I'd HATE to live there. Aside from cheap rents, the place is like an foreign ghetto...I didn't come to korea to live in an American version of a 1970's China town. Not to mention everything is overpriced...It is centrally located which is a plus.


I see what you mean. But it seems to me that a lot of people that diss Itaewon can't relax a little and feel the need to feel "superior" in some way or something to the place and the people that hang out there.
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Goku



Joined: 10 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh let's branch out into 3 different threads about the same topic of Itaewon.. lol jk op no hard feelings. Wink

I do admit, Itaewon is great for food.

There's a lot of western things to do, and for that I'm thankful I can get a taste of home. Oh god, a good western brekfast with eggs and bacon with waffles sounds good right about now.

And it's very multicultural, even in Korea, you can experience something non-Korean.

However, I'm more of an advocate of enjoying the local cuisine and life while I can. I like to eat the Korean food and I'll even make Sam Gyup Sal at home.

I'm not so... "attached" to a food and I'm more willing to explore.

I'll admit, I'm a bit unrationally biased against Itaewon. My own expereinces there have been... strange to say the least. I had people egging me on to cheat on my GF with some girl I just met, and I did. I regret it with every fiber of my being and which is why I hate Itaewon. Everything bad I've ever done morally comes from there.

The people I generally meet in Itaewon are amoral (not immoral lets not confuse them) and I have a strict set of morals that I follow. I understand amorality and to a degree it's logically valid and fine to think that promesicous sex, cheating, drinking all night, causing trouble, throwing beer bottles, and smoking pot is fine. But personally, I don't want to live my life that way. Itaewon is an easy venue for this type of behavior.
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nosmallplans



Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: noksapyeong

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some of the restaurants are amazing.

For example: the little restaurant underneath Gecko's has the best hashbrowns in the world.
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Ukon



Joined: 29 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Goku wrote:

The people I generally meet in Itaewon are amoral (not immoral lets not confuse them) and I have a strict set of morals that I follow. I understand amorality and to a degree it's logically valid and fine to think that promesicous sex, cheating, drinking all night, causing trouble, throwing beer bottles, and smoking pot is fine. But personally, I don't want to live my life that way. Itaewon is an easy venue for this type of behavior.


Welcome to 90% of humanity under 30.

Lighten up pal....Sex isn't evil, drink is not bad unless taken to excess, and pot is not "morally wrong" unless you think cigarettes and alcohol are "evil" too.
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prideofidaho



Joined: 19 Mar 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Goku wrote:

I'll admit, I'm a bit unrationally biased against Itaewon. My own expereinces there have been... strange to say the least. I had people egging me on to cheat on my GF with some girl I just met, and I did. I regret it with every fiber of my being and which is why I hate Itaewon. Everything bad I've ever done morally comes from there.

The people I generally meet in Itaewon are amoral (not immoral lets not confuse them) and I have a strict set of morals that I follow. I understand amorality and to a degree it's logically valid and fine to think that promesicous sex, cheating, drinking all night, causing trouble, throwing beer bottles, and smoking pot is fine. But personally, I don't want to live my life that way. Itaewon is an easy venue for this type of behavior.


So you blame a neighbourhood for your transgression? Streets and sidewalks and all? Meh, you yourself say it's irrational.

I live in Itaewon, and I just don't see the place in the same light as you. It's home to no more or less debauchery than other parts of town. Maybe because those of us who live here see it in the daylight...who knows.
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Xuanzang



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Goku wrote:
Oh I had people egging me on to cheat on my GF with some girl I just met, and I did. I regret it with every fiber of my being and which is why I hate Itaewon. Everything bad I've ever done morally comes from there.

The people I generally meet in Itaewon are amoral (not immoral lets not confuse them) and I have a strict set of morals that I follow. I understand amorality and to a degree it's logically valid and fine to think that promesicous sex, cheating, drinking all night, causing trouble, throwing beer bottles, and smoking pot is fine. But personally, I don't want to live my life that way. Itaewon is an easy venue for this type of behavior.


It's all on you. Don't blame Itaewon for your straying. No one stripped down the girl, held her and forced you to do anything. I'm not Itaewon's biggest fan but it doesnt deserve that extreme kind of characterization.
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Goku



Joined: 10 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To all 3,

1) Yes it's irrational

2) No I don't blame the physical streets, I attribute the "debauchry" to the people who live the neighborhood

3) I already said "amoral". Not immoral. I don't think those things are bad. But I don't do them nor will I.

4) And no I don't completely blame Itaewon for my problems. I never said it was the cause of my immorality, rather it's the place where the only immoral things I did were there. Ergo, why I don't like it. People behave on what happens around them. I still take responsibility for my actions, but that doesn't change the fact that it's the enviroment that helps fertilize what I consider bad behavior. If I'm in an enviroment where everyone around me is drinking having a blast, picking up hookers, and smoking pot people would obviously tempted to also do the same. Whereas, if somoenes at a bookstore next to a cafe and the people around me are reading it's not like I'm going to pick up a bong and start puffing away in the middle.

It's not like someone's completley isolated from their enviorment. In fact, IS the biggest factor on how someone behaves.

Like I said, it's not all bad, but I avoid it at night time.
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michaelambling



Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

LURKER wrote:
Ukon wrote:
I'm susprised by how dissed it gets...I've heard plenty of cool people straight out say "I hate that place". It's a fun and interesting neighborhood.

However, I'd HATE to live there. Aside from cheap rents, the place is like an foreign ghetto...I didn't come to korea to live in an American version of a 1970's China town. Not to mention everything is overpriced...It is centrally located which is a plus.


I see what you mean. But it seems to me that a lot of people that diss Itaewon can't relax a little and feel the need to feel "superior" in some way or something to the place and the people that hang out there.


You answered your question.
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jkelly80



Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?

PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MODS MAKE THIS A STICKY!

It's a great location within the city. Close to Gangnam, Myeongdong, Jongno, Hongdae, etc.

And it's diverse, which is more than you can say for just about any spot in this country.
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