Korean Job Discussion Forums

turkishlover25 · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Location: Illinois; USA

Hello All! I just arrived to Bundang yesterday to start working for Avalon English in their R&D department. I am really hoping to meet up with some like-minded foreigners, but not too many because that defeats my purpose for coming here in the first place. I know very little about the area in which I'm living (Kemgok-dong Bundang-gu Gyeonggi-do?) and would appreciate any comments. I'm not necessarily looking for expat hangouts, just places that are friendly to foreigners and won't overprice anymore than they do for the locals. I mean, I do understand this is a relatively affluent neighborhood.

More specifically, I need to find a good gym. I don't do tennis or swimming, I just need a lot of free weights. Are there GNCs or the Korea equivalent? I also need to know the names of good grocery/general household goods stores. I would also like to take Korean lessons--any good courses for that?

Finally, what are the accepted dating customs between Korean women and foreign men? No, I'm not looking for one night stands, or anything specifically, but I want to be sure I'm not overstepping any boundaries in case an opportunity presents itself.

Anyway, PM if you want to hang out or just chat. I would love to meet up with some of you helpful people on here.

giraffe · Joined: 07 Apr 2009

They have GNC's in korea. Ive seen them around.

http://www.gnckorea.co.kr/

Personally wouldnt buy vitamins and things like that in korea though. Soo expensive there too especially GNC ( its even overly expensive here in canada). I almost always bring in a suitcase full of vitamins ( bought from pharmacies in canada) everytime i go to korea for my wife's family in korea.

mimis · Joined: 24 May 2009

Welcome!

Don't know anything about your area, but perhaps you could check out older threads about dating K-women and studying Korean (with the search function). There have been millions with a lot of valuable info.

jyoo24 · Joined: 10 Aug 2009

Hey, welcome to Bundang. I'm actually residing in Bundang as well.

As you probably know, you will be using the subway A LOT here in Korea. Here is a very useful site. Just click on the subway map and then you can enter in which station you're departing from and where you're trying to go. It'll show you the fastest route and how much it will cost.

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/TR/TR_EN_5_1_4.jsp

I'm relatively new to Korea as well so sorry I couldn't help more. Smile

climber159 · Joined: 02 Sep 2007

This subway/bus site is better. http://traffic.visitkorea.or.kr/lang/en/Subway/

Subway is OK for some things, but the bus is often times a better bet. Since you're in Bundang you'll want to figure out which Red buses go from your area to Seoul. Chances are they will cut your travel time in half compared to the subway.

Avalon...hmm...I wish you the best.

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

How old are you?

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

turkishlover25 · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Location: Illinois; USA

Thanks for the responses so far everybody. As for subway/bus maps, any and all are useful as far as I'm concerned. Also, I did do a search, but much of what I turned up seemed dates, so I figured I'd risk another thread. Sorry if many of you are simply repeating yourselves--I appreciate your help all the more.

Jyoo24--New huh? How new? We should hang out or something!

Dodgy Al--Despite the dodgy nature of your question I'll answer: 25. Why?

DCJames--Sarcastic or not, thanks for the welcome!

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

turkishlover25 · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Location: Illinois; USA

From foreigners or Koreans? And in relation to which question I asked earlier?

curlygirl · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Location: Pundang, Seohyeon dong

Hi turkishlover25.

Bundang is actually quite big but the main area where your fellow expats congregate is Seohyeon. There are a huge number of restaurants of all varieties (Indian, Mexican, Vietnames etc). Quite a few nice pubs around here too. There's also Kyobo books and Books Libro if you're hankering after some English reading material.

As for learning Korean, there is a local place http://academygm.com/ that may be right up your alley.

Welcome to Korea. Mix, mingle, teach and have fun.

iammac2002 · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Location: 'n Beter plek.

turkishlover25 · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Location: Illinois; USA

Curlygirl: So far Bundang seems great, but what do I know -- I've only been here for two days. I just went up to Samsung/AK Plaza and Lotte Mart. Nice, but a little out of my everyday-shopping interests.

I have heard something about "Dublins," is it? You know anything about that?

And thanks for the advice on books--I'm returning to the States to start my PhD next year, so I'll need to keep abreast of my readings. Also, I just found that Korean course's website. It seems about my only choice.

Thanks again. Any other comments/advice are welcome, as are PMs.

Oreovictim · Joined: 23 Aug 2006

It's cool that you want to meet new people and chat, but what about your job? I used to know a couple of people who worked at the Avalon in Bundang. There's a ton of foreigners who work at that school.

turkishlover25 · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Location: Illinois; USA

True, but I figure it never hurts to be a social butterfly in a foreign country. I don't start working until next week, so I'm pretty much on my own for now. I don't dare say I'm bored, but I'm trying to overcome jet lag, which makes traipsing around the city for more than a few hours painful. That gives me plenty of time to "move in," research my new home, and check stuff on here, where amazing people like you have been kind enough to respond to a newbie's questions. Well, not complete "newbie": I lived in Turkey for almost 2 years.

I have been to the office and I met a lot of people, probably about 10 foreigners, and I can't say for sure that's the extant of them. I'm sure once I start working there I will get closer to a few of them at least. Do you know anyone still working there? In R&D?