Korean Job Discussion Forums

[HollyLove]

I'm hopping to move to Ilsan in February and I was just wondering what everyone thinks of living there.

Is there a lot of entertainment? Easy access to Seoul? Easy access to the outdoors? and the all important question...do you like it?

I'm not sure what else to ask but any information would be nice.

[beercanman]

It's one of the richest, most upscale places in Korea, I guess, so the shopping and restaurants are pretty good. I imagine there are quite a few foreign English teachers there. Seoul can be got to in around 40 minutes on bus.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Ilsan is one of the best places to live in Korea.

I spent 2 years there.

45 mins to Seoul Station by bus. Busses run into at least 1.30am

Clean and lots of wide open spaces.

Friendly and sophistcated people mostly comapred to other cities. A lot more open minded an logical than most koreans.

La Festa and Western dome - huge awesome shoopping malls outdoors and indoors with cinemas, great retaurants and bars etc and shopping

Lake Park - huge park wiithnice big artificial lake. Great place too work out, relax and lots of cute little thins to do like the sanitation museum oor the mini zoo etc... great lace int he spring and summer

Close to Bukhansan for hiking.

Plenty of other foreigners and some okay foregner bars in La Festa.

Really in a lot of ways I prefered living there to Seoul. It's one of the only places in Korea that I've actually missed after moving away from.

You'll like it I'm sure, I've never met anyone that didn't.

[ThingsComeAround]

I'm not a fan of Ilsan.

Most of the city is artificial. As DMGB said, Lake Park, La Festa, and WesternDom are the best things going about this neighborhood. LaFesta is a tad 'run down'. WesternDom looks nice but it gets old fast (my gf used to drag me there EVERY WEEKEND). Lake Park is as fake as it gets.

Bukhansan isn't that close, surprisingly. About 30 min away by train + bus.

I'd say the real draw about Ilsan is the fact that it is close to Seoul. 2 Metros and dozens of express buses can get you there fast. There are other 'side parks' however most of what I see was artificially made.

Many Dog Soup restaurants (I'm not kidding)
Beware of the sign 보신탕.

There are some neighborhoods with a little character, but most of it is hidden under the drab grey Pyeongyang-esque apartment blocks that the locals can't get enough of...

[HollyLove]

does that mean I would have to fear for my dog if I should adopt one?

[yingwenlaoshi]

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

[HollyLove]

[ThingsComeAround]

DMGB: I'm sorry my opinion offends you.
My friends love Ilsan. I don't. Best thing Ilsan has going for it is how close it is to Seoul and the airport. I'm not slamming you personally.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[b-class rambler]

I live in that area and I'd agree with all of what dwaeji says about it.

It is pretty serious concrete jungle territory, but so is most of urban Korea. And yes, it is artificial in the sense that there's nothing there that wasn't built within the last 15-20 years. But one of the advantages of being a "new town" is that there's a lot more in the way of open spaces between buildings than in many other places in Korea.

I can understand what TCA is saying and it's a perfectly fair personal opinion to have. But I'd be fairly sure most EFLers do like the place and that it ticks the OP's boxes too.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

TCA I was never offended or uppset by your opinion in any way. Just offering the OP a counter opinion. It's quicler and easier just to do the quote and bold thing when posting in response to someone else.

[ThingsComeAround]

Update: Okay this city is getting a tad better.

If you live outside of the officetels, there is a farmer's market that comes around to the Maeuls (villages) once a week. This by far is the #1 reason I like to live here, cheaper food than Homeplus/Emart/Lotte Mart delivered right to your doorstep. If I were you, push for an apartment!

[Murakano]

I used to live in Ilsan and really liked it there......and as far as the subway, there will soon be a line leading right through to Hongdae station from Ilsan (Gyeongui line) soon ....

Pretty much has everything you need there (E-mart, homeplus, some decent western bars etc) with cleaner air and a nice huge park (which Seoul heavily lacks - decent parks with grass and trees that is!).

Though I live in central Seoul I might contemplate going back to Ilsan once my contract is over. I`d recommend Ilsan.....

[AussieGav]

I dont live ther, but have been many times. It is definatly a place I would recomend. There is also a Costco which would makelive easier.