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DomesticPelican
Joined: 25 Sep 2009
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 Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject: Can someone tell me a little bit about Songdo City? |
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I was offered a position in Songdo City. I know that is the new city they are building near Incheon.
What is the area like and what is it expected to be like as development progresses?
Are there other English-speaking people in this part of S. Korea?
Is there much of a nightlife? Shopping? Etc...
I'd appreciate any information you can provide. Most of my research has been on Seoul and Busan, so I know very little about this particular area... |
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andrewchon
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Ask riverboy. He's teaching at an int school there. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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Songdo... hmm..
At the far south end of Incheon. This city has one metro (and Line 4 will be built around there soon) but your best bet for a flourishing foreigner life is to head to Bupyeong or Bucheon. |
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DomesticPelican
Joined: 25 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I wish I could PM him but I don't have the 25-post minimum yet, lol |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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I had lunch in Songdo one day, and that's all there was to do. It's a half built city, and besides drinking beers in front of the local Familymart, there didn't seem to be much going on. You'll probably spend your time going in and out of Seoul.
Songdo is a 10 minute cab ride from Suwon Station, and then a 30-40 minute subway ride (express train) into central Seoul.
If I were you, I'd pass on the job offer unless you don't mind isolation. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Jane wrote: |
I had lunch in Songdo one day, and that's all there was to do. It's a half built city, and besides drinking beers in front of the local Familymart, there didn't seem to be much going on. You'll probably spend your time going in and out of Seoul.
Songdo is a 10 minute cab ride from Suwon Station, and then a 30-40 minute subway ride (express train) into central Seoul.
If I were you, I'd pass on the job offer unless you don't mind isolation. |
How can Songdo only be a 10 minute cab ride from Suwon Station? That has to be impossible. |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry...on second thought. Not Suwon Station. It was Juan Station. |
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DomesticPelican
Joined: 25 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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| So there isn't much to do in Incheon? |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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| DomesticPelican wrote: |
| So there isn't much to do in Incheon? |
I ate at a nice seafood restaurant not far from the airport on Incheon island. Also, supposedly by Korean standards, Incheon has some decent beaches to go to during the summer. |
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riverboy
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
Location: Incheon
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:09 am Post subject: |
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I'm a pretty big fan of Songdo, but I'm pushing 40, married and I have a couple of kids.
It really depends on what you like to do. My Metropolitn tastes are pretty low and I am not much of a city boy, so I like living out here. Close to a few islands, a couple of mountains to go hiking on, clean air and watching Songdo develop is pretty cool as well. It's growing by leaps and bounds every day.
At the same time I never found it that hard to get into Seoul...
Songdo is hooked up to the subway line to Bupyeong--about thirty minutes. There are also a few express busses that go to Seoul. You are a few stops from Munhak Stadium which has great baseball for cheap and Korean Soccer games. The ball stadium and the soccer stadium are world class and dirt cheap. Guwol Dong also has a pretty good party scene.
As I said earlier, I'm not a big city guy and I never saw the allure of Seoul. I don't need to be around huge groups of foreigners and if you are seeking out foreign company in Incheon it won't take you long.
There's a new foreign pub-- What's David's (facebook)which just opened and is quite popular with the the locals. Yeonsu gu, which is a fiveminute cab ride away has lots of foreigners all in their early 20's and form the folks I met, they seem to be a real cool bunch.
Also, if you are interested in learning Tae Kwon Do, I can personally give you lessons from my club; we focus on a lot of fitness, bo a lot of heavy bag work and I just ordered a kettlebell to add to our routine.
Although I don't work at the Iternational school, I know a few folks who do and they play basketball on Wednesdays and are starting to go ahead with touch rugby on Saturday's.
I also know a guy who teaches pottery. He's an awesome fella and classes are really cheap.
Sunday's I play bsaeball. I honestly can't think of a place I'd rather be than on a river fly fishing for salmon. I think all places in Korea have their up and downs.
I'd look into the quality of your contract and what kind of hours you will be working more than anything. If you take the job, I'll be happy to introduce you to a few decent people around the neighbourhood
Hope this helps. |
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msmadison
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Location: US
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| riverboy wrote: |
I'm a pretty big fan of Songdo, but I'm pushing 40, married and I have a couple of kids.
It really depends on what you like to do. My Metropolitn tastes are pretty low and I am not much of a city boy, so I like living out here. Close to a few islands, a couple of mountains to go hiking on, clean air and watching Songdo develop is pretty cool as well. It's growing by leaps and bounds every day.
At the same time I never found it that hard to get into Seoul...
Songdo is hooked up to the subway line to Bupyeong--about thirty minutes. There are also a few express busses that go to Seoul. You are a few stops from Munhak Stadium which has great baseball for cheap and Korean Soccer games. The ball stadium and the soccer stadium are world class and dirt cheap. Guwol Dong also has a pretty good party scene.
As I said earlier, I'm not a big city guy and I never saw the allure of Seoul. I don't need to be around huge groups of foreigners and if you are seeking out foreign company in Incheon it won't take you long.
There's a new foreign pub-- What's David's (facebook)which just opened and is quite popular with the the locals. Yeonsu gu, which is a fiveminute cab ride away has lots of foreigners all in their early 20's and form the folks I met, they seem to be a real cool bunch.
Also, if you are interested in learning Tae Kwon Do, I can personally give you lessons from my club; we focus on a lot of fitness, bo a lot of heavy bag work and I just ordered a kettlebell to add to our routine.
Although I don't work at the Iternational school, I know a few folks who do and they play basketball on Wednesdays and are starting to go ahead with touch rugby on Saturday's.
I also know a guy who teaches pottery. He's an awesome fella and classes are really cheap.
Sunday's I play bsaeball. I honestly can't think of a place I'd rather be than on a river fly fishing for salmon. I think all places in Korea have their up and downs.
I'd look into the quality of your contract and what kind of hours you will be working more than anything. If you take the job, I'll be happy to introduce you to a few decent people around the neighbourhood
Hope this helps. |
Hi Riverboy,
I just accepted a position in Namdonggu, Incheon and will start on Dec 28th. I created a post looking for feedback on the location and someone recommended that I check out your related posts.
My preference was to be in Seoul, but mainly because that's all I heard about and was familiar with since my visit there in Oct. I do consider myself a city girl, but I can enjoy a slower paced lifestyle and nature related activities. Two years ago, I moved from Southern CA to Huntsville, AL...and despite the many culture differences, I made the best out of it and actually had a good experience.
I'm looking to meet a few decent people. Here is my quick background: 27 yr old Asian-American female, social drinker, enjoys karaoke, beaches, and spontaneous travelling. |
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Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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Riverboy,
Thanks for a great description. I have a few friends living there and they love Song-do. My wife and I might consider re-locating there from Itaewon 2-dong~ one day in the future. I think it has wonderful potential. Cheers!
Yvon |
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Crockpot2001
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Harpeau wrote: |
Riverboy,
Thanks for a great description. I have a few friends living there and they love Song-do. My wife and I might consider re-locating there from Itaewon 2-dong~ one day in the future. I think it has wonderful potential. Cheers!
Yvon |
Yvon,
Recall that I live there too. It would be great to add some true guitar talent out here!
Stan |
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Dazed and Confused
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in the same boat as Riverboy but without kids. There are worse places in Songdo to go.
The one thing I can say about Song do is, there's lots of construction. Only a fraction of the city has been built thus far. Also, there's no supermarket that I know of. So you're either taking a subway or bus and then carrying it all back home unless you've got a car. What I do like about Songdo is that there's a huge park in the middle of it. The folks at What's David's are friendly and the food is okay. There is also a huge park not so far away with a almost every type of sports playing feild, a pool, climbing wall, sauna, and health club that can be rented at amazingly cheap prices. |
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Crockpot2001
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Dazed and Confused wrote: |
I'm in the same boat as Riverboy but without kids. There are worse places in Songdo to go.
The one thing I can say about Song do is, there's lots of construction. Only a fraction of the city has been built thus far. Also, there's no supermarket that I know of. So you're either taking a subway or bus and then carrying it all back home unless you've got a car. What I do like about Songdo is that there's a huge park in the middle of it. The folks at What's David's are friendly and the food is okay. There is also a huge park not so far away with a almost every type of sports playing feild, a pool, climbing wall, sauna, and health club that can be rented at amazingly cheap prices. |
We actually have 1.5 supermarkets here. GS is located in the 1st world towers base across from the coast guard. They've got quite a fair selection and they don't often yell throughmegaphones. Most new people seem to be places in the 1st world towers so it's quite convenient.
There is also the shinsegae store in the basement of...heck, it all looks the same here too. I have no idea of how to tell you where it is. It's near the wine store. they DO yell through megaphones. I refuse to go there but for big packages of chicken breast. |
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