Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kirya]

Hi, I am about to move to Seoul and I was wondering where are some good neighborhoods to live in.

I am working in Seouldae, near the SNU subway stop on the #2 line. I would like to live somewhere nice(of course) that has a decent sized mart nearby, on the #2 line and a decent nightlife. Really just looking for a good number of bars and restaurants that I don't have to travel far to get to.

I did alittle research and I heard Kyodae and Sillim are good. Sinchon/Hongdae are good as well but a bit far from Seouldae. Has anyone lived in Kyodae or Sillim?

Any other places worth checking out to see? Seocheo, Seoullung, Yeongdungpo, Sadang?

Thanks~

[PRagic]

There isn't a huge difference in prices for any of those neighborhoods as long as you avoid apartments. Like everywhere else in Seoul, if you can avoid apartments, do so!

So it'll boil down to how much you want to spend. If you can't afford at least 5-10 million down and 700,000 a month, I'd suggest the Itaewon/NokSaPyong Station area; at least there, you'll get some elbow room for what you can pay. Places in the areas on the green (#2) lines you mention might give you sticker shock, or you might just not want to live in a box!

You'll have to get here and get your feet on the ground. Get the neighborhood real estate places and ask around.

Good luck to you.

[tvc15]

I used to live in an officetel -- too small, way to small -- at the SNU subway stop. As the above poster stated, if you look for a nice "apartment" (that is, a single unit in a tall building of many floors) there is not much other than small 10 pyoung places in the W700,000 range.

Silim is a bit sleazy, in my opinion. Lots of love motels and trash on the street.

Kangnam is okay -- if you are young. It's noisy.

Sadang is good, but the housing options there are limited.

Those are your best stations along line 2.

If you are adventurous, look at "villas." They are typically 3-4 story, older, brick buildings. It's what we would call an apartment. You will be able to get a bigger place, but will probably need the help of a Korean friend when dealing with water, boiler, heating, and utilities.

I went the route that PRagic mentioned above and moved to the Itaewon area. My building is older, but I've got 27 pyoung now, compared to 10 before.

If you have any questions, please post.

[missty]

I live a five minute bus ride from Sillim station, and would recommend the area. It isn't as clean or as new as some areas are, and yes there are a lot of love motels here too, but it has a good atmosphere about it and around the subway stop there are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. Although there are much less foreigners in Sillim than in other places, but again I like that. For me it works living here, as I am on the green line and can still get to Hongdae, Kangnam, Sinchon etc... easily, but it still has enough to keep me entertained here.

I used to live in a really small officetel just one minute from the SNU subway, and it was really small and expensive. But it was brand new and clean. On the other hand I am now living in a cheaper place in Sillim, but the apartment is older and things keep breaking in it.

Whether you choose to live close to work or move further away, I wouldn't rule out living in Sillim just because it isn't as clean or as new as other places. It has its charm even if it is on the sleazy side!

[Weigookin74]

I knew a girl who lived in a new one room or studio apartment. was an ok size for what it was. (I have seen smaller.) It was new and nice enough inside. Anyways, she told me it was 10 million deposit and 500,000 won rent. This was in the Sillim area - maybe 5 minutes away from the motels. It wasn't bad. Why don't some of you post the deposits and rents that you have paid for one rooms, two rooms, villas, apartments, etc. It would be helpful for everyone to know.

[Weigookin74]

[nosmallplans]

Hapjeong and Sangsu are nice.

[PRagic]

Sure. The officitels next to Hapjeong Station run about 80 million key money. Monthly rent runs about 600-650 a month with lump-o-cash down.

A buddy of mine rented a one-room in HongDae on the Hapjeong side. That was 650 a month, I believe, for an unglorified box. He married, they moved to Sangsu, and are paying 800+ for a 2 room (living room and a bedroom).

A married friend of mine scouted the area from Shincheon to HongDae to Hapjeong and couldn't find anything with any elbow room for under a million a month with at least 10-20 million down. They ended up choosing to live in Itaewon.

It's not cheap. We just moved out of our apartment to cut our key money. That place was 310 million for key money. We have a bigger place now, but as it's not an apartment, we picked up a substantial chunk of change as the key money is a third less. Quieter, too. Bonus.

Again, avoid apartments!

[tvc15]

[PRagic]

The thing that will really get you with apartments and officitels is the 'monthly maintenance fee'. Even in a small officitel, you can end up paying over 100 thousand won a month in 'fees' and utilities. Rip off. Complete and total ripoff.

[nomad-ish]

[PRagic]

I agree. A buddy of mine rents an entire house near Shinchon, and his electric...for a two story house...was just a bit over 100,000 won. No too bad seeing he has everything going and the place is kept pretty warm. Those apartment/officitel fees are a rip off and a half. Even Koreans are getting ticked at having to pay them, and they've been featured on some Korean news programs as of late.

Sad thing is that most of the cheap housing in the Ewha area is slated to be 'redeveloped'. That'll be one big chunk-o-apartments soon enough, and they'll be overpriced. They're putting up a new apartment complex at Hapjeong Station, so that'll be a zoo.

One place people might want to check out is the Mangwon Station area. You're on line 6, one stop from Hapjeong Station, and the neighborhood tends to be a bit cheaper. Another area is Yonnam Dong, which is near HongDae but not as pricy as Sogyo-Dong (the HongDae/Hapjeong area).

[Seoulman69]

If you like Sillim but want to live somewhere a bit less sleazy check out Sindaebang. Or if you like Hongdae why not live in Dangsan. A subway stop or two can save you alot of money.

[PRagic]

Too true. Mangwon is just less of a dump than Dangsan. Things change, though. In a few years, who knows? Mangwon used to be a royal dump, but now it's an up-and-coming place.

[yingwenlaoshi]