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Big Ben
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
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 Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:31 am Post subject: Housing in Gwangju City |
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In an earlier post on all things Gwangju, a respondent ("Loza", I think) suggested that one should find their own apartment there, as money could probably be saved from the EPIK housing allowance. That said, my personal space/environment is REALLY important to me and could make or break my stay for the next year. I'm a newbie and hoping to find answers to a few questions:
1. Is the majority of the housing in Gwangju new, old, mixed, or more friggin' decrepit than you'd ever imagine?
2. What does an average officetel rent for a month? (From what I've seen on Youtube, the newer loft-style ones would definitely suit me best).
3. Does anyone have any experience with EPIK housing in Gwangju?
4. If one does choose to find their own housing, how goes the transition between orientation in Seoul and finding an apartment in Gwangju? Do you find a hotel for a week while looking?
5. Is there a website / social networking site that lists apartments for rent?
6. Anybody have a stellar building they'd like to recommend? (I don't yet know at which school I'll be placed, but I could at least map things out ahead of time)
Lots of questions, I know, but I definitely appreciate your help. |
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Big Ben
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:45 am Post subject: |
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Really need help here, folks.
Anybody...? Anybody ...? |
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Oatmeal Prince
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:44 am Post subject: |
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I presume you mean Gwangju Metropolitan City and not the other Gwangju City.
I guess I can't be of much help because I wasn't employed through EPIK and I had my Korean girlfriend pick out an apartment for me. It goes without saying that Gwangju in general is less modern than Seoul, but of course you can still find plenty of nice single apartments here. There's a brand new complex that just opened in my dong (Yongbongdong, in Bukgu). I stay in a relatively old place, but it ain't half bad and I only pay $270 per month in rent.
If you're interested I could find out the rates at the new apartment I mentioned. My co-teachers stay in the downtown area and they've got a pretty nice apartment for a decent price. That's one you could consider if you want to live in Donggu. [/i] |
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Big Ben
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:08 am Post subject: |
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| Prince - Thanks for the reply. Actually, I don't yet know where I'll be teaching, as we don't learn that until orientation in Feb., so I'm not sure what sector of the city would be best. I've scoured the web but can't really find demographic info on Gwangju MC, other than 1.4 million people live there, and that there's a single subway line. Is the city geographically large? Tough/easy to get around in? More than 30 minutes across by bus/train? Is the majority of it compact and densely-populated or more spread out and suburban? |
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Oatmeal Prince
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Big Ben wrote: |
| Prince - Thanks for the reply. Actually, I don't yet know where I'll be teaching, as we don't learn that until orientation in Feb., so I'm not sure what sector of the city would be best. I've scoured the web but can't really find demographic info on Gwangju MC, other than 1.4 million people live there, and that there's a single subway line. Is the city geographically large? Tough/easy to get around in? More than 30 minutes across by bus/train? Is the majority of it compact and densely-populated or more spread out and suburban? |
You can find a good administrative map of Gwangju at Wikipedia (scroll down):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju
Donggu is definitely the best part of the city--it's downtown Gwangju, and generally, that's where you'll find the best restaurants, the best bars (including the city's staple Western bars), and the best entertainment. It also has Chosun University, which--if you're a guy--is the place to be to troll for cute girls (Chosun has a monopoly on them).
Bukgu is probably the next-best part. It's pretty residential, being by far the most populated district (gu) in Gwangju. It also has a pretty nice strip of bars (including my personal favorite, a jazz bar, and a wonderful little cafe) near Chonnam University, a major national university.
To be honest I don't have much expertise when it comes to evaluating cities because Gwangju is the first big city I've ever lived in. On the whole though Gwangju seems more a vast, sprawling suburb than it does a compact metropolis, especially in the largest geographic district (Gwangsangu). I guess you could say it's comparatively tough to go across the city in short time--I take a 40-minute commute to and from work every day, going from the far northern side of Bukgu to the southern side of Donggu. Still, it's Korea: the public transportation here is cheap and efficient. If you need help getting set up with a bus pass, just ask me. |
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Oatmeal Prince
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Big Ben wrote: |
| Prince - Thanks for the reply. Actually, I don't yet know where I'll be teaching, as we don't learn that until orientation in Feb., so I'm not sure what sector of the city would be best. I've scoured the web but can't really find demographic info on Gwangju MC, other than 1.4 million people live there, and that there's a single subway line. Is the city geographically large? Tough/easy to get around in? More than 30 minutes across by bus/train? Is the majority of it compact and densely-populated or more spread out and suburban? |
You can find a good administrative map of Gwangju at Wikipedia (scroll down):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju
Donggu is definitely the best part of the city--it's downtown Gwangju, and generally, that's where you'll find the best restaurants, the best bars (including the city's token Western bars), and the best entertainment. It also has Chosun University, which--if you're a guy--is the place to be to troll for cute girls (Chosun has a monopoly on them).
Bukgu is probably the next-best part. It's pretty residential, being by far the most populated district (gu) in Gwangju. It also has a pretty nice strip of bars (including my personal favorite, a jazz bar, and a wonderful little cafe) near Chonnam University, a major national university.
To be honest I don't have much expertise when it comes to evaluating cities because Gwangju is the first big city I've ever lived in. On the whole though Gwangju seems more a vast, sprawling suburb than it does a compact metropolis, especially in the largest geographic district (Gwangsangu). I guess you could say it's comparatively tough to go across the city in short time--I take a 40-minute commute to and from work every day, going from the far northern side of Bukgu to the southern side of Donggu. Still, it's Korea: the public transportation here is cheap and efficient. If you need help getting set up with a bus pass, just ask me. |
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