Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jillie]

I'm moving to DAEGU at the end of April (I'm a newbie) and won't know a soul. Any advice for places to go the first weekend I am there?

I'm pretty outgoing and not afraid to venture out on my own, but would love some advice as to where to go. Restaurant and bars suggestions welcome...techno clubs, not so much please;)

[furtakk]

Check out Daegu Pockets (daegupockets.com). It's a free mag for expats living in Daegu. The articles aren't that great (although they do have good restaurant recommendations), but the maps are excellent. I really wish they made and iPhone/Touch app just for the maps. It would be insanely convenient.

People usually head downtown on the weekends. The area can be reached by Banwoldang (line 1 & 2) or Jungangno (line 1) on the subway or ask a cab to take you to 'Sam Dok So Bahng Saw.' Their are a bunch of foreigner bars downtown. GoGo Vinyl, Who's Bob, and Communes seem to always be the busiest, but I haven't been to any of those places in awhile.

There are also the university areas: Kyongbook and Keimyung. Neither are crazy busy, but both have a variety of bars and restaurants. If I'm just grabbing food and a couple of drinks I prefer to head to these areas rather than downtown, but there aren't any decent clubs (although you didn't seem to be interested in that).

There are tons of Korean restaurants in the city (obviously). When you eat Korean, just eat locally. Experiment and find places you like. There are quite a few foreign restaurants in the city. Most are located downtown or in the Suseong-Mot/Beomo area. There are plenty, check the Daegu Pockets out and experiment.

[SCE2AUX]

[jillie]

Thanks so much for all the info! I'm having a bit of trouble viewing the content on daegu pockets from my browser though. I'll figure it out though, I'm sure!

[smoggy]

Good luck in Daegu.
If you like sports, there is a sports center. Downtown has all of the action, but the restaurants aren't all that great. There are a few places. American restaurants that we all know are expensive. It costs less to eat out then to cook. There are lots of E-marts (similar to Wal mart) and Home plus.
It is terribly hot during the summer, and the hottest in S.K. The winters are pretty cold. There is an opera house for musicals & operas. In the fall they have an International Opera Festival. The Cost co is 1 hour away by bus, less by subway & bus.
Palgongsan mountain is 1 hour away.

Good luck.

[warmachinenkorea]

Costco an hr? Palgong an hr? It all depends where he/she will be living. I live in Gyeongsan right outside of Daegu and it doesn't take me an hour to get to Costco.

[jillie]

I'm going to be in Daebong-dong, how is that area? If it's just awful try to be kind - I'm locked in:)

Thanks!!!

[crescent]

I always love reading these kinds of threads. Newbies telling newbies that Costco is an hour away from Daegu, it's the hottest place in Korea, and there are lots of Korean restaurants.

Daebong Dong is located between 2 US military bases. It's generally pretty run-down, but it's centrally located in the city. Near downtown, near Apsan Mountain, near Debec Plaza Dept. Store, and pretty near a HomePlus for groceries.
There is also a black market near in the next district, Bong-Duk Dong if you need emergency deodorant or Colgate..

You are pretty close to Suseong Mot which is a man made reservior, with good foreign restaurants, a small amusement park and ice rink.

The locals are known to be abrupt and appear unfriendly until you become familiar. The use of English is increasing but you'll find you will need to know some Korean vocabulary to get around.
The foreign crowd is generally a great group of people, but not as gelled as it used to be.

[warmachinenkorea]

Sorry to say I don't know all the areas of Daegu very well. Daebong-dong is near the city center.

The subway is simple, only 2 lines, and the city buses will get you where you need to go in Daegu. There are 2 train stations, Daegu and Dong-Daegu, Dong-Daegu is the larger of the 2. The KTX stops at Dong-Daegu and will get you to Seoul in 2 hrs or so and Busan in an hour. There are express bus terminals that have services all over Korea.

[warmachinenkorea]

crescent had mine typed but took forever to submit.

His advice is on point.

The black market or grey market is pretty small. If you a hankering for vienne sausages or those cheap BAR S hotdogs they got'em!

[coralreefer_1]

Save this map for yourself to get a decent idea of certain facilities in the city that might be of interest..and please any other experienced people in the city please add to the map.

http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&vps=1&jsv=168d&lr=lang_en&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112066631606189577493.00046a0a3ba2e075e8339

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

My advice is to take the KTX to Busan and see what you will be missing. Daegu Why

[LikeFrostOnRoads]

Actually, as it turns out I live in Daebong, and while it certainly is not glamorous, I really like it. It's really safe, although a bit rundown. Looking at it positively, then you can just tell yourself that you're getting a true cultural experience.

What you should do your first weekend really depends on what you like to do. There are bars and clubs that other people that can help you with more specifically. I personally like Viniroo, Organ (bars), and G2 (club), but it really depends on the night. As for other things, Seomun Market is close by (take bus 323, I believe). Maybe you should spend the day just wandering around downtown, it's pretty impressive the first time you see it, especially if you've never been to another Korean city.

Speaking of buses, this website will be really useful: businfo.go.kr . Only recently has it started working in English consistently, but it's a great transportation resource. Good luck!

[dirving]

[crescent]