Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Milwaukiedave]

It is a nice area. I don't live there, but that's where I go to do my shopping. I live over in Dongdaemun-gu across the river about 15 minutes west. There is an E-Mart and Costco at Mangu Station.

There is a bit of a information on Wikimaps, but it really needs to be worked on. Here is the link (I've focused on Mangu Station so you will need to kind of figure out from there where you might be):

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=37.596501&lon=127.0849943&z=16&l=0&m=b

[proverbs]

the area sounds great, but i was wondering - how long would it take to get to gangnam or hongdae on a bus? i have a lot of friends that live in those areas and i will be visiting them every weekend. also, does it have a bus that goes directly to bundang? i have relatives that live there that i would have to visit once in awhile.

[RyanInKorea]

I wouldn't take a bus to any of those places, it would take forever. On the subway, you're looking at an hour and a half at least to get to Bundang, which includes two transfers. You're looking at an hour to get to either Hongdae, Gangnam or Itaewon. Hongdae being the farthest.

Coming home late, i.e. when the buses and subway shut down, will cost you around 25,000 won. Sometimes cheaper, sometimes, if you pass out for the ride, more expensive.

Ryan

[proverbs]

wow, that sucks. how long would the bus take?? i used to live in Bundang and could get to gangnam in 20 minutes on the express bus and 35-40 minutes on the regular bus. it would take me an hour to get their on subway though.

how long does the cab ride take??

[bossface]

if you live near the 3100 bus (goes along the Suraksan-Nowon-Junggye Station road) you can get to Gangnam in 20-30 minutes if traffic is light, it runs express from there to Sinsa station on the freeway. if you live close to the 7 line (Nowon, Junggye, Haggye stations) you can get to parts of Gangnam on the subway in a half hour or so.

taxis shouldn't cost as much as Ryan said. a taxi from Itaewon should cost 16-18, i've even had as low as 14. never 25. i tell the driver at the start that i won't pay him more than 20. Gangnam station to Nowon should be about the same as Itaewon, maybe a buck or 2 more. I cabbed from Hongdae to Nowon 4 days ago, it was 20 even. if you take a taxi between 12 and 4am, it might cost 2 bucks more when all is said and done.

that said, the time/distance/money to Nowon still drives me nuts.

[proverbs]

great info bossface. thats about the same time/money as where i was before and i can totally handle that. i was going to be worried if it was 1hr+ on the bus/subway and 25k for a taxi.

[Xuanzang]

I wouldn't mind living around Hagye station. A McDonalds, Homeplus and outlet mall plus a quick jaunt down to Costco.

[RyanInKorea]

[definitely maybe]

Bossface is right about 9100 to Gangnamunless traffic is particularly bad. I also know that I can get from Gangnam Station to where I live in Uijeongbu for around 30,000won by taxi, so I guess somewhere between 20-25,000 won to the Nowon area is doable. It just depends on the route the taxi driver decides to take and the unpredictable traffic.

As for Hongdae, taxi drivers who don't want to screw you will head up through Sinchon and Hongjae to take the Naebu Expressway under Bugaksan through to the otherside of Gireum and over to the Dongbu Expressway. That should make things quite a bit cheaper. If the driver takes you through Seoul, expect to pay significantly more.

[Satchel Paige]

I lived in that area for a year. Wouldn't do it again, though. Better than po-dunkville but still kind of dull and too far from the rest of Seoul, in my opinion.

[RyanInKorea]

I will admit I have never taken a bus beyond the general area of Nowon-gu, as thus, I retract any statements concerning the bus.

Ryan

[eamo]

I enjoyed my year in Junggye-dong.....clean air from the mountains.......you're pretty damn lucky if you live in Seoul and you open your windows in the morning to smell pine and whatever trees grow on those mountains.

If you're into Itaewon or Hongdae you might want to look elsewhere....this area is the extreme North East corner of Seoul.

[bossface]

i did go from Hongdae to Nowon on a Saturday night last Saturday. as i said, it cost 20,000. i used the same route that definitely maybe mentioned. Hongdae protip - always request the Naebu expressway. Itaewon protip - catch an eastbound taxi just to the west of Itaewon station. have the driver immediately turn right at Itaewon station and request the Dongbu expressway.

parts of Gangnam - Cheongdam, Nonhyun, Express Bus Terminal - the parts of Gangnam on the 7 line are roughly 30 minutes away. if you live at Haggye station, Cheongdam is 26 minutes away, Express Bus Terminal (actually beyond Gangnam in Seocho) is 35 minutes away. if you live in eunhaeng sagori, it will take longer because of the bus/taxi/walk transfer. anyplace of significance in Gangnam can be reached from the 7 line with a short walk/taxi/bus ride. Coex is a 10 minute walk from Cheongdam station. Apgujong is a 15 minute downhill walk or 3 minute taxi from Gangnam Gu Office. the Garasu-gil area is a 15 min walk/3 min taxi from Hakdong. Gangnam station is a 15 minute walk from Nonhyun, or you can get on any southbound bus that uses the bus lane in the middle of the road.

[Smudger]

Just moved into the neighborhood so I thought I'd resurrect this thread and get some advice on the area.


I'm right on eunhaeng-sageori and like the laid back vibe of the area.

Any suggestions on good places to eat, beer/hof/sojus etc. ?

Things to do, how to get to the hiking spots...

Cheers