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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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 Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:55 am Post subject: |
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| cobbles wrote: |
Hi guys, just found this thread.
I am thinking of signing a contract for suwon this weekend. It is for Lee's Academy in Suwon. Has anyone heard of this school? is it good? It is located in Maetan, is this a decent area??
Also what's the cost of living like? how much are utilities and the "monthly service" that i have to pay?? how much would food be if i ate local and cooked my own 4 or 5times a week?? |
If by "Maetan", you mean Maesan, that's where I live. It's right outside Suwon Station. I like it here just fine. There are lots of restaurants, Korean and otherwise (Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese lamb, Middle Eastern, Kebab, and VIPS Steakhouse plus fast food options), a big street with a decent amount of nightlife, and a wet market. Home Plus and E-Mart are within 1/2 hour walk or a 5-10 minute bus/cab ride. The Suwon Fortress gives the city a decent amount of green + historic scenery. Plus you're right by a subway station and train station so it's easy to get away from Suwon to Seoul or other parts of Korea. It's even a KTX stop now.
The biggest downside is that although it's really easy to get to Seoul any time day or night as intercity trains go north to Seoul all night, it's not so easy to get back. The last subway and train go from Seoul to Suwon at around 11pm, and it's about W50,000 for a cab home. It's easy enough to enjoy Seoul by day, but much harder by night.
So far as cost of living goes, it's not much different from any other part of Korea. There are plenty of threads going about cost of living in Korea. Apartment maintenance fees are going to vary quite a bit from one building to the next, you really need to ask the teacher you're replacing about that. |
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cobbles
Joined: 23 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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wow thanks a million for the info....glad to know there's few things around Maesan.
can you tell me if there are good places to buy clothes for work...such as shirts, slacks and tops, or should i purchase them before i leave. I have no clue what to get. I presume at a hagwon the dress code is 'smart casual' so jeans and a preppy shirt or something.
Son Deureo...can you also tell me if there is a Gym or park around Maesan, i would like to be able to get fit during my mornings there. I would also like to join a soccer team or badminton perhaps if it is available. Do many foreign teachers play 5-a-side or anything???
Thanks |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| cobbles wrote: |
wow thanks a million for the info....glad to know there's few things around Maesan.
can you tell me if there are good places to buy clothes for work...such as shirts, slacks and tops, or should i purchase them before i leave. I have no clue what to get. I presume at a hagwon the dress code is 'smart casual' so jeans and a preppy shirt or something.
Son Deureo...can you also tell me if there is a Gym or park around Maesan, i would like to be able to get fit during my mornings there. I would also like to join a soccer team or badminton perhaps if it is available. Do many foreign teachers play 5-a-side or anything???
Thanks |
I'd recommend buying your clothes from home. That's a hassle you don't want to deal with in your first week or so in country, and the range of sizes available in Korea is not is big (i.e. on the skinny side) so it may be hard to find clothes at all depending on your body size. AK Plaza in Suwon Station does have a lot of clothing shops, but they're a bit on the pricey side.
Hogwon dress codes can vary quite a bit, you need to find that out from your new boss/coworkers before you get here.
Health clubs are everywhere in Korea, including here in Maesan. Shop around and find one you like. Parks? You were talking about exercise, so there's a walking/running path around the fortress, and another along the side of a big stream running through the city. Plus there are mountain hiking paths. That's the best I've seen in the area for parks, but there may be more elsewhere in Suwon (I've only been in Suwon for about 6 months, myself).
Koreans love badminton, and I know about expat soccer leagues in Seoul but I play neither so I can't help you with that. Good luck and welcome to Suwon. |
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murmanjake
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| You know, maetan-dong is a place in suwon as well, could be that wasn't a typo. It's near the CGV and New Core shopping outlet. Not far from Homeplus and Gyeonggi Center for the Performing Arts either. |
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olsanairbase
Joined: 30 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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| I-am-me wrote: |
| Have lived in Suwon 6 yrs. I like it. Beats living the rush life in Seoul. It really depends on what you like to do. If you like clubbing, museums, concerts, then Seoul might be the place for you. If you are more laid back, the Suwon is perfect. If you are coming to korea to save money, Suwon, if its to spend money, Seoul. |
Coming to Korea isn't the best place to come to save money. You just don't make enough to really save a lot. Before the IMF crisis when the won was running 800 won to the dollar was a different story, but that ship has long since past. |
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danielleb63
Joined: 10 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:49 am Post subject: looking for job in Suwon |
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Hi everyone,
I have just finished my first year of teaching in South Korea. I am looking to start a new contract at the end of September 2011 in Suwon. If anyone knows of any positions opening, could you please let me know!
Thanks so much!! |
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cobbles
Joined: 23 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| our school is looking for people right now and its quite good for a hagwon!! PM me |
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danielleb63
Joined: 10 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:08 am Post subject: |
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I can't pm because I don't have enough messages posted.
My email address is [email protected]
If you could email me the information that'd be great!
Thanks so much!! |
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McKennaHenna
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: Just moved to Suwon |
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So I just moved to Maeton-dong, Suwon.
I haven't met many foreigners yet and I was wondering if anyone lived in the area and would possibly want to meet up.
I'm 23, female and from NY---just want to make new friends and maybe have someone give me some advice/tours of the area.
Thanks!
-McKenna |
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Nalwoir
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Hi McKennaHenna!
Don't know if you are still looking for people around the Maetan area but I live in Maetan 3 dong, Suwon. Lemme know if you fancy a drink or a stroll around the maetan area sometime! 23/male/UK. |
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jrabernethy
Joined: 14 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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I arrived in Suwon about a month ago. I've been able to settle in OK, but don't really know the area or anyone. Can anybody suggest some expat hangouts. Or if anybody wants to get a bite sometime let me know.
I live in Gwonseon-dong |
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Nalwoir
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:26 am Post subject: |
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There are a bunch of places to go around Suwon. Suwon station is pretty good, lots of nice bars and places to eat around there, and a foreigner bar oo (although I can't remember the name of it at the moment.
I personally like to party in Yeongtong, pretty nice place with a very friendly bunch of people at a bar called Now bar. Send me and email if you wanna hang out in Suwon some time. Email address: [email protected] |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:43 am Post subject: |
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| Nalwoir wrote: |
There are a bunch of places to go around Suwon. Suwon station is pretty good, lots of nice bars and places to eat around there, and a foreigner bar oo (although I can't remember the name of it at the moment.
I personally like to party in Yeongtong, pretty nice place with a very friendly bunch of people at a bar called Now bar. Send me and email if you wanna hang out in Suwon some time. Email address: [email protected] |
Considering the prevalence of military in the area, all the bars get pretty packed with foreigners on weekends. That said, I wouldn't describe most of the bars in the area as anything resembling "nice". |
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Nalwoir
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
Considering the prevalence of military in the area, all the bars get pretty packed with foreigners on weekends. That said, I wouldn't describe most of the bars in the area as anything resembling "nice". |
I am yet to find any of the military types around. The bars I go to are all wholesome and full of fun, interesting people. It seems we have had different experiences of the area.  Sucks for you, but yay for me.
Example: in Yeongtong is a bar called the playground, mainly Koreans and a few teachers that frequent it, that has air hockey, pool, foozeball, a PS3, Xbox and Wii that are all free to play and a nice selection of beer to get you good a plastered. Then now bar is a foreigner friendly bar that is 90% western teachers and 10%Korean.
What places have you been frequenting Northway that has been so bad? |
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