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jst
Joined: 14 Feb 2010
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 Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:17 pm Post subject: Top 5 areas of Seoul |
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| What are your top 5 areas of Seoul to live, and why? |
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sulperman
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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1. Not Gangnam (boring and sterile)
2. Not Haebangchon (too many foreigners)
3. Not Jamsil and beyond (nothing but apatuhs as far as the eye can see- future dystopian nightmare land)
4. ?
5. ?
Guess I am a negative guy. Anyplace else is fine, IMHO. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:16 am Post subject: |
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| sulperman wrote: |
1. Not Gangnam (boring and sterile)
2. Not Haebangchon (too many foreigners)
3. Not Jamsil and beyond (nothing but apatuhs as far as the eye can see- future dystopian nightmare land)
4. Not Itaewon (too much garbage at night)
5. Not a small village in Chungcheongbukdo (despite what your recruiter says, it's not a 20 minute bus ride to downtown Seoul).
Guess I am a negative guy. Anyplace else is fine, IMHO. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Not Haebangchon (too many foreigners)
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What's wrong with having a lot of foreigners? Is it about not being able to experience the 'real Korea' or are you some kind of tomato-type figure who gets annoyed when they speak English to him in the corner shop? Either way it sounds a bit racist to me. People wouldn't let you get away with saying something like that about an area in your hometown, now would they? |
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Vagabundo
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:47 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
Not Haebangchon (too many foreigners)
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What's wrong with having a lot of foreigners? Is it about not being able to experience the 'real Korea' or are you some kind of tomato-type figure who gets annoyed when they speak English to him in the corner shop? Either way it sounds a bit racist to me. People wouldn't let you get away with saying something like that about an area in your hometown, now would they? |
nah, I can actually understand this, especially if the foreigners aren't fellow teachers but "professionals expats". Those can really be annoying and I've avoided them like the plague in other countries. Some of them (especially younger single males) can be incredibly cool and really show you the life in that particular city, but the overwhelming majority are fat, dull, and really best avoided. Fat middle aged battleaxes and their henpecked husbands should be completely avoided altogether, just like their Korean counterparts. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| So now you're being sizeist as well as racist. |
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Stalin84
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Location: Haebangchon, Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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I like Haebangchon and hate Itaewon (at night), if that makes any sense.
Haebangchon has a lot of foreigners but far from "too many." US Army personnel frankly don't know where it is and there isn't much of a night life (compared to Itaewon) so it quiets down a lot at night. Great food selection too. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| From a more practical perspective, it is best to live somewhere with easy access to subway and bus routes to other parts of the city. For example, I live near Sookmyeong Women's University on line 4. From there, Itaewon is close but not too close, Seoul Station and City Hall are nearby, Gangnam is 20-30 min by bus, Hongdae is 20 min by subway. |
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Vagabundo
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:30 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| So now you're being sizeist as well as racist. |
sizeist? invented a new word, have we?
when did this word enter into the new idiotic lexicon of political correctness?
I'm not being anything. Just reacting to what I see and experience around me and my comment(s) reflect this.
and my comments on umm... "size" are completely similar to what people here have stated many times on return trips home for e.g. ("why is everyone so fat, etc)
has nothing to do with race either. Or ethnic background since Americans vary in all of the above. There is however a certain "American mindset" as to how they perceive and react to the culture/people around them which is more likely to be found in Caucasian Americans and is immensely annoying.
if you don't agree, that's your prerogative, but please take your stupid 'isms' and stick them in the appropriate exit canal. |
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Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:31 am Post subject: |
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This thread has been hijacked by political correctness. 
To answer the question I would say Nowon-gu in NE Seoul is nice.
The area I lived in was near the Olympic Training Facility. They have all the regular Korean stuff (stores etc). There is a co-op vegetable market. There is a Costco nearby in Guri. They have a little river that feeds the Han where you can rent bikes and play hoops. I could make it to Itaewon in 30 min by car to hit up the foreign market and clothes shop. I lived there for 4 years. I would definately move back if I could transport my new school there. |
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Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:48 am Post subject: |
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We like living in Upper Kyongleedan. It's very quiet and close to Namsan Park. The # 3 Maul bus is convenient and it's quite a nice place. Close to central Itaewon~ but not too close. Very happy here!
Gwangalee Beach, Busan. I just love that beach, with the bridge and the neighborhood is very positive and fun! Lots of nice saunas, cafes. Great place to vacation!
If you have lots of money, head on up to Seongbuk-dong. Very fancy up the hill. Try not to drool too much!
Asan Station ~ few clicks away they have a nice neighborhood with nice houses! ~ Real houses. Two friends live there and it's wonderful!! A bit inconvenient to get into the city, but very nice!
Around Daechon Beach ~Boryong is a charming place.
Icheon, Seoul. Down by the river is great! Close to bicycle paths. It's very expensive, but pretty cool! |
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olsanairbase
Joined: 30 Aug 2010
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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1. Seoul Nat. Uni area.
2. Haebangchon (good restaurants, super convenient location)
3. Yeouido
4. Gonguk Uni Area
5. Sogang Uni Area |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
sizeist? invented a new word, have we?
when did this word enter into the new idiotic lexicon of political correctness?
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Sizeist has been around for a while � look it up in the dictionary or google it. Actually the comment was tongue in cheek as I�m no advocator of political correctness. If you decide to take a dislike to people based on their physical appearance or nationality that�s your prerogative and I�m generally not in favour of passing laws that try to prohibit people�s natural prejudice. I do find it amusing that some people living abroad seem to show prejudice against their fellow countrymen, a kind of racism in reverse. Actually I feel the opposite and like living in areas where you can buy foreign food and speak English in all the shops. Though I came here primarily for the job and not the Korean cultural experience. |
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jwilks
Joined: 13 Oct 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Quack Addict wrote: |
To answer the question I would say Nowon-gu in NE Seoul is nice.
The area I lived in was near the Olympic Training Facility. They have all the regular Korean stuff (stores etc). There is a co-op vegetable market. There is a Costco nearby in Guri. They have a little river that feeds the Han where you can rent bikes and play hoops. I could make it to Itaewon in 30 min by car to hit up the foreign market and clothes shop. I lived there for 4 years. I would definately move back if I could transport my new school there. |
This is a relief. I'm going to be arriving in a few weeks and I've been wondering about this area. |
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