Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jfromtheway]

I've gone through all the old posts I could find and haven't necessarily heard anything bad regarding living and working in this area; I've read mostly good things which is why I am interested.
So there aren't really any clubs, but there are a lot of good bars, correct? And not too many westerners, but nightlife is still pretty good, maybe a secret gem, due to the university, right?
I know the Technomart is the place to be, but my main question has to do with the availability of western places to eat. Would that incur consequences for someone who, say, doesn't necessarily enjoy Korean cuisine (mainly just seafood)? Hope I can get some responses from people who have spent some time in the area. Thanks.

[minos]

They have plenty of western food....especially in the star city mall next to the subway.

Just don't expect anything like Mexican food , but you have italian, KFC, popeyes, burgerking, Mcd, etc.

Technomart is not the place to be...it's a gigantic electronics mart...like yongsan in one building. I'd rather live closer to the universities.

Good bars? Yes
Nightlife is hella fun....there are some quasi-club/bar places that recently opened up...Konkuk clubs have a short-shelf life.

[C00LAS1CE]

I've lived in Guui for 9 months, so feel free to post or PM me any questions. What hagwon are you looking into working for? It's the only place I've lived in Korea so I don't have a ton of perspective, but I think it's pretty good. My apartment is right outside the subway, right between two movie theaters that are within walking distance (Technomart and Star City). There's a ton of restaurants in this area, as well as a 24 hour Mandoo place (Myungin) that I have no idea what I'd do without. There's a really cheap gym (for Korea, where membership prices can be astronomical) across from me that I really wish I had time to go to. You're about 40-45 min from Hongdae/Itaewon so if you want to go party on the weekends I wouldn't go any further from there.

Check out this thread I posted last week:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=201022&sid=38bc32c624f9118fc65e08b226b31f49

[sadguy]

i live at konkuk station and know the place inside and out. western food.... you have tgi fridays, valance burger, some italian food joints. no mexican tho, which is what i crave. there's a big chinese population so u can find some authentic chinese food (not western style chinese food though) enough bars/hofs to keep you busy. never went clubbing here, i don't think its the place to be if u want to go clubbing though.

technomart area.... it's a little dirty, no nightlife, you'd have to go to konkuk.

you're also a few stops away from ttukseom resort if you're into riding your bike or strolling along the river or rock climbing.

it's a good area, i like it. has everything i need. not too far away from itaewon or gangnam or even hongdae. they're all about 23-30 min subway ride away.

[jfromtheway]

Thanks for the good information, I appreciate the responses a lot. Unfortunately I can't PM yet, but the school branch is called Gang Tae in Guui... no weekends and an enticing lower number of hours. I know there is one teacher there now who is quitting soon for reasons that were ambiguously explained to me, and he's the only foreign teacher there, I assume meaning I'd take his spot. That's certainly a good reason to hesitate but the 7 all inclusive hours trumps the 8-9 hours most positions advertise.
Do any of you have any knowledge of the school or happen to know this apparently lazy guy who misses work all the time? Or any other insight?

[C00LAS1CE]

[minos]

Ironically I'm moving back to konkuk....

As far as konkuk hagwons go, I know nothing, but the few foreigners I know working locally seemed fairly happy and content.

Not many foreigner locally though, I had no trouble making friends....plenty of cute girls in konkuk if you like street gaming.

[C00LAS1CE]

[crossmr]

I've lived around konkuk for nearly 3 years.
Western places nearby:
TGI Fridays
Valance burger
Bistro Corner (very good pulled pork burger)
Burger King
Pizza Hut
Papa Johns
Dominos
KFC

I know one decent spaghetti place not far from the station
Popeyes closed a few months ago. The entire building is now a hair shop
There is an Outback Steakhouse up by Children's grand park station.
Guui has a McDonald's by the station.

Konkuk is good because it has 2 good lines running through (subway 2 and 7) and some decent bus coverage. There are two buses that go directly into Apgujeong if you need to go there.

There are a couple clubs around, not sure how they are. There is/was a very popular booking club on the main food street beside konkuk station. Saturday nights it'd be lined up down the street. But there are 2-3 actual night clubs around there.

Technomart is great if you need a computer part or something like that that second. Otherwise order it off Gmarket.

They do have a CGV upstairs, and there is a Lotte Cinema at Starcity so you're covered for both theatres close by.

The river is 1 stop out from Konkuk or about a 20 minute walk from the subway station. Children's Grandpark is also nice in the summer. They opened a new pool there last year.

Konkuk also has a Wii Cafe near the subway station if you want to go play a little Wii with your friends (buy a drink each and each hour is only 5000w for a group)

[minos]

[C00LAS1CE]

[minos]

I now teach at a PS after school program north of Konkuk, but I'm living there.....lived there for a few years before.

I'll check out pub island, sounds good.