Korean Job Discussion Forums

marsavalanche · Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Location: where pretty lies perish

I've run across a few foreigners that can't stand Itaewon.

One foreigner I talked with said "I don't want to see foreigners in Korea"
What does that even mean?

If you hate Itaewon, why?

Personally I think it's good for food. But at night, the place just becomes barbaric and just not my scene.

jc1257 · Joined: 22 Aug 2010

I liken Itaewon to the post office. It's fine to go there if you need something, but I certainly don't want to hang out there longer than necessary. To me, Itaewon is a necessary evil for expats, but I avoid it's dirtiness as much as possible.

sadguy · Joined: 13 Feb 2011

i used to hate itaewon. my first experience with it was crap- got out of the subway station to meet a group of people and first thing, FIRST thing i see are 4 military dudes walking down the street cursing as loud as they can then they called one of the guys in my group a faggot.

i go there often now for the restaurants and for the location so i've grown to like it, but there are still things i hate like the a-holes. i ride my scooter and i'll get drunk guys yelling at me or pretending to kick me. i really don't get it why some people have to be that obnoxious.

C00LAS1CE · Joined: 14 Feb 2010

computermichael · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Location: Anyang

I don't like Itaewon because it's expensive, and I don't like going to bars very much. It really has nothing to do with it being Itaewon and more to do with my aversion to "nightlife." I'd much rather do some kind of activity or get sauced outside of a convenience store, in the park, or at a meat restaurant with some of my friends.

walter235 · Joined: 07 Apr 2011 Location: korea

I've never cared much for it, either. I do go there to shop once in a while and hit a Mexican restaurant. Other than that, I find most of it rather sleazy and tacky. Besides, I didn't come halfway around the planet to hang out with a bunch of drunk GI's.

RMNC · Joined: 21 Jul 2010

Why does it suck for nightlife? It's a combination of the sleazy, the crowded and polluted/dirty area, and the GIs that make it a waste of time compared to better areas like Hongdae and the whole area south of the Han.

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

There's good and bad but once you see other parts of Seoul, Itaewon loses it's allure. There's too much rowdy behavior, especially at night, including fighting. That's not a "soldier" thing. It's teachers, Koreans, Nigerians, whatever. During the summer every time I visit Itaewon there seems to be some sort of trouble.
Plus the high prices in too many bars and restaurants are too much.

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

I really don't get why it bothers people so much. It's not the most glamorous place in Seoul, but it's definitely the easiest place to get a good pint and a half-decent meal.

ren546 · Joined: 17 Dec 2010

It's nice when you first come here, especially if you haven't seen other foreigners for awhile, and it's nice as a bit of an escape from time to time. It's also a good place to get things done, and to pick up things that you can't find in other places.

It's the crowd that kills it, particularly the late night crowd. There are some really sketchy areas, and people tend to get somewhat obnoxious post-2am. It can be fun at first, but it gets old fast. It's fun to watch the doe-eyed looks from newbies just getting out of Itaewon station for the first time, though. Like Disneyland when you're 8.

Menino80 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Location: Hodor?

It's a great place to live, especially near Noksapyeong/Gyeong-ridan But not to hang out.

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

RangerMcGreggor · Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Location: Somewhere in Korea

Wing Night on Tuesday nights is pretty fun. Outside of that, I prefer Hongdae and Sinchon areas

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Some foreigners are from suburban/churchy places back home and never learned to enjoy nightlife with a bit of grit in it.

Other people avoid Itaewon because they know if they go there and interact with westerners they will be exposed as the awkward social misfit that they actually are.....so they prefer to stay around Korean friends who see them as exotic and interesting.

I always have fun when I go there.....but I go so rarely these days......although, it seems to be better than ever in terms of good eats and choice of bars.

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

It really depends what you want from a night out. I'm too old for Hongdae, or at least I feel that way when I go there. These days, I'm happy with a few pints and a pool table. Also, it's a good place to watch live sports. However, if you're young and single then Hongdae is the place to go.